Do EVs require special tires?

No. As long as load capacity restriction are observed, all Michelin tirelines will function properly on both Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles and EVs. If in cases such as winter tires, a lower speed rating than listed on the vehicle placard are installed for use in winter conditions, the speed capability of the vehicle is reduced to the speed rating of the winter tires. (2021 MAST Fitment Guide, “Winter Tires”, page 22)

How is an Original Equipment (OE) tire tuned for an EV?

Low Rolling Resistance . To maximize range, EV manufacturers generally demand tires tuned for low rolling resistance. The push for lower rolling resistance tires is not new or exclusive to EVs. To meet CAFÉ (Corporate Average Fuel Economy/US Department of Transportation) fuel economy targets, vehicle manufacturers have been asking for low rolling resistance tires for decades. Low Noise . Because EVs generate less noise, the noise produced by the interaction of the tire and road is more intrusive. Tires tuned for EVs offer the highest refinement in noise, often combined with other noise reduction technologies such as MICHELIN ® Acoustic. These noise reduction technologies focus on a specific type of noise, generated on certain road surfaces. You may notice the difference, depending on the roads you drive.

Is there a range difference between new and worn tires of the same MSPN?

Yes, as the tire wears down the rolling resistance decreases. This is because, some of the rolling resistance comes from the tire tread. Studies have shown, a worn tire is about 6% better for range compared to a new tire. Thus, it is perfectly normal to observe a range decrease when installing new tires of the same model.

Long Range batteries vs short range batteries, dependent on the tire, we are seeing the biggest drops in range on long range batteries. How do we explain this to the customers?

There are two reasons tires have a larger impact on vehicles with more range. For the same vehicle, the impact of tire differences, is a percentage of the reference. Example: (A 10% difference on a vehicle with 200 kilometres of range is 20 kilometres. For a range of 300 kilometres, the 10% difference would be 30 kilometres). The heavier the vehicle, the more tires matter. This is because, the more weight that is put on a tire, at the same inflation pressure, the greater the energy loss by the tire. Vehicles with extended range are heavier due to the additional batteries, so a change in tires will have a greater difference.

What is the best Michelin all season tireline for maximum EV range?

The Primacy family of tires (Primacy™ Tour A/S, Primacy™ All Season, Primacy™ LTX, Primacy™ XC) is focused on low rolling resistance, both for ICE fuel economy and EV range.

What is the best Michelin all season tireline for long mileage in an EV application?

The Defender family of tires (Defender ® 2, Defender ® LTX™ M/S™) will offer the most wear potential in EV applications.

What is the best Michelin all season tireline for high traction in all season conditions?

For sporty EVs with larger rim diameters and higher speed ratings, the Pilot ® Sport All Season 4 offers EV drivers strong dry, wet, and light snow traction. For touring EVs with higher aspect ratio the CrossClimate ® 2 provides stellar wet, while also giving the benefit of Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certification.

CrossClimate®2 vs Pilot® Sport All Season 4 – how to make the best recommendation.

In general, there is not much size overlap between CC2 and PSAS4. But when there is a choice between the two it is important to ask these clarifying points: Does the vehicle require a Z rated tire (speed ratings W, Y or (Y))? If so, PSAS4 is the best option. Which is a higher priority for the consumer – the strongest dry and wet traction with sporty handling (PSAS4), or the best blend wet, 3PMSF certification, and wear (CC2).

What is the general range difference between a Primacy™, Defender®, and CrossClimate® or Pilot® Sport All Season 4 tire? This compares new tires to new tires. When replacing a worn tire with a new tire the range impact will be increased.

Primacy tirelines generally have 10-15% range advantage over other Michelin offers, such as Defender ® 2, CrossClimate ® 2 and Pilot ® Sport All Season 4.

What Michelin winter tire do we suggest for EV application?

The MICHELIN ® X-Ice ® SNOW is an excellent option for electric vehicles. The XiS provides excellent performance in both snow, ice as well as other winter conditions. It meets 3PMSF standards required for winter driving in some Canadian provinces and certain municipalities in the US. The impact on range, depending on the vehicle, could be between a 5 – 7 % drop compared to the new OE fitment.

