Tyres for an electric car: what should you look for?

Three things make the difference: weight, torque and silence. The battery pack of an electric car weighs hundreds of kilos, and that mass rests on the tyres. Continental writes that EV tyres therefore have reinforced carcasses and sidewalls, designed to cope with the extra weight of battery packs. An electric motor delivers its torque instantly, from a standstill. Every time you pull away, the tread scrubs harder across the tarmac than on a petrol car that builds up its power gradually. And because the motor makes no noise, you hear the tyres. Michelin states that in an electric car the tyres, not the engine, are the main source of noise.

You notice the result in the wear. On 13 September 2023 Michelin wrote that tyres on electric cars wear up to 20 percent faster than on cars with a combustion engine, because of the instant torque and the weight of the battery pack. How much faster it goes for you depends a lot on your driving style and on the tyre pressure. If you pull away gently and keep the pressure right, you get many more kilometres out of a set.

The load index is the number after the tyre size and shows how many kilos one tyre may carry at most. In 235/45 R18 98Y, 98 is the load index. According to the load table of tyre manufacturer Pirelli, 91 stands for 615 kg and 104 for 900 kg per tyre, for example. On a heavy electric car the manufacturer often specifies a higher index than on the petrol model with the same tyre size. A tyre with too low an index is not allowed and gets too hot under heavy load.

Sources: Pirelli, load table (104 = 900 kg). Continental, tyres for electric cars. Consulted 6 November 2026.

We look up which sizes, load index and speed rating are allowed on your car using your registration number (in Dutch: kenteken). That way we know for certain that the tyre matches the weight of your car. How to read the size and the codes yourself is explained in our article on tyre size explained.

According to Continental, a suitable EV tyre can improve the range of the battery by as much as 10 percent, mainly through lower rolling resistance. Michelin quotes up to 7 percent more range for its e.Primacy. On a car that does 400 kilometres, 10 percent is 40 kilometres per charge. You can read the rolling resistance on the EU tyre label: class A rolls the easiest, class E the hardest. The same label shows the wet grip and the rolling noise in decibels. An explanation of the label is in our article on the EU tyre label.

Low rolling resistance must not come at the cost of grip. A heavy car has a longer braking distance on a wet road, and that is not where you want a tyre that scores badly. So we look at the combination of rolling resistance and wet grip, and at the ANWB test results for the size on your car. The ANWB is the Dutch motoring organisation.

Tyre pressure does as much for the range as the tyre itself. Continental calculates that 0.3 bar too little already costs about 1.5 percent more energy. The ANWB advises checking the pressure every month, cold. According to the ANWB, the tyre pressure monitoring system only warns at more than 20 percent below the required pressure, so you cannot rely on it. On an electric car the manufacturer often specifies a higher pressure than you are used to from a petrol car. The right value is on the sticker in the door pillar.

In an electric car, tyre noise stands out because there is no engine noise to cover it. Tyre manufacturers solve that in two ways. The tread gets blocks of different sizes, so that no droning tone develops. And a layer of foam goes on the inside of the tyre to damp the booming inside the tyre. Continental calls this ContiSilent and quotes a reduction in interior noise of up to 9 dB. Michelin calls its version Acoustic Technology and quotes about 20 percent less interior noise. Many electric cars come with tyres like this from the factory.

Good to know: a tyre with a foam layer is harder to repair after a puncture. The mechanic has to remove the foam at the spot of the hole before fitting a patch from the inside. Whether a repair is possible on your tyre is explained in our article on puncture: repair or replace. If you hear a new noise, read about the causes of tyre noise.

The same rules apply to a Tesla as to any electric car, and Tesla is clear about it in the owner’s manual. Tesla recommends rotating the tyres every 10,000 kilometres, or sooner if the difference in tread depth is 1.5 mm or more. Tesla advises booking balancing as soon as you feel a vibration and alignment as soon as you see uneven wear. Small holes, smaller than 6 mm, can in some cases be repaired according to Tesla.

