NEV Tires: Demands and Innovation Ways

As new energy vehicles flood the streets, the automotive aftermarket is undergoing a quiet revolution. The matching tire and replacement tire market seem to have been accelerated, with consumer booms rising one after another and business opportunities emerging between the wheels. ​

For tire manufacturers, this is more like a war without gunpowder. If you want to gain a foothold and seize the initiative in the transformation, you have to understand the "special preferences" of new energy vehicles for tires like understanding a close friend: it hopes that the tires can run lightly, reduce resistance, and make the range longer; it expects the tires to carry heavier burdens, be wear-resistant and durable, and withstand long journeys; it also requires the tires to have a firm grip on the road, drive quietly, and bring a more comfortable driving experience.

Only by continuing to work hard on the road of technological research and development can we create tires that meet these stringent requirements and stand out in this transformation.

Power and noise characteristics give rise to new demands for quietness and grip

The essential difference between NEVs and traditional fuel vehicles is first reflected in the power system. Traditional fuel vehicles rely on internal combustion engines, while NEVs use electric motors as their core power source.

The instantaneous high torque output characteristics of the motor make the vehicle more explosive when starting and accelerating, and put forward higher requirements for tire grip - sufficient friction must be provided in an instant to avoid slipping and ensure driving safety.

At the same time, the working noise of the motor is much lower than that of the internal combustion engine, which significantly improves the quietness of the cabin, but also makes the rolling noise of the tire more prominent. Therefore, excellent quiet performance has become a key consideration for NEV tires. Excessive tire noise will seriously affect the driving experience, which runs counter to the high-quality travel concept pursued by NEV.

Increased body weight tests tire load and wear resistance

Secondly, NEVs are significantly heavier than fuel vehicles of the same level because they are equipped with large-capacity battery packs. Taking common pure electric cars as an example, their weight is usually more than 30% higher, and some SUV models are even heavier.

This requires tires to have a higher load-bearing capacity to support the additional weight. If the tire structure strength and load-bearing performance are insufficient, it will not only shorten the service life, but also may cause safety hazards such as bulges and tire blowouts during driving.

In addition, the increase in weight also exacerbates tire wear. Therefore, high wear resistance becomes the key to extending tire life and reducing user replacement costs.

Driven by range anxiety, low rolling resistance and lightweight become the core goals

Cruise range is the core concern of NEV users, and the rolling resistance performance of tires directly affects vehicle energy consumption and range. The smaller the rolling resistance, the lower the driving energy consumption and the longer the cruising range. Data shows that for every 10% reduction in tire rolling resistance, the NEV range can be increased by 3%-5%. Therefore, low rolling resistance has become the core competitiveness of NEV tires.

To achieve low rolling resistance, innovations are required in rubber formulation, tread pattern design, and carcass structure. For example, the use of new materials such as highly dispersed silica can reduce friction between rubber molecules; optimizing the layout and angle of tread pattern grooves can reduce air resistance and deformation energy loss.

At the same time, lightweighting is also an important way to improve range. Reducing tire weight can reduce unsprung mass and reduce driving energy consumption. This requires manufacturers to use high-strength, low-density composite skeleton materials to minimize weight while ensuring structural strength.

Complex driving scenarios pose multi-dimensional challenges to grip

NEV's requirements for tire grip are more complex. In addition to the requirements when starting and accelerating, the braking process also requires strong grip. Since NEV generally adopts a combination of regenerative braking and mechanical braking, the braking force is complex and changeable, requiring the tire to maintain stable grip at different vehicle speeds and road conditions to ensure that the braking distance is safe and controllable.

In addition, NEV has a unique center of gravity distribution-the battery pack is mostly placed under the chassis, making the center of gravity of the vehicle lower and more concentrated. This puts higher requirements on the lateral grip and handling stability of the tire when turning.

Technological innovation is the key, balancing performance and responding to market demand

Faced with diversified performance requirements, tire manufacturers need to carry out systematic technological innovation, not only optimizing single indicators, but also achieving a balance between performance. For example, the pursuit of low rolling resistance may affect grip and wear resistance. How to find the best balance between these interrelated and constrained performance is the difficulty of research and development.

At the same time, NEV models are updated and iterated rapidly, and different brands and models have different requirements for tire size, specifications, and performance. This requires manufacturers to have the ability to respond quickly to market demand and to be able to carry out customized R&D and production for specific models.

Market competition is fierce, and brand and service are fundamental

From a market perspective, NEV tire competition has become fierce. Internationally renowned brands have an advantage in the high-end market with their technological accumulation, but domestic companies are catching up at an accelerated pace.

Many domestic manufacturers have launched a series of NEV-specific tire products by increasing R&D investment and setting up special R&D centers, and some performance indicators have reached the international advanced level.

With the rapid growth of NEV ownership, the market demand for replacement tires will be gradually released, providing the industry with broad growth space. However, if companies want to gain a foothold in this, they must build a strong brand influence and a complete sales and service network to win the trust of consumers with high-quality products and services.