Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
The electric vehicle (EV) market is booming in the UK, with EVs accounting for one in three new car sales last month (June, 2025). And now the UK Government has revived the electric car subsidy – now for EVs priced under £37K – sales look set to accelerate.
For many EV drivers and would-be drivers, range remains a significant concern. So what can they do to squeeze a few more miles out of their electrons? Beyond the obvious advice of keeping your speed down, running the aircon judiciously, and so on, there’s a less obvious recommendation: get tyres that are specifically designed for EVs.
The RAC, Michelin, and EV-Specific Tyres
EVs pose some significant challenges for tyre manufacturers. A little while back. We’ve written our own blog posts on that score, but a little while back, we came across an excellent article on the RAC’s website on the same topic.
We fully intended to share that article on here, but somehow that never happened. Still, better late than never, and the key points are still valid.
Here’s a quick summary (though we encourage you to read the whole thing) of how EV-specific tyres are different:
- EVs produce more torque than their ICE (internal combustion engine) equivalents, demanding thicker sidewalls and modified compounds to resist those increased forces.
- EVs are quieter when running, making tyre noise more noticeable. Optimal tyres for EVs will take account of this and be engineered for lower road noise.
- All cars are trending heavier, but the weight of battery packs makes EVs especially hefty, and tyre designs must accommodate this.
- Most relevant to range, rolling resistance has to be carefully managed in EVs. By engineering tyres to cope with higher pressures, manufacturers can decrease the rolling resistance, while still allowing adequate grip.
Using EV-specific tyres, the headline claim is that range can be increased by up to 10%. That figure came from research by Michelin, who went on to survey how many people were aware of EV-specific tyres. Not that many, apparently:
- 28% of those surveyed were aware of EV-specific tyres
- In some areas of the UK, only 17% knew they existed – which probably reflects the lower uptake of EVs in those regions.
Yes, but what about the cost?
The extra features that EV-specific tyres are reflected in their price.
However, there are widely different estimates of how much of a premium that adds.
Data from epyx reveals the average replacement tyre fitted to an electric vehicle is 18.59 inches and costs £207 while, for internal combustion engine (ICE) cars, the corresponding figures are 17.40 inches and £130 – equating to a 59% uplift in tyre costs for EVs.
Whereas What Car reports:
Cap hpi also compared average tyre prices between EV and ICE cars, and here there was only a marginal difference (1-4 percent in favour of the latter for front wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive cars), while those for rear-wheel drive EVs are, on average, 4 percent cheaper.
The EV Fleet article points out that part of the increased cost simply reflects the preponderance of top-end, high-spec EVs, which would have been fitted with more expensive tyres even if they had internal combustion engines.
Is the premium price of EV tyres worth it?
Obviously, there’s a huge difference between a 59% mark-up and 1-4%. In the latter case, it’s a no-brainer: the increased range and comfort – and decreased wear! -you’ll get from an EV tyre are going to outweigh a slightly increased upfront cost.
Where there’s a massive jump in cost, it bears more consideration. At the end of the day, the OEM recommendations are there for a reason, and your car will be at its best if you replace your tyres with that in mind. However, if your budget is stretched, we can sometimes recommend a non-specialist tyre if there’s a suitable equivalent.
EV-specific tyres in South Oxfordshire
We offer plenty of EV-specific tyres at competitive prices, together with our highly-rated home fitting service. Search on our website for the brand you want or call us on 01491 835353.
The BK Tyres blog carries news, views and information on tyres and driving. BK Tyres supplies and fits tyres throughout South Oxfordshire, including the communities of Abingdon, Didcot and Henley on Thames. As an independent, family run mobile provider, we provide exceptional levels of service and affordable prices. Contact us today.