On tire sidewall
Inside the door jamb
New electric vehicle sales had a sharp incline in 2023, according to Cox Automotive, and remained over 1.2 million units in 2024 and 2025. If you're among those millions of new plug-in EV drivers – or you're thinking of going electric – you'll have questions about the best replacement tires for electric vehicles. Do you need special tires for EVs? Do EV tires cost more than gas-powered vehicle tires?
If you’d like to skip the tutorial on EV tires and get right to finding the right replacement tire for your vehicle, select Shop Tires and Wheels from any page, enter your vehicle’s information (make, model, year and trim level) and we’ll match you with the right tires. You’ll find hundreds of options, which you can filter based on what matters most to you: price, brand, warranty, tread time, fuel economy and more.
Before we get into your best tire options, let’s talk about electric vehicles and why they require special tires.
3 Special Things That Make EV Tires Different
There are three reasons why EVs require what might be considered “special” tires:
- Electric vehicles are quieter, and therefore, drivers want quiet, comfortable tires.
- EVs are heavier than gas vehicles, so they may require heavier load indexes.
- EVs produce instant torque and accelerate faster, which require tires with reinforced construction and tread compounds designed to handle higher torque loads.
Electric vehicles and road noise
With nearly silent EV motors, their tires need to be built to minimize road noise. Having standard tires on an electric vehicle could make for an less comfortable ride.
Standard tires seem louder when rolling over the road surfaces, which a gasoline engine tends to mask. That’s not the case with EVs, which is why some drivers prefer tires that have been designed to be quieter.
Curb weight EV versus gas vehicles
Batteries are heavy. Electric vehicles will often weigh much more than gas vehicles.
As Kelly Blue Book explains, an EV battery can weigh well over 1,000 pounds, depending on the vehicle. Compare that to a full 13-gallon fuel tank, which weighs about 78 pounds plus the weight of the tank itself, and you can see why tire load rating is a key factor in selecting tires for electric vehicles.
Because electric vehicles are growing in popularity and heavier than conventional vehicles, the tire industry is adapting. High-load capacity tires are becoming more common because they are designed with reinforced construction and higher load ratings to support heavier vehicles.
EV acceleration
In addition to being heavier, EVs accelerate faster due to instant torque, which places higher demand on tires.
Torque is the twisting force that causes something to rotate — like the force that turns a vehicle’s wheels when you press the accelerator pedal.
On-demand torque in an EV requires better traction to manage the sudden delivery of power. EV-specific tires are designed to balance traction with durability to reduce wear caused by higher torque and vehicle weight.
9 EV Tire Recommendations
You'll find dozens, if not hundreds, of suitable tires for your electric vehicle. The list here is a sampling of some of the better makes and models, based on manufacturer recommendations, user reviews, and Tire industry experts.
Best all-around EV highway touring all season
Our all-around choice for EV highway touring tires is the Nexen Roadian GTX, a highway touring all-season tire designed for comfort and longevity. Besides having a tread design optimized for quiet comfort, it also comes with an awesome warranty package of 70,000 miles, road hazard protection, and roadside assistance.
Load index: 113
Max load: 2,535 lbs
Speed rating: W
UTQG: 680/A/A
Prices range from $134 to $295 per tire.*
EV tire with noise reducing treads
If noise reduction is your priority, check out Goodyear Assurance ComfortDrive tires. This model is designed for a quiet ride with an innovative noise-reducing tread pattern. Perfect for electric vehicles!
Load index: 109
Max load: 2,271 lbs
Speed rating: V
UTQG: 700/A/A
Prices range from $174 to $288 per tire.*
All-season, all-terrain EV tire rated for snow + ice
For an all-season EV tire that strikes a balance between being ready for snow + ice in the winter, the Yokohama Geolander A/T G015 is a top choice for an aggressive all-terrain, all-season tire. With durable sidewalls and a tough nylon cord, this is a tire reliable in all weather conditions. The 3D sipes on the tread are designed to maintain traction on snowy roads, while the EnduroCompound rubber ensures that the tire stays flexible in freezing temperatures.
Load index: 96
Max load: 1,565 lbs
Speed rating: H
UTQG: 600/A/B
Price range from $156 to $341 per tire.*
Summer performance EV tires
This summer performance EV tire is packed with technology. Hankook’s IK01A SUV checks all the boxes that matter to EV drivers: noise-proof technology with Hankook Sound Absorber, reduced rolling resistance for longer battery range, longer tread life, enhanced handling, and Aramid Hybrid Reinforcement Belt for improved steering performance at highway speeds.
