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Does my EV need special tyres?

I have a Seat Mii electric which requires new tyres. I am being told by tyre suppliers that Ev cars require special tyres due to the extra weight. Surely the load index in this case 81 and speed rating of H satisfy the requirement. This is the only information on the exiting tyres fitted by the manufacturer other than the size and relatively unimportant wording. There is nothing to suggest they are special for an electric car such as Ev. Am I being persuaded by the suppliers to buy more expensive tyres than necessary?

Asked on 31 December 2024 by Ivang

Answered by David Ross
There is no legal requirement to fit EV-rated tyres to your EV, but they are designed to cope with the greater weight of EVs as well as offering lower rolling resistance to boost range. Even so, some tyre manufacturers offer EV tyres while others do not, which suggests their regular tyres can cope with the different demands of an EV. Ultimately it comes down to personal choice - legally you can fit any type of tyre as long as it meets the dimensions, load and speed rating as specified by the manufacturer.
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