Tiremakers Like Nokian Adapt to Meet Demands of The EV Market

• EV-specific tires address weight, noise, torque, and efficiency challenges.

• Nokian Tyres incorporates low-resistance compounds and acoustic foam into EV-compatible models.

• Fun Trivia: Québec accounted for 43% of all EV sales in Canada in 2024.

More than 288,000 new electric vehicles were registered in Canada in 2024. The country’s strong EV market is prompting manufacturers to address the specific needs of electric vehicles, particularly in tire design.

Tiremakers such as Nokian Tyres are adapting product lines to meet the unique demands of electric vehicles, including increased weight, higher torque, greater noise sensitivity, and the importance of rolling resistance. The Finnish company has incorporated EV-focused technologies and design elements into its tire offerings for over a decade, and each product now includes an “Electric Fit” marking indicating compatibility with EVs.

They typically weigh 10 to 15 % more than equivalent internal combustion engine vehicles, placing additional stress on tires. To offset these constraints, tiremakers are reinforcing structural components and formulating rubber compounds that resist wear and maintain stability. Nokian joins durable materials and robust internal construction to handle the heavier vehicle loads.

As well and as we know, without engine noise, road noise becomes more noticeable in EVs. Tire manufacturers address this by developing tread patterns and sidewall designs that dampen vibrations and absorb sound. Nokian incorporates acoustic foam into its winter tire models, such as the Hakkapeliitta 10 EV and R5 EV, to reduce cabin noise.

Nokian Introduces the Next-Generation Hakkapeliitta R5 Winter Tire

Critically for non-EV-ready tires, an EV’s instant torque delivered by electric motors can and will lead to faster tire wear. To counter this, tiremakers engineer compounds and tread patterns that maintain grip under rapid acceleration. Nokian’s EV-compatible tires provide consistent performance under these high stress situations. If you’ve driven an EV, you understand what torque means.

Tire design also impacts battery range. High rolling resistance can lower efficiency, while optimized tires can extend it. Factors such as tread design, sidewall construction, and compound formulation are adjusted to reduce energy loss. Nokian reports that over 90% of its tires fall into the lowest rolling resistance categories.

As electric vehicles continue to gain traction across Canada, tiremakers are adjusting their technologies to support the evolving needs of EV drivers.