For tyres you do not need to go to the dealer with a Tesla, a Polestar, a Kia EV6, a Hyundai Ioniq, a Volkswagen ID. or a BMW i model. We supply and fit tyres of all makes and sizes, including tyres with a foam layer and an HL marking, and we balance every wheel. Our mechanics hold the GMTO certificate (the Dutch qualification for working on high-voltage systems) for hybrid and electric cars. We have five heavy-duty lifts, including lifts for motorhomes and vans up to 3,500 kg, so a heavy electric SUV goes up safely. We pay attention to the lifting points, which on many electric cars sit right next to the battery pack. More about what we do for your Tesla is on our page about Tesla service in Rotterdam.

On an electric car, tyres are one of the few wearing parts you replace regularly. What other maintenance is needed is explained in our article on servicing an electric car. If you drive a plug-in hybrid or a hybrid without a plug, see our page on hybrid car service and repair.

1. Registration number: we look up which sizes, load index and speed rating are allowed on your car and whether the manufacturer specifies XL or HL.
2. Your mileage and driving style: a lot of motorway calls for low rolling resistance and a quiet tyre, a lot of town driving and pulling away calls for a tyre with good wear resistance.
3. Three price classes: budget, mid-range and premium. We tell you which class suits your car and your mileage, and why the tyre with the lowest purchase price is not automatically the most economical per kilometre.
4. Two or four tyres: if you replace two, the new ones go on the rear. With uneven wear we first look at pressure, alignment and suspension.
5. Fitting: balancing is included and we dispose of the old tyres. Alignment only when there is a reason for it.

You call us with your registration number on +31 10 479 00 00 and we tell you one price in advance. You bring the car, and we call you when it is ready. Everything about how we work and what the price includes is on the page tyre replacement in Rotterdam.

No, a special EV tyre is not compulsory. The size, load index and speed rating do have to match what the manufacturer specifies, and that load index is often higher on electric cars. Tyres with an EV marking are tuned for this and usually have low rolling resistance and a quieter tread. A good premium tyre without an EV marking can also meet the requirements.

That varies a lot by car, tyre and driving style. Michelin states that tyres on an electric car wear up to 20 percent faster than on a car with a combustion engine. Pulling away gently, the right tyre pressure and rotating front to rear in time make the difference.

Yes, as long as the load index and the speed rating meet what the manufacturer specifies. Look out for XL or HL here too. Winter and all-season tyres often have slightly higher rolling resistance, so expect a little less range in winter, on top of the effect of the cold on the battery. Not sure? Read all-season vs winter tyres. We change and supply winter and all-season tyres for electric cars, on Saturdays too. See winter tyres in Rotterdam.

Yes, in some cases. Tesla writes that small holes, smaller than 6 mm, can sometimes be repaired. The repair must be done from the inside, in the middle part of the tread and not in the sidewall. On a tyre with a foam layer the mechanic has to remove the foam at the spot of the leak. We assess the tyre and tell you in advance whether a repair is possible.

The value is on the sticker in the door pillar or in the owner’s manual, and on many electric cars it is higher than on a petrol car. Check the pressure every month, cold, as the ANWB advises. Pressure that is too low costs range: according to Continental about 1.5 percent per 0.3 bar too little.

That is wise, because the driven axle wears faster. Tesla advises every 10,000 kilometres or at a 1.5 mm difference in tread depth. Continental mentions every 6,000 to 8,000 miles, about 10,000 to 13,000 kilometres. At a service or a tyre change we look at whether swapping makes sense and then do it straight away.

Yes. Replacing tyres does not touch the high-voltage system, but the car does have to be lifted at the right lifting points and the tyres have to match the weight. Our mechanics are GMTO-certified for hybrid and electric cars and our lifts are rated for heavy cars. We tell you one price in advance based on your registration number.

We supply the tyres ourselves. That way we are sure the size, load index and speed rating are right, and we sort it out if anything is wrong with the tyre. Do you already have tyres? Call us with your registration number and we tell you what we can do for you.

• Michelin: The new demands of EV cars on tyres (13 September 2023)
• Continental: Tyres for electric cars (in Dutch)
• Pirelli: Tyre load index and chart
• Tesla: Model S owner’s manual: tyre care and maintenance (in Dutch)
• ANWB: Bandenspanning controleren (in Dutch)
• Continental: Tire pressure: effect on consumption