Goodyear has debuted the ElectricDrive 2, a second-gen all-season EV tire – but are EV-specific tires worth putting on your electric vehicle?
Goodyear’s new EV tires
The Akron, Ohio-headquartered tire maker surveyed EV drivers and found that the two features they want most in EV tires are a quiet ride and wet road performance.
So Goodyear gave the ElectricDrive 2 EV tires SoundComfort Technology foam inserts that help reduce noise in the cabin and an asymmetric tread pattern optimized to improve grip and responsiveness on wet roads.
These EV tires also feature long-lasting tread compounds to help drivers get more miles out of their tires – and this matters because the weight of EVs wears out tires faster. ElectricDrive 2s have an aerodynamic sidewall that lowers drag and, compared to its first-gen ElectricDrive GT, improved rolling resistance, which enhances efficiency and range.
Goodyear also upped its sustainability game with the ElectricDrive 2 – it’s made of at least 50% sustainable materials, including soybean oil in the tire’s construction, rice husk ash silica, and sustainably sourced natural rubber. (Goodyear demonstrated a tire made of 90% sustainable materials in January 2023 at CES.)
Goodyear said the ElectricDrive2 would be available in the US starting in May, but according to its website, the tire is in stock now. It comes in 17 sizes and fits the Tesla Models 3, Y, and S, the Ford Mustang Mach-E, the Chevy Bolt, the Audi Q4 e-tron, and more.
Electrek’s Take
EV-specific tires are generally more expensive than standard tires, so are they worth it? That depends on the performance you want to get out of your car.
If you want to maximize your car’s range, special EV tires will help because they have low-rolling resistance. If you want a quiet cabin, they could be the way to go, as some, such as Goodyear’s, come with noise-reduction technology.
But if either of those things isn’t a priority, you can stick with standard tires. It really comes down to personal preference. Just know that you have to replace tires on EVs more frequently, no matter which kind you choose.
Does your car have EV tires on it? Let us know why you chose them in the comments below, and whether you feel they were worth it.
Top comment by Dan B
I will echo what Phillip234 said below. Volvo uses the special tires with the foam liners for more quiet. Personally, I can't really tell any difference and I am one who likes and prefers the most quiet vehicle I can have. But I've seen way too many customers come in and leave quite upset because Volvo won't let us patch/plug one of these foam lined tires. Imagine the shock when they come in with something lodged into the treat of the tire with only a couple thousand miles and being told it will be $400 for a new tire because they can't put a plug in them!
True story. One of our techs has a 2023 C40 EV (Volvo) and his tires have the foam liner. He got a nail in his tire a month ago and I saw him removing the tire. Asked him if he wat putting a new tire on and he just laughed and said no. The patch will work perfectly fine.
Read more: Hyundai and Kia boast another breakthrough, unveiling new tire with retractable ‘snow chains’
Photo: Goodyear
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