Electric Vehicles FAQ

Q: How are all Michelin tirelines compatible for EV applications?

Wear : To cope with the added weight and torque, new generations of Michelin tirelines are engineered to offer increased wear potential to offset the 20% wear impact of EVs. Defender ® 2 offers more than 20% more wear potential than Defender ® T+H. CrossClimate ® 2 improved the wear potential over Premier™ A/S by more than 20%. X-Ice ® SNOW exhibits excellence and longevity that lasts up to 1 additional winter than the average of leading competitors. Load : New generations of tirelines have moved to more extra load (XL) sizes and higher speed ratings to match EV requirements. In addition, a new standard of tires known as HLC (High Load Capacity) tires is slowly being introduced to the market. This allows for even greater loads on the same sized tire without increasing the air pressure. Range : Michelin has been a pioneer in low rolling resistance technology for over 2 decades. MICHELIN ® Green X ® technology was introduced in 1992 which reduced rolling resistance by a factor of three since the first pneumatic tire was introduced. Michelin tirelines provide excellent low rolling resistance in each category.

EV vs ICE

In general, EVs are heavier than their ICE counterparts. Vehicle weight is a critical factor in the wear rate of the tire, with more weight leading to faster wear. In addition to more weight, EVs often have more torque available for rapid acceleration combined with regenerative braking to recharge the batteries on deceleration. The combination of more weight and the addition of regenerative braking results in more rapid tire wear. On average, EVs will wear out a tire 20% faster than a comparable ICE vehicle.

Tires adapted for EVs.

Low Rolling Resistance. To maximize range, EV manufacturers generally demand tires tuned for low rolling resistance. The push for lower rolling resistance tires is not new or exclusive to EVs. To meet CAFÉ (Corporate Average Fuel Economy/US Department of Transportation) fuel economy targets, vehicle manufacturers have been asking for low rolling resistance tires for decades.
Low Noise. Because EVs generate less noise, the noise produced by the interaction of the tire and road is more intrusive. Tires tuned for EVs offer the highest refinement in noise, often combined with other noise reduction technologies such as MICHELIN^® Acoustic. These noise reduction technologies focus on a specific type of noise, generated on certain road surfaces. You may notice the difference, depending on the roads you drive.

Wear: To cope with the added weight and torque, new generations of Michelin tirelines are engineered to offer increased wear potential to offset the 20% wear impact of EVs. Defender^®2 offers more than 20% more wear potential than Defender^® T+H. CrossClimate^®2 improved the wear potential over Premier™ A/S by more than 20%. X-Ice^® SNOW exhibits excellence and longevity that lasts up to 1 additional winter than the average of leading competitors.

Load: New generations of tirelines have moved to more extra load (XL) sizes and higher speed ratings to match EV requirements. In addition, a new standard of tires known as HLC (High Load Capacity) tires is slowly being introduced to the market. This allows for even greater loads on the same sized tire without increasing the air pressure.

Range: Michelin has been a pioneer in low rolling resistance technology for over 2 decades. MICHELIN^® Green X^® technology was introduced in 1992 which reduced rolling resistance by a factor of three since the first pneumatic tire was introduced. Michelin tirelines provide excellent low rolling resistance in each category.

Range - general.

There are two reasons tires have a larger impact on vehicles with more range.

For the same vehicle, the impact of tire differences, is a percentage of the reference.
Example: (A 10% difference on a vehicle with 200 kilometres of range is 20 kilometres.
For a range of 300 kilometres, the 10% difference would be 30 kilometres).
The heavier the vehicle, the more tires matter. This is because, the more weight that is put on a tire, at the same inflation pressure, the greater the energy loss by the tire. Vehicles with extended range are heavier due to the additional batteries, so a change in tires will have a greater difference.

Best Michelin Tires for range, wear, and all season traction.

Winter tires for EVs.

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