EV Tire Maintenance

• EV tires often wear faster than standard tires because electric vehicles are heavier and deliver instant torque.
• Checking tire pressure monthly, rotating tires on schedule, and keeping your wheels aligned help extend tire life and driving range.
• Our service team can inspect, rotate, and replace EV tires for drivers in Norfolk, Chesapeake, and Virginia Beach.

Electric vehicle tires are designed around the way EVs drive. Common features include:

• Low rolling resistance: Tread compounds and designs that reduce energy loss, helping you get the most from every charge
• Higher load capacity: Reinforced construction that supports the added weight of the battery. Some EV tires carry an "HL" load index on the sidewall.
• Noise reduction: Some EV tires include foam inserts that help reduce road noise
• Wear-resistant compounds: Tread rubber built to stand up to instant torque

Switching to standard tires can affect your EV's range, handling, and comfort, so it's best to stick with tires that match your vehicle's original specifications.

Electric vehicles typically wear through tires faster than comparable gas-powered vehicles for two main reasons: weight and torque. According to Michelin, EVs wear out tires about 20% faster on average than comparable gas-powered vehicles.*

An EV's battery pack adds significant weight, which puts more load on each tire every time you drive. Electric motors also deliver full torque the moment you press the accelerator. That quick acceleration is part of what makes driving an EV fun, but it also scrubs away tread faster than a gradual start.

EVs are also much quieter than gas-powered vehicles, so road noise from worn or mismatched tires is easier to notice inside the cabin.

A few simple habits go a long way toward making your EV tires last:

• Check tire pressure monthly: Use the recommended pressure on the placard inside your driver's door jamb, not the maximum pressure printed on the tire.* Your vehicle's tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) will warn you when a tire is low, but a monthly check with a gauge helps you catch slow leaks early. Underinflated tires wear faster and increase rolling resistance.
• Rotate your tires on schedule: Rotating helps your tires wear evenly, which matters even more on a heavier EV.
• Keep your wheels aligned: Potholes and curbs can knock your alignment out of spec, leading to uneven tread wear. Our tire repair and alignment services can bring your wheels back to factory specifications.
• Inspect your tread: Tires are considered worn out at 2/32 of an inch of tread depth.* Built-in tread wear indicators make this easy to spot.
• Look for damage: Check for cracks, bulges, punctures, or objects stuck in the tread.

Temperature swings between Hampton Roads summers and winters can shift your tire pressure, so check it more often when the seasons change.