Treadwell is our smart tire buying guide that offers groundbreaking tire customization in less than a minute. It’s the same buying guide that our tire experts use to help match you with the best tires for what, where and how you drive.
The best part? Treadwell is always improving with the latest updates and testing information possible. And we've just rolled out an exciting new update: you can now shop with fuel efficiency and your EV’s battery range in mind! We’re big fans of EVs, and we know that electric vehicle drivers truly prize efficiency. That’s why we’re so excited about updating Treadwell to let you shop for tires based on efficiency, as well as other critical tire performance features.
Ready to check out our tire guide?
START WITH TREADWELL(If you’re shopping for new EV tires, get a jump start by checking out our best tires for electric vehicles blog!)
At America's Tire, we value safety above all else. And part of keeping drivers safe on the road is making sure our customers are able to choose the best tires for their vehicle and their driving needs. That includes helping you find the most efficient tires for your EV, hybrid or even gas-powered ride. Read on to learn more about how Treadwell accounts for efficiency now!
TREADWELL & TIRE EFFICIENCY
First things first: what is tire efficiency?
Tire efficiency refers to how much fuel (or energy) is required to move your tires. With gas-powered vehicles, or ICE vehicles, this can impact your vehicle’s fuel efficiency, and with EVs, it impacts your vehicle’s battery range. Whether you’re thinking of EV range of fuel efficiency, they’re all impacted by tire efficiency.
Our latest update to Treadwell now accounts for tire efficiency, allowing drivers to prioritize battery range over other performance features. Tire efficiency is a relatively newer factor in the tire buying process that’s become more relevant with more drivers opting for hybrid and electric vehicles. Increasing gas prices have also made tire efficiency an important factor for drivers of ICE (gas) vehicles. Historically, this information wasn’t tested or reported by many tire manufacturers.
Learn more about Treadwell, and be sure to check out all there is to know about Treadwell’s testing methodology!
“Treadwell has always been about elevating consumer purchase confidence and providing an expert tire recommendation. Adding tire efficiency data helps Treadwell take that recommendation to the next level.”
— Josh Sortor, Treadwell Product Director
So, what does this Treadwell update for efficiency mean?
You can now select and rank the importance of efficiency (along with other driving priorities).
Treadwell recommendations will now weigh efficiency according to your selection or driving habits uniquely based on vehicle and fuel type (gas, hybrid or electric).
Product pages will show efficiency data and offer tire comparisons using a 5 point scale, allowing you to select the most efficient tire for your vehicle.
In short, what this update means is that EV drivers now have the ability to buy tires based on how they’ll impact the battery range of their Tesla, Rivian or F150 Lightning!
We’re always striving to provide more personalized recommendations. Be on the watch for future updates and improvements to Treadwell regarding efficiency and other important tire buying aspects!
WHAT AFFECTS EV RANGE?
It turns out that quite a few things affect how efficiently your vehicle moves, whether your vehicle is gas-powered or electric. Factors that impact your battery range include (in no particular order):
- Temperature (external and within your tire)
- Regenerative braking
- Resistance (wind or drag)
- Tire air pressure
- HVAC
- Rolling resistance
- Driving style
You can see from the list above that tire conditions are a major portion of where energy is spent. This makes them an important factor in achieving increased battery range (or higher fuel efficiency).
That’s why so many tire manufacturers build EV-specific tires.
What is rolling resistance?
Rolling resistance refers to the effort required to keep a tire moving. Low rolling resistance tires (sometimes called LRR tires) are more energy efficient because they require less energy to rotate.
Rolling resistance can represent around a 10% change in energy due to rolling resistance for EVs.
Note that gas-powered vehicles won’t see as much change as they experience less engine heat and drivetrain losses; they lose only three to four percent efficiency.
Magnificent feats of engineering, LRR tires have many features that improve efficiency, including reduced flex to their tread. This is because it takes more energy to rotate tires that bend or flex in rotation.
Using low rolling resistance tires means that your battery spends less energy moving your tires (and so your vehicle), therefore extending your EV battery range. That’s why many (read: most) EV manufacturers equip their vehicles with LRR tires as a standard.
Temperature & Air Pressure
You’ve probably heard that extreme temperatures aren’t great for your EV’s battery. But did you know that it’s also not great for your tire efficiency?
This is because temperature has a direct impact on tire air pressure. Your tires will deflate by several PSI in cooler weather and likewise inflate in warmer weather. You may also notice they plump up after being run for a while because warm air expands.
Improper tire inflation will negatively affect your EV’s range because it will require more energy to spin a deflated tire compared to a properly inflated one.
On the other hand, proper air pressure improves fuel economy for both electric and gas powered vehicles. The Department of Energy has found that for every loss of 1 psi (in all four tires), fuel efficiency can drop by 0.4%. That may seem small, but it really adds up. It’s the air in your tires that actually supports your vehicle’s weight and adding stress to your engine reduces efficiency. Testing shows that a reduction of 20% in psi from the recommended tire pressure can reduce your range by up to six percent.
Handling, traction and tire durability are also impacted by your tire’s air pressure.
Not only are under or overinflated tires less efficient, they’re also more dangerous. That’s why we recommend regularly checking your tire air pressure. Don’t feel like doing it yourself? We offer free air checks (no appointment required)!
FREE AIR CHECKTreadwear
It may seem counterintuitive, but new tires are actually less efficient than worn tires.
This is because treadwear literally wears away your tire’s rubber tread, making it lighter, smoother and easier to roll. New tires have deeper, thicker treads that weigh more and take more energy to rotate. A worn tire can be up to 10% more efficient (via rolling resistance) than a new tire.
Even when buying low rolling resistance tires, or more efficient tires, this is something to keep in mind. While your new tires may be more efficient than other new tires, they may still negatively impact your fuel efficiency or battery range when compared to your worn tires. There’s no reason for concern; this is perfectly natural because of the nature of your old tires’ worn condition.
Manufacturers want to outclass their competition, so you’ll find that Original Equipment (OE) tires that come with your new vehicle are a little more efficient than aftermarket tires.
Our product development team estimates that replacement tires may be no more than 10% less efficient, however, so don’t knock them out of the running.
Driving Habits
Where and how you drive is also very important to your tire’s ability to efficiently move your electric vehicle.
Unfortunately, since fuel efficiency and battery range aren’t a market regulated concept yet, it’s very difficult to truly compare tires based on efficiency. And of course, how you drive your vehicle will have a big impact on range/efficiency. For example, if you need an off-road EV or EV truck, you’ll find the demands are quite a bit more exaggerated than your highway commuter.
You probably already realize that aggressive driving with rapid acceleration and high speeds (we all know someone with lead feet) negatively impact your fuel efficiency and battery range.
Stop-and-go driving usually is more efficient in electric vehicles (as opposed to gas powered) because many EVs utilize regenerative braking. The constant draw of energy to keep the vehicle moving on the highway (and at higher speeds, too) is taxing on your battery.
The region you drive is also important because, as previously mentioned, extreme temperatures can interfere with both your EV’s battery and tires. Batteries are happiest around 60-70℉ and will experience a 20% decrease in range near freezing (36℉). This effect is also seen in higher temps, though to a lesser degree.
Ready to roll?
Choosing the right tire is important in keeping you and your vehicle as safe and functional as possible. If you’re unsure what works best for you, drop by, give us a ring or make an appointment with us and we’ll get you taken care of! Customers who buy their products online and book an appointment ahead of time get a 30% shorter average wait in-store!