Electric cars ask more of their tyres: more weight, more instant torque, and a near-silent cabin that makes road noise stand out. They also wear tyres faster, with Michelin estimating around 20% quicker than a comparable petrol car. The good news from testing is that a strong tyre, EV-specific or not, can do the job well.
The current test picture
The 2025 EV tyre test (AutoBild, covered by Tyre Reviews) ran eight tyres in 215/55 R18 on a Hyundai Kona EV:
- Hankook iON evo: the overall winner, an EV-specific tyre with excellent wet and dry braking and a good balance of range and grip
- Continental PremiumContact 7: a very close second, posting the shortest wet braking despite being a standard tyre, proof a top conventional tyre suits EVs
- Michelin e.Primacy: a low-rolling-resistance benchmark for range, with strong wet grip retained as it wears
- Falken e.Ziex: EV-specific, with the best range result and lowest rolling resistance in the test
- Goodyear ElectricDrive 2: an EV-focused tyre with noise-damping and sustainable construction
What to prioritise
For an EV, weigh three things beyond grip: rolling resistance for range, load rating for the battery weight, and noise for the quiet cabin. The efficiency-first picks (Falken, Michelin e.Primacy) chase range; the iON evo and Continental balance range with stronger braking. Brand context is under Hankook, Continental and Michelin.
How to use this
EV fitments are often size and model specific, so confirm the load index and size for your car, and read the current, dated test. Why EVs are harder on tyres is covered under whether EVs wear tyres faster, and the category under EV tyres.
From the reviews desk: the headline from the testing is that you don't have to buy an EV-badged tyre to do right by your electric car. The Hankook iON won, but a standard Continental was right on its heels with the shortest wet stop. Get the load rating right, weight range against grip, and you're sorted.
Sources and accuracy. Picks here are drawn from the 2025 AutoBild EV tyre test (as published by Tyre Reviews) and related results, paraphrased from the published tests. Ranges and results change yearly and vary by size, so read the current, dated test in your size. If anything here looks wrong, get in touch and we will check it and put it right.
Common questions
What is the best tyre for an electric car?+
In the 2025 EV tyre test, the EV-specific Hankook iON evo took the overall win on strong wet and dry braking, with the Continental PremiumContact 7 a very close second on the shortest wet braking. For maximum range, the Michelin e.Primacy and Falken e.Ziex stand out for low rolling resistance. The best choice balances efficiency, grip and quietness.
Do electric cars need special tyres?+
Not strictly, but EV-friendly tyres help. Most EVs can run a quality conventional tyre in the right size and load rating, but EV-oriented tyres add lower rolling resistance for range, reinforced construction for the extra weight, and noise-damping for the quiet cabin. A strong standard tyre can match a dedicated EV one, as the tests show.
Do EV tyres wear out faster?+
EVs do wear tyres faster, with Michelin estimating around 20% quicker than a comparable petrol or diesel car, because of the extra battery weight and instant torque. Choosing a tyre with good wear and keeping pressures and alignment correct helps offset it. This is covered in detail in our EV wear guide.
Which EV tyre gives the most range?+
Low rolling resistance is the key to range. In 2025 testing, the Falken e.Ziex returned the best range result with the lowest rolling resistance, and the Michelin e.Primacy is a long-standing efficiency benchmark. The trade-off is that the very lowest-resistance tyres can give up a little wet braking, so balance range against grip.