Electric vehicles have some features that make them different from conventional models, such as tires. Such questions require research and development of special technologies for specific car models.

Thinking about the quality of tires and how electric vehicles can demand more performance from them, manufacturers are aligning their requirements with the companies responsible for developing these tires to properly meet performance expectations.

Special tires for electric vehicles

Tires can be considered as one of the most important parts of a car as they are one of the few parts that actually make contact with the ground. Now add to that the extra weight of EVs compared to conventional cars and you’ve got those four rubber rings that really deserve special attention.

“we love to design [o pneu] while the car is being developed“explained Jan Kok, Quality Director of Pirelli. “This means starting with an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) a few years before the car goes on sale when it is still under development. Or, if you’re a Tesla, six weeks because they work differently.“, he laughed. “We got to know Tesla very well.“, he said, as the Italian tire company develops rubber for the automaker.

Cox makes it very clear in his speech above that the ideal for developing a suitable tire for electric vehicles should be done along with the design of the vehicle itself. Ideally, a car leaves the factory with perfect tires…there are so many changes that unless you work with the design team [o mais cedo possível]will be caught off guard, and development costs and time may increase“, he said.

In addition to being stronger and heavier, electric vehicles usually have more torque, which requires more traction from a set of tires.

“We had to introduce a new load index to support the weight of these vehicles. And I think we were the first ones to bring it in Lucid Air“This is achieved by strengthening the sidewall construction and using synthetic fabrics (such as aramid fibers).

Once the weight issue is resolved, the question of durability and how far the tire can reach remains. “Obviously one of the main limitations is that you really need to use a lot of technology in terms of construction, in terms of compounds – especially high quality silica based compounds – to really work on that rolling resistance.” Cox said.

While Pirelli has been able to produce tires that meet these requirements, this process involves the reduction of other characteristics. Those who choose – and have the purchasing power – of an electric car should be aware that tire wear on these models will be greater than on conventional ones.

Another point to consider is the silent motorization of these models. While in a traditional model you don’t hear the rolling of the tires, in electric vehicles this becomes a problem because the engine makes little noise.

Much research is still being done and Pirelli is one of the leading companies in this regard, serving automakers such as Tesla, bmw, coastal, clear as well as karma. With more of these models on the market and if they become more affordable, new solutions will soon be available to address these tire problems in electric vehicles.

Via: Ars

…..