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.
3 categories (7 tests)
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
- EU Label: A/A/69
- 3PMSF: no
| Test | # | Result | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | 1st | 33.7 M | 100% |
| Dry Handling | 2nd | 108.3 Km/H | 99.27% |
| Test | # | Result | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 1st | 43.5 M | 100% |
| Wet Handling | 1st | 77.3 Km/H | 100% |
| Straight Aqua | 3rd | 90.9 Km/H | 93.81% |
| Test | # | Result | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | 1st | 900 | 100% |
| Rolling Resistance | 1st | 6.21 kg / t | 100% |
- EU Label: C/A/72
- 3PMSF: no
| Test | # | Result | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | 2nd | 33.8 M | 99.7% |
| Dry Handling | 1st | 109.1 Km/H | 100% |
| Test | # | Result | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 2nd | 47.3 M | 91.97% |
| Wet Handling | 2nd | 76.7 Km/H | 99.22% |
| Straight Aqua | 2nd | 93.7 Km/H | 96.7% |
| Test | # | Result | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | 2nd | 1000 | 90% |
| Rolling Resistance | 2nd | 7.67 kg / t | 80.96% |
- EU Label: C/B/71
- 3PMSF: no
| Test | # | Result | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | 3rd | 35.5 M | 94.93% |
| Dry Handling | 3rd | 105.8 Km/H | 96.98% |
| Test | # | Result | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 3rd | 48.8 M | 89.14% |
| Wet Handling | 3rd | 75.2 Km/H | 97.28% |
| Straight Aqua | 1st | 96.9 Km/H | 100% |
| Test | # | Result | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | 3rd | 1100 | 81.82% |
| Rolling Resistance | 3rd | 7.78 kg / t | 79.82% |