By Ertugrull Bahan, Senior Tyre Expert

Electric cars will surely be more on board than in recent decades. They are becoming more popular, more commercial, the market volume of the middle and upper classes will increase more than today. The inconsistencies associated with high sales costs and a short battery charge distance are generally overlooked. Brand popularity depends mainly on entry price and customer service.

New brands for the production of electric cars will appear on the market. The manufacture of high-tech electric cars becomes easier and more convenient because fewer transmission components are used than conventional cars. However, the spectrum and capacity of AI determine the comfort of mobility. Solid software support for brand awareness will therefore be more dominant than the physical parts of the vehicle.

Low weight and cheaper batteries

Humanity must still be patient with flying cars! Next generation cars will be purely electric, so the total load will always be borne by wheels and tyres.There is still a space where the weight of electric cars can be reduced with lighter and additive manufacturing features. However, these are not yet completely possible for industry.The battery of an electric car is today the heaviest part of the vehicle and weighs around 500 kg. The weight of the batterywill determine the all aspects of the electric car.Due to the total body weight, todayelectric car tyres are not light load tyres and their size depends on the total weight of the car. New lighter battery technologies will shape future electric cars and their tyres. Technical reasons point to tall tire sizes with a rim size of 19 inches and more with a smaller cross-sectional width and stiffer sidewall for electric car tyres.

Electric car manufacturers must plan long distances on a single charge anyway. Any successful design of vehicle parts therefore aims for low energy consumption. Higher battery weight, more braking energy and larger brake pedals hinder this goal. The regenerative ability feature braking and driving downhill are therefore on the table and the preference for a working electric car.

Quieter, lighter, easier to grip tyres

It is reasonable for automakers to expect energy efficient electric car tyres.In this regard, the tyres should have less rolling resistance, but should also contain a rubber composition that manages the current torque of the electric motors. The high torque and weight of the heavy vehicle challenge optimal performance. Better grip, lower rolling resistance and better tyre wear performance require opposite directions of the magic triangle. The use of silica-silane has already been carried out with conventional tyres. This means that the structure and material of electric car tyres have a unique design and must be different from conventional car tyres.

Electric cars offer a quiet driving experience, so any noise source other than the low-noise electric drive train is annoying to the driver. A larger outside diameter with a stiffer sidewall and a high inflation and cavity are disadvantageous for a better noise level. If a shallow skid depth is used for better pattern noise, wear resistance will decrease. However, a high instantaneous torque mainly requires better tyre wear. Because other performance parameters are balanced during the development phase, including wet and dry traction, life is not easy for tire manufacturers as they need of many newsizes after the spread of electric vehicles in all segments. All bring us the concept of "active tyres" also referred to as "intelligent tyres," which means that all necessary services are available in good time if necessary. However, this is a completely new and challenging area, consisting of the possibilities of non-air-filled tyres and the use of nano-additives in traditional blends. Otherwise, electric car tyres will also be a mixture of today's technologies. They will be the best possible compromise for the most important parameters.

New technologies, government incentives to prevail

Other technological developments for powerful tyres for electric cars will prevail.Developing foam layer technologies for tire noise reduction is one alternative for quit tyres.  Previous foam filled tyres as alternative to run-flat technologies will be on scene for the purpose of lowering the tire and road noise for a better riding performance of an electric car and its tyres.

Around 2 million electric car sales is expected to reach to ten times more in ten years in overall world and electric car volume reaches 530 total million market volume in 20 years. Many countries will ban diesel engine and limit gasoline fuel car sales. Governments will play major roles shaping the global market with incentives. 30% less noise and 20% less rolling tyres will be average technology and requirements of next tire labeling requirements. Future tyres will be anyhow more technological. Caching up all has to be started by better power of will and imagination.   

Michelin unveiled a new tyre that lasts 18 percent longer than its predecessor, aiming to capture growing demand for more sustainable automotive products amid stricter environmental regulations.

