New Study Highlights EV Tire Wear Challenges Amid Growing Emissions Focus

Recent research reveals that electric vehicles suffer from higher tire defect rates than combustion-engined cars, driven by increased vehicle weight, instant torque, and owner neglect. However, experts emphasize that faster tire wear does not erase the overall climate advantage of electrification. According to a report by analyst New Automotive, reviewing data from 1.6 million EV tests and 17.9 million internal combustion engine car tests on vehicles three to eight years old, about 26 EVs per 1,000 recorded tread depths below the legal limit, compared to 18 petrol cars. Cuts reaching the cords appeared in approximately 30 EV tests versus 14 for petrol vehicles. Nick Molden, founder of Emissions Analytics, stated that an EV is typically 20 percent heavier than an ICE car, leading to roughly 20 percent more wear before fitting specialist tires. The British Tyre Manufacturers Association reported an EV failure rate of 6.0 percent, compared to 4.7 percent for diesels and 4.3 percent for petrol cars. Darren Lindsey of the BTMA noted that driver behavior and maintenance play major roles, explaining that because EVs require less routine servicing, owners tend to overlook tire checks. Lindsey warned that defect figures, which are roughly 80 percent higher than for ICE cars, also stem from issues like sidewall cuts and small bulges rather than tread wear alone. Ricardo global technical expert Jon Andersson added that mass, speed, braking, tire characteristics, alignment, maintenance, and driving style all contribute to faster tire degradation. Regarding specialist EV tires, Molden explained they generally offset added weight and torque but come at a significant cost, running up to 50 percent more expensive than normal ICE tires. Using incorrect tires can even double wear rates. On emissions, experts noted that higher overall wear does not automatically generate proportionally more airborne particle pollution. However, upcoming Euro 7 abrasion standards and new compound formulations raise questions about particle toxicity. Professor Prashant Kumar from the University of Surrey noted that while larger rubber fragments are washed away by rain, finer airborne particles pose health risks that remain poorly understood. Despite these challenges, Molden confirmed that faster tire wear will not negate an EV’s overall life-cycle CO2 advantage, which sits at approximately 50 percent. Meanwhile, tire manufacturers continue innovating: Continental developed a new compound for Volkswagen’s streamliner with rolling resistance about 25 percent lower than an EU energy-efficiency ‘A’ rating, while Citroen utilizes digital twin technology to monitor tire metrics and dynamically adjust vehicle stability control.