- Michelin has launched new EV-focused tires, including a special Pilot Sport.
- Despite boosting efficiency, the new tires also provide improved performance.
- Both use new elastomers and resins to balance resistance and wet performance.
In the world of electric cars, efficiency is one of the most important priorities. The further you can drive, the less charging is required, so it’s hardly a surprise that so many carmakers are fixated on improving aerodynamics, ensuring their EVs can slice through the air with as little resistance as possible. Tires also play a crucial role in efficiency, and Michelin looks to have made a major step forward with EV-specific tires.
The French company has just unveiled its new Michelin Primacy 5 Energy and Michelin Pilot Sport 5 Energy, two summer tires that will be available in a number of different sizes, making them ideal for a broad spectrum of EVs.
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Those fixated on efficiency will be most interested in the Primacy 5 Energy. It is rated A for rolling resistance and, when fitted to an EV, is said to boost the range by up to 10 percent, adding up to 43 miles (70 km) of driving range. On an ICE model, it can improve fuel efficiency by as much as 6 percent, or 0.3 l/100 km.
When tested for longevity on a VW ID.3, the tire outperformed the Bridgestone Turanza 6, Continental PremiumContact 7, Goodyear Efficient Grip Performance 2, and Pirelli Cinturato P7C3.
Michelin hasn’t sacrificed performance, either. Compared to its predecessor, braking distances are improved by up to 8 percent, both when fresh off the shelf and when it has just 2 mm of tread remaining. Aiding in the tire’s improved performance are functionalized elastomers, new resins, and an improved tread architecture. The tire is available in 33 sizes from 16 to 19 inches.
An Efficient Pilot Sport
Car owners looking for a more performance-focused tire, yet one that is still efficient, would be wise to check out the new Pilot Sport 5 Energy. It includes a new Energy Passive compound on the shoulders to reduce rolling resistance and is the same tire Mercedes-AMG used with its record-breaking GT XX Concept.
When tested on a Tesla Model Y, this tire performed better in wet and dry braking than the Hankook iON Evo SUV and Pirelli P Zero E, while also outperforming those two options in longevity. With electric vehicle adoption being on the rise, it’s good to see that tire companies are tailoring their products to match the specific needs of EVs.