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Bridgestone Tyres for Electric Vehicles

As electric vehicles are becoming more and more common on our roads, the nuances that separate them from the more widely accepted internal combustion engines will become more obvious and apparent.

More and more tyres are being designed with electric vehicles in mind, and are engineered to bring out the very best that modern vehicle propulsion technologies can bring to the table, while minimising the drawbacks.

While electric cars have the same basic requirements as vehicles with other types of engines, you might consider quieter or more energy efficient tyres.

Internal Combustion vs Electric

You’d think that regular petrol and diesel powered vehicles are traditional, but electric vehicles were somewhat more common than vehicles back in the days when motor vehicles were still called ‘horseless carriages’, while refined fuels such as petrol were still in their infancy.

Now that electric vehicle technology is catching up, they are becoming viable replacements for more and more of the population.

Range Anxiety

A common concern for many drivers who are investigating a new electric vehicle is that they’re unsure about how much range they get from a charge, and when they do require a recharge, how long it will take.

ICE vehicles require refuelling too, but at least with that monster, we’re all well aware of how much range we’ll get from a tank, how long it takes to refill the tank and the prolific refuelling locations.

With an electric vehicle, there are some unknowns when it comes to charging opportunities away from home, while range in cold weather or when towing continues to be a big question mark hovering over potential EV owners heads’.

Person plugging electric vehicle in to charge

While refilling an ICE vehicle is dirty, smelly and expensive, it’s convenient, doesn’t require any modifications to your home and can be completed in just a few minutes or less.

While charging speeds are increasing, most EVs still need between 20 minutes and several hours to complete a full charge, this can usually be done without issue if you’re able to charge at your home or place of work.

Low Rolling Resistance Tyres

So what can you do to alleviate some of the concerns? Buy specialty tyres that help you eke out all the range that you can!

‘Rolling resistance’ is the energy consumed by a tyre as it moves a specific distance, and this energy is used to compress and squish the tyre, as well as generate heat within the tyre.

Frequently sold under the label of ‘fuel efficient tyres’, there are tyres specifically designed to have a very low rolling resistance on the road, so that maintaining constant speeds requires less effort from your electric motors.

All tyres are somewhat flexible, and it is this flexibility that allows them to conform to the road surface to provide grip. Rubber will compress and return as a tyre rotates, and the key engineering challenge in making low rolling resistance tyres lies in making the tyre return to its original shape while converting very little energy into heat.

Low rolling resistance tyres may have exactly the same tread patterns, and look exactly the same, but the secret is in the tyre compound and what makes up the tyre, as well as what percentages of materials are used

Bridgestone has invested millions of dollars into tyre compound technology and manufacturing tyres with very low energy loss through heat, defeating the traditional drawbacks of energy efficient tyres such as poor wet and cold weather performance.

Low Noise Tyres

While we’re talking about tyres that compliment your EV, it would be remiss of us not to mention low noise tyres. With no engine sound or exhaust note, why should you have to listen to loud tyres roaring down the road?

Some tyres are engineered for maximum performance and grip with no compromises, while some are designed to do their job without any extra fuss.

Tyres designed for quiet road noise such as the Bridgestone Alenza range intended for luxury vehicles and SUVs, as well as the Turanza, offer great performance while being as close to silent as practical.

Bridgestone Tyre Technology

If you’re looking for quiet and efficient tyres to suit your vehicle, take a look at the following great options!

The friendly team at your nearest Donnellans store are happy to provide expert tailored advice based on your vehicle and your driving style.

Donnellans are Your Local Experts

With four convenient locations across the greater south-east Melbourne region with easy access and plenty of parking. Call us on 03 9894 1223 today to schedule a tyre check and to talk to our team about the best tyres for your EV!