At Tire Reviews, we frequently receive inquiries from electric vehicle (EV) owners about whether they should continue using the original equipment (OE) tires designed for their EVs, switch to a newer specific EV tire, or opt for a standard aftermarket tire. It seems that German publication AutoBild has encountered similar questions, as they recently conducted a test comparing three tire types on a Tesla Model S.

In this test, AutoBild compared the OE Michelin Pilot Sport 3, the latest aftermarket version (Michelin Pilot Sport 5), and the new EV-specific aftermarket tire, the Hankook iON Evo. This examination addresses numerous concerns and provides valuable insights for EV owners.

Range Impact

The first question most EV owners have is what will happen to their range if they fit an aftermarket tire, as the factory fit tire will almost certainly be optimised for low energy use.

In this test, the OE tire actually used the highest amount of energy, being narrowly beaten by the newer Pilot Sport 5. However, if you're someone who stresses about charging, the aftermarket Hankook iON Evo proved to have a clear advantage, 1.5kg/t which would result in the Tesla achieving about 5%, or 30 km extra range per charge! 

Wet Performance

Many assume that improved range comes at the cost of reduced wet grip. A glance at the aquaplaning results might reinforce this assumption, as the OE tire excelled while the Hankook iON Evo lagged behind, about 5% worse than the best performer. However, various techniques can optimize tires for heavier, more powerful electric vehicles. These optimizations seemed to have paid off, as the Hankook iON Evo posted the fastest wet handling lap time and the shortest wet braking distance by a significant margin.

Dry

When it comes to dry performance, the OE tire falls short once again. Although the Hankook iON Evo slightly outperformed the Pilot Sport 5 in dry braking, the Pilot Sport 5 had a small edge in dry handling, delivering the fastest lap time and superior subjective handling among the group.

Price

In an unusual twist, the best overall tires in this test were also the most affordable. The OE tires cost roughly 200 euros more per set than the Hankook iON Evo, proving that sometimes, the most expensive option isn't always the best choice for your vehicle. The aftermarket Michelin Pilot Sport 5 tires sat in the middle of the two sets.

Results

1st: Hankook iON Evo
245/45 R19 EU Label: A/A/69 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 1st 33.7 M 100% Dry Handling 2nd 108.3 Km/H 109.1 Km/H -0.8 Km/H 99.27% Wet Braking 1st 43.5 M 100% Wet Handling 1st 77.3 Km/H 100% Straight Aqua 3rd 90.9 Km/H 96.9 Km/H -6 Km/H 93.81% Price 1st 900 100% Rolling Resistance 1st 6.21 kg / t 100% Very low rolling resistance, good driving dynamics on wet and dry roads, short braking distances, good comfort, low noise. Average aquaplaning resistance. Test Winner. Read Reviews
2nd: Michelin Pilot Sport 5
245/45 R19 EU Label: C/A/72 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 2nd 33.8 M 33.7 M +0.1 M 99.7% Dry Handling 1st 109.1 Km/H 100% Wet Braking 2nd 47.3 M 43.5 M +3.8 M 91.97% Wet Handling 2nd 76.7 Km/H 77.3 Km/H -0.6 Km/H 99.22% Straight Aqua 2nd 93.7 Km/H 96.9 Km/H -3.2 Km/H 96.7% Price 2nd 1000 900 +100 90% Rolling Resistance 2nd 7.67 kg / t 6.21 kg / t +1.46 kg / t 80.96% Outstanding driving dynamics with sensitive steering and short braking distances on dry roads, well balanced safe handling balance on wet roads. Average rolling resistance, increased noise. Good. Read Reviews    Buy from £223.25
3rd: Michelin Pilot Sport 3 PS3
245/45 R19 EU Label: C/B/71 3PMSF: no	Test # Result Best Difference % Dry Braking 3rd 35.5 M 33.7 M +1.8 M 94.93% Dry Handling 3rd 105.8 Km/H 109.1 Km/H -3.3 Km/H 96.98% Wet Braking 3rd 48.8 M 43.5 M +5.3 M 89.14% Wet Handling 3rd 75.2 Km/H 77.3 Km/H -2.1 Km/H 97.28% Straight Aqua 1st 96.9 Km/H 100% Price 3rd 1100 900 +200 81.82% Rolling Resistance 3rd 7.78 kg / t 6.21 kg / t +1.57 kg / t 79.82% [Tesla OE Tire] Very good aquaplaning resistance, good handling on dry and wet roads. Long wet and dry braking distances, average rolling resistance, limited ride comfort. Ok. Read Reviews    Buy from £214.10