EV Tires?

So looking to go up in tire size to a 275/65r20, but no chance I’ll put an E tire on there. I also don’t want an aggressive AT tire. Best bet looks like the Pirelli Scorpion. People on this forum seem to like it. It’s an AT, but reviews say it’s pretty quiet. But it’s listed as a EV tire developed for the Rivian. A google search on what makes it an EV tire mentions improvements in lowering rolling resistance, increasing wear resistance, and reducing noise. Those are all things we would want in any tire. So what does that mean for using them on a normal truck? Is there any practical reason why an EV tire would not be appropriate for the Tundra? My first thought is it’s just marketing hype.

 

marketing hype

 

Mostly marketing hype. But that's like saying AT tires are marketing hype also. The EV tires have features to optimize it for a specific use case scenario. Those same features may be beneficial for your use case as well, EV or not.

 

I did see that some EV tire mfgs laminate a layer of foam inside the tire to reduce noise (and probably add vibration when it eventually delaminates). Pirelli calls it PNCS, but their site says it’s not added in this size.

 

this.

diff = mostly noise abatement

 

EV tires are usually constructed to deal with the extra mass of EV's. For example, most EV trucks(rivian, lightning, cybertruck) are in the 7000-7500 lb range. The Hummer and Silverado EV with the big battery pack are in the 8000-9000 lb range. A normal gasoline half ton is in the 5000-6000 lbs range. As a result, they may ride stiffer and the rubber compound may be harder than ideal for the weight of the gas truck.

EV's also tend to have WAY more power and torque and so the tires have to be able to cope with that. A Rivian has 835hp and can do 0-60 in around 3 seconds while your Tundra would be lucky to do it in 6.

Additionally, since EV's are so efficient at converting battery energy to motion(90-95% of the battery's power ends up as motion vs only 30-40% of gasoline's energy becoming motion) that they are very sensitive to increased rolling resistance. An EV can go 300 miles on the equivalent energy of like 2 or 3 gallons of gasoline. That also means that any increase in rolling resistance results in a rather large hit in range. The EV tires are made to roll easier, and even are shaped to be more aerodynamic, so that you can squeeze every mile out of the battery. If it takes 50 kw of power to move an EV truck down the road, and I can reduce that by even 2.5 kw with easier rolling tires, that just added 15 miles of range on a 300 mile range truck. It that 15 miles makes the difference between me having to stop and charge, or make it home without charging, that's a big deal.

Since your gas truck is already wildly inefficient in terms of turning gasoline into motion, the increase in rolling resistance is not that big of a deal. You can also refill the tank virtually anywhere and in less than 5 minutes. Also gasoline engines tend to be more efficient per HP generated at a little higher loads. So the additional rolling resistance doesnt neccesarily equate 1:1 with your reduction in gas mileage.

The last one about noise is also true. There is virtually no powertrain noise in an EV while driving. All of the noise comes from wind and tires.

Everything is a compromise though. Just because they work well for an EV doesnt mean it will be a good fit for your truck.

 

Nitto RidgeGrapplers makes a T rated standard tire, which would work for your application.

 

Yeah, I saw those. That’s too aggressive for me. TireRack’s testing of the Scorpion says it’s a “more mild tread pattern that offers enhanced off-road traction compared to a touring tire, but still primarily focused on on-road characteristics”.
That said, as it’s the OEM tire for a Rivian, it’s priced for someone who can afford a Rivian.

 

Thanks for the detail. Never owned an EV (can’t imagine I ever will), but all that makes sense. I guess what my real question is, those are all good characteristics for a tire, and I can see from your explanation that they make significantly more of a difference for an EV. But wouldn’t lower rolling resistance, lower wear resistance, and better noise mitigation be good characteristics for a tire for any vehicle, even if the difference is only marginal on a gas vehicle? It may not be worth the additional cost as the EV Pirelli is way more expensive than others in the same class. And maybe that’s where the decision really lies.

 

Why did you purchase a truck, The new Land Cruiser, 4 Runner or Highlander run standard road tires. A truck needs to do truck things not be an SUV.

 

Do what a lot of us have done and get Recon Grapplers. They come in 270/65R20 with standard load rating and make hardly any noise at all, while still looking better than the stock tires, without being priced higher than everything else.

 

You mean like haul 12’ lumber? Yeah, I do that. Doesn’t mean I need mud tires.
Geez, people. Let’s dispense with being so f’ing critical of others choices.

 

You don't earn any cool points with internet forum truck guys unless you proudly run cupped/feathered mud tires that howl like Chewbacca on the highway.

 

I hear you. And a leveling kit that looks great until you use it like a truck and put a few hundred pounds in the bed.

 

They make a 275/60 in an XL load, but the 275/65 is an E. Those things weigh close to 60# each.

 

They've got 275/65R20 in a Non-E-Rated (it's what I'm personally running, intentionally avoiding E-rated tires as well):

 

I didn’t see them when I looked earlier, but sure enough. I still think they’re way too aggressive for me. My roughest roads are the forest service roads in the NC mountains. And we don’t have winters anymore.

 

I thought a lot of folks were huge fans of the Michelin tires for street use around here. I haven’t used them, so can’t comment.

Good luck with your search! There are a lot of good tires out there these days.

 

I have had several sets, and the praise is well deserved. Just can’t get them in a standard load range in a 275/65.

 

So that is what that cool sound is, in snow, in mud, in sand, in gravel, in offroad situations -- highway tires are just that highway tires. You need real truck tires that look cool, make you look cool, and people know your truck is awesome.

You don't need no girly man witty bitty tires, throw on 35s-37s turn that radio up, roll the windows down, and stand up kicking ass.

 

If you wear Pit Vipers, it’s like turning the cool all the way up to eleven…

 

Sure if you dont mind the tires riding stiffer and maybe not having as much traction because the compound is harder on a lighter vehicle.

But realistically we are probably splitting hairs. You might not notice from the drivers seat.