Electric vehicle tire wear and reliability

Research indicates that electric vehicles (EVs) experience accelerated tire wear compared to internal combustion engine vehicles. This phenomenon is primarily attributed to the increased mass of heavy battery packs and the high torque characteristic of electric motors. Estimates on the extent of this wear vary; Michelin suggests wear could be up to 20 percent higher, while OECD data suggests a more modest increase of 3 to 8 percent. Emissions Analytics estimates that every additional 450 kilograms of vehicle weight results in approximately 20 percent higher tire consumption.

Further analysis of United Kingdom MOT technical inspection data shows that EVs are nearly twice as likely to experience tire-related issues as petrol vehicles. Despite this maintenance challenge, which some describe as a “tire tax” for owners, EVs demonstrate improved long-term mechanical reliability. Data shows that for vehicles between 3 and 8 years old with high mileage, the failure rate for EVs was approximately 16.5%, compared to 22.1% for petrol cars, due to the absence of complex components like exhaust and fuel delivery systems.