WHY DO YOU NEED EV-SPECIFIC TYRES?

The particular needs of an electric vehicle mean that for optimum performance, you need the right tyres

ELECTRIC vehicles are very different beasts compared to petrol and diesel-powered cars – so it pays to think differently when it comes to tyres.

That’s why Hankook has developed a new range of tyres to address all the specific needs of EVs, with the aim of improving both efficiency and performance.

But what are these EV demands? Let us take you through these challenges, and how the Hankook iON is able to solve them.

Noise reduction

NORMALLY, the sound of an engine does a good job of drowning out tyre noise. Replace it with one or more quiet motors, however, and reducing the roar of four tyres making contact with the road becomes a lot more important.

To do this, Hankook iON tyres feature Sound Absorber™ technology. This involves a special material inside the tyre to reduce what’s known as ‘cavity noise’, while the inner tread grooves are knurled to combat tread noise.

Also, the size and shapes of the tread blocks are varied, so they don’t contact the road in a uniform manner. This stops the tyres from emitting a drone as they rotate at speed.

Rolling resistance

WITH charging an EV still being a relatively time-consuming experience, it’s important to make each charge last as long as possible.

By reducing rolling resistance, ON tyres can increase your EV’s efficiency, improving its range. This is done mostly through the make-up of the rubber itself.

Each iON tyre is made with Hankook’s EVolution compound, which uses high concentration silica andvariou sec o-friendly materials for lower rolling resistance and longer tyre life. Prolific use of natural oils meanwhile means less material needs to go into the tyre, leading to a weight reduction of up to one kilogram per tyre. A lighter tyre is easier to turn, so this helps rolling resistance even more.

Air resistance

REDUCING rolling resistance is just one way a tyre’s efficiency can be improved – iON tyres are also carefully optimised to cut through the air as cleanly as possible. The tread pattern has been designed for better airflow, and even the lettering on the sidewalls has been designed for the best aerodynamic efficiency.

Weight

ELECTRIC vehicles are on average 25-30 per cent heavier than the equivalent petrol or diesel powered car, thanks largely to the hefty battery packs they use. This puts extra strain on the

tyres, so the iON S and SX summer tyres use reinforced belts containing aramid fibres. This is a super strong material often found in body armour, which helps the iON keep its shape when under load, so more of the tyre stays in contact with the tarmac.

There’s an EV-specific ‘contour’ for the tyre, too, giving a 10 per cent increase in stiffness when cornering, and all tyres in the range are built for the top XL (extra load) rating.

Instant torque

EVs are known for being able to deliver their torque outputs – which are often significant – instantly. This puts yet more stress on the tyre while it already deals with the typical extra EV weight. To prevent wheelspin, iON tyres use extended outer shoulder blocks of tread, providing more rigidity and a better contact patch with the road.