The Primacy 5, designed for passenger cars and SUVs, can travel an additional 7,000 kilometres compared to the previous model while maintaining safety standards on wet roads, the Clermont-Ferrand, France-based company said in a statement. The tyre also reduces environmental impact by six percent over its lifecycle, addressing mounting pressure on manufacturers to decrease their carbon footprint.

The launch comes as automakers shift toward electric vehicles, creating new challenges for tyre makers to handle heavier vehicle weights while minimizing road noise. Michelin’s new product improves energy efficiency by five percent compared to its Primacy 4+ model, according to testing by TÜV SÜD, an independent certification company.

“Developing a new tyre means overcoming multiple challenges,” the company said. The Primacy 5 features deeper tread channels for improved water evacuation and meets the European ‘A’ rating for wet-surface safety standards.

Michelin plans to roll out 64 sizes initially in Europe this month, expanding to 88 sizes globally by year-end. The company will begin sales in Asian markets in March 2025 and target 127 sizes available worldwide by mid-2026.

The tyre maker assessed environmental impact across five stages: development, manufacturing, transport, usage and end-of-life disposal, part of its broader “All Sustainable” strategy. External testing showed the new model improved wet braking performance by four percent when new compared to its predecessor.

The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., has begun supplying its ADVAN Sport EV tyres as original equipment for Chinese premium electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer NIO’s ONVO L60 SUV. The SUV will be fitted with 245/50R19 101V size tyres.

Based on Yokohama Rubber's ADVAN Sport V107 tyre for high-performance automobiles, the ADVAN Sport EV is an exceptionally high-performance summer tyre created to satisfy the demands of owners of EVs and other electric vehicles. Yokohama Rubber has attained a level of low power consumption and wet performance suitable for high-end EVs by utilising a compound that has been shown to decrease tyre rolling resistance and a tread design that improves drainage. Yokohama Rubber's exclusive ‘E+’ symbol is shown on the sidewall of the ADVAN Sport EV to signify that it possesses unique properties appropriate for EVs.

The ONVO L60 is a family-oriented mid-size smart electric SUV that was introduced in China in September 2024. Six essential components were prioritised throughout development: battery life, driving performance, safety, comfort, smart cockpit and intelligent driving. On a single charge, the higher-end versions may go more than 1,000 km.

The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., has started supplying its ADVAN Sport EV tyres for use as original equipment (OE) on the new Stelato S9, an electric vehicle (EV) developed jointly by leading Chinese telecommunications equipment manufacturer Huawei and Beijing Automotive Group (BAIC Group). The EV will be equipped with 245/45R20 103V size tyres.

The ADVAN Sport EV tyre is developed for high-end EV users based on Yokohama Rubber's ADVAN Sport V107 tyre. Yokohama Rubber has attained a level of low power consumption and quietness suitable for luxury EVs by employing a compound that has been shown to minimise tyre rolling resistance and adding a unique polyurethane foam dubbed SILENTFOAM to the inside of the tyre to reduce noise. Yokohama Rubber's exclusive ‘E+’ symbol is shown on the sidewall of the ADVAN Sport EV to signify that it possesses unique properties appropriate for electric vehicles.

The Stelato S9 was launched in China in August 2024. Combining state-of-the-art features like a sophisticated driver assistance system with an opulent cabin with a sizable central control panel, the Stelato S9 provides a sophisticated and pleasurable driving experience. Furthermore, the car's sleek body shape offers its exteriors a chic, contemporary look.

The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., will be supplying its GEOLANDAR X-CV tyres as original equipment (OE) to the seventh generation Nissan Patrol. The SUV will be fitted with 275/60R20 115H size tyres.

With its emphasis on high-speed performance and manoeuvrability, GEOLANDAR X-CV tyres set a new benchmark for highway terrain tyres. Excellent driving stability, decreased weight, enhanced snow performance and quietness are all provided by carefully calibrated tread patterns and construction.

Aiming to increase the sales ratios of high-value tyres, Yokohama Rubber's consumer tyre division is part of its Yokohama Transformation 2026 (YX2026) medium-term management strategy, which runs from 2024 to 2026. Promoting the GEOLANDAR and ADVAN brands as original equipment for new SUVs and pickup trucks is one of the main projects under this approach.