Shorter lifespan of EV tires compared to traditional fuel vehicles

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【Summary】Tyres fitted to electric vehicles (EVs) are wearing out faster and costing more to replace compared to petrol or diesel cars, according to fleet data from epyx. The first tyre change for EVs occurs at an average of 17,985 miles, while hybrids and petrol/diesel cars have their first change at around 24,641 miles. The data also shows that EV tyres are both bigger and more expensive than their counterparts.

FutureCar Staff Sep 27, 2023 9:23 AM PT

Shorter lifespan of EV tires compared to traditional fuel vehicles

According to new fleet data from epyx, tyres fitted to electric vehicles (EVs) are lasting an average of 6,350 fewer miles compared to petrol or diesel cars. The data, taken from epyx's 1link Service Network platform, reveals that the first tyre change for EVs occurs at around 17,985 miles and 551 days old, while hybrids have their first change at 24,641 miles and 585 days, and petrol and diesel cars at 24,335 miles and 670 days.

In addition to shorter lifespan, previous information from epyx in March indicated that EV tyres are both larger and more expensive than their petrol or diesel counterparts. The average replacement tyre for an EV measures 18.59 inches and costs £207, while for petrol and diesel cars, the figures are 17.40 inches and £130 respectively.

Tim Meadows, chief commercial officer at epyx, acknowledges that caution should be exercised when interpreting the data due to the limited sample size. He explains that most EVs operated by fleets are larger models, with fewer smaller vehicles available. However, even with this consideration, the data suggests that EV tyres wear faster and are more costly to replace. This translates to significant expenses for fleets, with a difference of 6,350 miles and £77 compared to petrol and diesel cars.

Tim raises the question of whether this is an inherent characteristic of EVs or simply a reflection of the types of EVs being used by fleets. There are conflicting arguments within the fleet sector, with some believing that the weight of EVs and the specific tyres used contribute to faster wear, while others argue that the situation is similar to petrol and diesel cars.

As a result of the ban on internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles by 2035, some EV buyers are considering a switch back to petrol and diesel cars.