EVs have transformed the way we look at many aspects of driving, from refuelling to performance. Although EVs are very similar in many ways to traditional internal combustion-engined cars, a surprising number of key components have called for a big rethink for the electric era. 

Arguably one of the most important elements that has undergone significant development are tyres. We all know that good tyres are critical to the safety of ourselves and other road users, but were you aware that brands such as Hankook have designed and developed a range of EV-specific tyres that use new technologies to help extend your car’s driving range and reduce noise, while minimising wear caused by the extra weight and the instant torque delivered by EVs? This is Hankook’s range of iON tyres, and you can even get all-weather or winter iON tyres, as well as more performance-focused road tyre or an all-rounder that’ll deliver great EV-specific benefits all year round. Sounds too good to be true, right? Time to investigate…

Range and efficiency improvements

You may have heard the term ‘rolling resistance’ when you’ve come to replace the tyres on your car. But do you know what it means and how it can affect your driving range? 

Put simply, rolling resistance is the energy lost as the tyre continuously flexes and deforms while rotating. That energy is converted into heat rather than forward motion. It’s like trying to run in shoes with a very squishy sole. If a tyre has a high rolling resistance, your car is using more of its precious energy to overcome the resistance of the tyre. Add in the fact that EVs are, on average, a bit heavier than their internal combustion counterparts and the energy loss is even greater. And to state the obvious, the more energy the car uses to keep its wheels turning, the lower the range!

Hankook’s iON range of EV tyres have been designed specifically to deliver exceptionally low rolling resistance without compromising on grip, making for maximum efficiency and safety. Win, win. 
To achieve this, Hankook iON tyres use a low rolling resistance compound, and are constructed using the brand’s innovative Opti Cure Technology. During tyre production, rubber is heated and chemically cured to set its final structure. This creates consistent contact patch which spreads load more evenly, reducing flex and lowering rolling resistance. 

Does it work? Yes – iON tyres can improve EV efficiency by up to 8% compared with conventional tyres, helping you get further.

Quietness

One of the first things that strikes drivers when they experience an EV for the first time is the quietness. Without a 2,000-part mechanical orchestra thrashing away under the bonnet, noises that were once drowned out by engine sounds can suddenly be heard. Many carmakers have had to completely redesign features such as windscreen wiper motors and suspension systems to eliminate whirring noises and clonks.

The same also applies to tyres, which can generate significant amounts of noise in the cabin. Road noise from tyres mainly comes from how the tyre interacts with the road surface and the air it traps and releases as it rolls. Additionally, the hollow space inside the tyre can act like a drum, amplifying certain frequencies of sound as the air inside vibrates.

To address these issues, Hankook has developed new technologies for its range of iON tyres. Firstly, all iON tyres have a variable pitch tread pattern which helps spread noise across multiple frequencies. This has the effect of making it far less intrusive in the cabin. 

To reduce cavity resonance, where noise is amplified inside the tyre, Hankook has introduced Sound Absorber™ technology on many tyres within the iON range. This takes the form of a polyurethane foam insert that helps dampen unwanted sounds, all of which helps to reduce tyre noise by up to 6dBA.

Handling extra weight

There’s no escaping the fact that EVs are generally heavier than their petrol or diesel-engined equivalents. Although manufacturers and battery suppliers are working hard to lower kerb weights, EVs are still on average some 20 percent heavier than a comparable internal combustion car. 

That additional weight makes itself felt in many places, but none more so than in the tyres. As the sole component connecting the rest of the car with the road, tyres fitted to EVs have to work extra hard. In theory, it’s relatively easy to adapt tyre designs for EV use with harder compounds that wear less and much stiffer sidewalls that can handle heavy cornering loads. However, this comes at the price of grip and comfort. Developing a tyre to handle the extra weight of an EV without compromising safety and the driving experience is a fine balance. 

To address the challenges of extra weight, Hankook’s iON tyres have been designed from the outset to cope with high loads. All iON tyres feature a reinforced casing and high-strength aramid belt construction. This technology improves cornering stiffness by up to 20 percent compared with conventional tyres, and the stiffer construction helps to improve stability, braking performance and tyre wear without compromising bump absorption and ride comfort.

Managing extra torque

If you’ve switched to an EV from a petrol or diesel car, you will have noticed that the driving experience is a little different, especially when you use the accelerator! Unlike combustion engines, electric motors are capable of delivering maximum torque instantly, which means faster acceleration and a noticeably more lively feel. 

While that punch of acceleration is very helpful when you need to overtake slower traffic or pull out onto a busy road, spare a thought for the tyres, which have to transmit all that turning force onto the road. Thanks to their high torque outputs and the extra weight of big battery packs and you can see why EV drivers are advised to choose EV-specific tyres. 

Non-EV tyres wear out 20 percent quicker with uneven wear, but the Hankook iON range of tyres feature a special EV-specific tread compound that balances grip with durability. The reinforced construction helps resist deformation under hard acceleration, allowing the tyre to transfer power to the road more effectively. The result? Improved traction, even tread wear and a longer tyre life.