The Telegraph expounded on this in a May 25 report, warning that EV buyers "should be aware of the 'astronomical' costs required to regularly replace short-lived tires." It cited several EV owners in the United Kingdom who experienced this first hand.
Jim Bassett, 80, is a proud owner of a Volkswagen ID.3, which had a mileage of 7,500 miles. But to this surprise, he was quoted more than £300 ($382.29) to replace his EV's rear tires. He shelled out the money after being informed that it was common practice for rear tires to degrade rapidly due to the vehicle's weight.
The Volkswagen ID.3, which retails at £35,000 ($44,600.50), weighs around 1,800 kilograms (3,968 pounds) because of its heavy battery. The hatchback's weight puts it in the same weight division as a Jeep Wrangler 4x4 vehicle.
"I couldn't believe it when I was told [the rear tires] needed replacing. I'm quite old and have had cars all my life. I've never had to change tires this early; it's normally been at around 25,000 miles," said Bassett.
"It amazed me as at 7,500 miles, tires are virtually new. The Volkswagen dealership expressed no surprise or concern that they needed replacing so soon, saying that 'the car is rear-wheel drive and very heavy.'" (Related: EVs chew through tires at a shocking rate … producing mountains of excess rubber tire waste.)
Bassett isn't alone in this predicament, however. "Fellow ID.3 owners have taken to online forums to also complain of short tire life, blaming degradation on the hefty weight and instant torque of the car," the Telegraph stated.
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According to the British newspaper, the strain on EV tires comes as a result of both the vehicle's extra weight and the higher torque, the latter being the twisting power that launches a car from a standing start. Due to the greater acceleration speed, manufacturers advise drivers to be delicate on the throttle to prolong the life of tires.
VW says "driver performance" is the key factor to tire wear
"All that power at any speed in a heavy vehicles means if the driver regularly accelerates hard, the tires are put under tremendous strain, fighting to grip the road and not spin," said road safety charity Tyresafe.
Meanwhile, Volkswagen said driver performance – not vehicle weight – is the key factor impacting tire wear. The German car manufacturer launched the ID.3 hatchback in 2019.
"Tire longevity is influenced by a wide range of factors, most importantly the way in which the vehicle is driven. For example, hard cornering, braking and acceleration can cause more wear than gentle driving," a spokesman for Volkswagen said. He added that "types of road surfaces, temperature, correct maintenance of tire pressures, care when parking and the amount of load the vehicle carries" also play a role in the level of tire degradation.
According to French tire manufacturer Michelin, conventional tires wear out around 20 percent faster in an EV. Meanwhile, Ohio-based tire manufacturer Goodyear said they can degrade as much as 50 percent faster.
Last year, research by technology firm Epyx found that on average, tires fitted to EVs lasted 6,350 miles less than those on cars powered by gasoline. According to the West Midlands-based company, the first tire change for EVs takes place after an average of 17,985 miles. For cars powered by fossil fuel, their first tire change happens at 24,335 miles.
Given this, tire manufacturers are continuing to develop bespoke EV tires suited to heavier vehicles – but at a bigger cost for drivers. Epyx found that the average tire for larger EVs costs £207 ($263.92), higher by £77 ($98.17) than the cost of an average tire for larger gas-powered cars.
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Watch this clip from Fox News Digital about an EV owner denouncing the push for all-electric cars as "foolish."
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