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- Electric vehicles offer a lot of benefits for drivers but they can go through tires quickly.
- The environmental impact of tires is drawing attention — including from regulators.
- More tire manufacturers are trying to go green with their products and also make versions for EVs.
You're looking to climb into an electric vehicle because it's better for your wallet, better when it comes to maintenance, and better for the planet.
But don't forget to kick the actual tires.
That's because for all of their benefits, vehicles powered by electrons can be hard on tires. EVs are essentially massive rolling batteries. This means they're often heavier than their gas-powered cousins. And EVs' electric motors can produce huge torque at practically any speed. That tends to make the vehicles a lot peppier.
The extra weight and zero-to-60 capabilities that push passengers into their seats mean EVs can chew through tires more quickly than other vehicles.
EVs' penchant for snacking on tires and broader concerns about the environmental harms from tires in general has some of the biggest manufacturers trying to green up their product lines. That means the next time you go car shopping or to look for new tires, there could be more options for what rolls beneath.
The expanded product lines come as many tire makers have set goals for making products that go easier on the environment. That could have a big impact because the world wears through some 1 billion tires each year.
There's also been more focus in recent years on the microscopic bits of tires — and brakes — that flake off and make their way into the environment. By some measures, this pollution is greater than what's coming from tailpipes. And, no surprise, making tires requires significant amounts of crude oil, which is helping warm the planet.
Because of these concerns, many tire giants are looking to find more environmentally friendly ingredients.
Bridgestone is exploring how a desert shrub called guayule could serve as a source of natural rubber.
Michelin introduced a tire in 2022 that the company said was made of 45% sustainable materials — including components from recycled tires, steel comprised of recycled scrap metal, and silica made from rice husks. The company plans to make tires from only sustainable materials by 2050.
Goodyear, for its part, has said it plans to replace all of the petroleum-derived oils it uses by 2040.
Chris Helsel, senior vice president, global operations and chief technology officer at Goodyear, told Insider the company plans to begin selling tires made of 70% renewable materials before the end of 2023.
The company this year demonstrated a tire made of 90% sustainable materials. It incorporates pine tree resins, recycled polyester, and soybean oil that can reduce demand for petroleum products.
"That oil is actually giving us better low-temperature performance," he said, adding that the soybean oil isn't what's used in food production. The company didn't want to trade one problem for another by using resources that could be feeding people. "We're also very careful that it doesn't compete with food," he said. "It's the byproduct of processing. It's not that we're saying instead of using soybeans for people's food, use it for our tires."
Part of the push for better tire ingredients is also coming from regulators. In July, California adopted a rule that will require companies selling tires in the nation's largest car market to look for a safer alternative to the chemical 6PPD. The toxin is one manufacturers use to help keep tires from cracking. California officials said the 6PPD has been found in the state's streams at levels shown to kill coho salmon in lab studies.
The state's move follows its well-publicized decision to ban the sale of new gas-powered cars and trucks by 2035.
The growing market for EVs also has tire producers focusing on developing products specifically for these vehicles. The tires are designed to deal with the vehicles' heft, withstand the wear from fast acceleration, and extend a vehicle's range. Estimates vary, but by one measure, EV tires can wear out 30% faster. That's why it's necessary, manufacturers say, to design tires for these vehicles.
Goodyear is researching ways to make tires last longer — an obvious benefit for the environment.
"If we can find ways to just help keep tires better maintained, we can have a really big impact as well on emissions or downtime," Helsel said.