Load index: 105
Max load: 1,565 lbs and 2,039 lbs
Speed rating: Y
UTQG: 320/AA/A
Price range $263 to $354 per tire.*
EV tire built with sustainability in mind
If sustainability is a big part of why you got your EV in the first place, check out this sustainable tire that Goodyear introduced with its ElectricDrive line in 2021: The ElectricDrive GT, one of the first replacement tires made specifically for electric vehicles in North America. ElectricDrive GT SCT is an all-season performance tire with a 40,000-mile warranty, while the ElectricDrive SCT is an all-season touring tire with a 60,000-mile warranty.
Load index: SCT 94, GT SCT 104
Max load: SCT 1,477 lbs, GT SCT 1,984 lbs
Speed rating: SCT is V, GT SCT is W
UTQG: SCT is 700/A/B, GT SCT is 500/AA/A
Prices for SCT starts at $211 per tire and for the GT SCT at $233 per tire.*
Excellent noise reduction in this premium EV tire
For best-in-class noise reduction, Michelin designed its Pilot Sport EV premium tire for high-performance electric vehicles. Expect exceptional handling, acceleration, braking and road-noise reduction in the Pilot Sport EV. Michelin infuses its rubber compounds with acoustic technology, a polyurethane foam that helps muffle road noise.
Budget priced EV tire
Radar offers a budget-friendly all-season touring tire for electric vehicles with its All Season EV. Noteworthy is the Stabiload compound for reduced rolling resistance and Ultrareact sidewall construction. The tire also includes a tread that reduces road noise and increases comfort. Add to that a 40,000-mile warranty and road hazard protection, and this is a good tire for the price.
Studded winter tire for EV
Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10 EV is a studded winter tire with three-peak mountain snowflake rating that’s ideal for EVs and hybrids. It’s available in a variety of sizes, 18” to 21”.
Fuel-efficient EV tire
Fuel-efficient tires can still be a great choice for EV tires, because they’re designed to have low rolling resistance to stretch your battery life just a little further. Continental TrueContact Tour 54 isn’t built specifically for electric vehicles, but Continental built these tires to carry the loads and deliver the performance that EV drivers expect. From the impressive load index to the wow-worthy warranty (80,000 miles) and the wide variety of sizes, this tire is a serious contender.
Load index: 97 to 103, depending on size
Max load: 1,609 lbs
Speed rating: H, T, V
UTQG: 840/A/A
Price starts around $250 to $400 per tire, depending on size.*
Don’t sacrifice quality for price. Tire Agent offers numerous ways to pay, offering flexible options to suit your situation. Explore Tire Agent’s tire payment options.
FAQs About EV Tires
Do EV tires cost more?
Yes and no. As you know from driving gas vehicles, you can spend under $100 on a budget tire and well over $1,000 for super high-performance, luxury vehicle tires. EV tires also start around $120 for budget tires (depending on size), and also go up to over $250 to $350 per tire for mid-range to high-performance premium tires. EVs require tires with reinforced construction and higher load ratings, which often use advanced rubber compounds and stronger internal structures.
What’s the difference between all-season and EV tires?
The main differences between all-season tires and EV tires are that not all all-season tires are optimized for quiet comfort, higher load ratings, and the demands of EV torque. Also, all season is an umbrella classification that means a tire is suitable for driving year-round.
Do electric vehicles need special tires?
Electric vehicles don’t need special tires per se, but they do need tires that can bear the extra load that the battery adds to a vehicle’s regular weight. They also need to be the right size, load rating, and tread type for how you plan to drive. Take advantage of Tire Agent’s tire-matching tool to get rolling on tires that are the right size for your EV trim level.
Do EV tires wear out faster?
EV tires don’t automatically wear out faster, but factors like instant torque and vehicle weight can lead to increased wear if tires aren’t properly matched or maintained. Rotate your tires, ensure you’re getting the right tire size with the correct load capacity, and only drive on the type of road surfaces that tires are designed for (all-terrain for off-road use, for example). Also, check the treadwear warranty of your tire before purchasing, as that can give you some insight into how long the manufacturer expects the tire to last.
Does regenerative braking affect tire wear?
Regenerative braking does not increase tire wear compared to conventional braking. Regenerative braking slows the vehicle using the motor, not brake pads; the forces are similar but the mechanism is different. For EV and hybrid vehicles, regenerative braking is part of the braking mechanism that charges the battery of the vehicle by converting the kinetic energy generated by slowing down your car into electricity. It has the same impact on your tires as normal braking would.
Do EV tires require the same care and maintenance as regular tires?
Yes, EV tires will require similar care and maintenance as regular tires would, perhaps with closer attention to rotation and tire pressure. This includes having your tires balanced and aligned so they roll evenly on the road. It also means you need to have your tires rotated every 5,000 to 7,500 miles. Additionally, your EV will have a specific tire pressure needed to operate correctly that you will need to regularly check and maintain, even though your vehicle has a TPMS.
*Prices per tire are estimates and subject to change. Tire prices fluctuate daily. For the most accurate price, click the product link, and select your tire size. Prices also do not reflect current offers, rebates, and deals.
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