Driving an EV is a lot like driving a combustion vehicle — except when it’s not. Sailun Tire has tips about taking an EV on a road trip

This article is Sponsor Content presented by ERANGETIRES.COM

Summer has arrived and Canadians from coast-to-coast are hitting the road. 

Canada’s public charging network is increasing every week and is making more swathes of the country accessible to EVs. Drivers are now able to take their zero-emission vehicle to their chosen summer destinations and reap all the benefits of road tripping in an EV.

Sailun Tire, the world’s 12th largest tire manufacturer, makes a purpose-built tire for EVs.

Choosing to put EV-specific tires on your EV may not seem like an important thing to do. But when you look at the benefits — a reduction in road noise and tire wear and tear as well as an increase in battery life — it’s clear that these are things that make a difference in day to day driving as well as on longer trips.

The benefits of investing in an EV tire

Last year, Sailun, which has a headquarters in Brampton, Ont., released their Erange line, an all-season EV tire designed to enhance the range an EV gets off a single charge.

“These tires are specifically made for the heavier weight of an EV,” says Tomas Cleary, Sailun Tire’s manager of marketing and communications.

“The tire is purpose-built for an EV.” 

Typically, Cleary adds, tires contain rubber and solid compound that creates sediment and friction. But the Erange line uses a liquid mixing technology that disperses tire sediments evenly and reduces rolling resistance.

Conservatively, Sailun estimates that the liquid technology allows for approximately seven per cent longer battery life per charge depending on driving conditions. 

“The analogy we’ve been using is you can make chocolate milk with powdered chocolate milk or syrup chocolate milk,” Cleary said. “You make it with powder, stir it, and there’s still remnants at the bottom.” 

As EVs are heavier than a traditional car, the Erange have “silent tread technology” that staggers sipings in the wheel to reduce road noise. (Sipings are slits across the surface of a tire that improve traction in all weather conditions.) 

“We are not just a decibel or two quieter than a traditional tire, we’re significantly quieter,” Cleary says. 

“All of these things go into the fact that these tires are really made for EVs.”

Road trip tips

So, before you head off on a road trip, whether you’re driving an EV or traditional car, it’s important to be mindful of practical safety tips and EV tire maintenance.

First and most important thing to note: most EVs don’t carry a spare tire.

Jack McClure – PLT Product Segment Manager suggests the lack of a backup tire (something most combustion vehicles carry) is due to the greater weight of an EV.

Sailun Tire’s product team, McClure says, advises drivers to buy a spare tire or tire sealant to avoid getting stranded. The company’s team also says that EV users should know their tire size before leaving for a road trip.

“Many vehicles have uncommon tire sizes, resulting in the dealer needing to special order the tire,” says McClure. “This may cause an even longer delay.”

Additionally, McClure says that EV drivers should monitor road conditions on their journey and properly inflate their tires to increase lifespan. Sailun Tire designed the Erange to be able to maximize the grip and control an EV has in less-than-optimal road conditions. But, like with all tires, the Erange tires won’t work as well without maintenance.

McClure adds most of these safety precautions are ones that impact both EV and traditional car users. 

But McClure suggests a helpful trip preparation activity is pinpointing places you’ll need to stop and recharge on your route. Doing so in advance — and locating back up charging options — simplifies that aspect of the journey and eases range anxiety. 

Finally, making sure your battery and vehicle are in good working order is just good common sense driving safety practices. Even though most EVs are relatively new and battery issues are rare, it never hurts to do that extra once-over if you know you are going to be a distance away from your usual community vehicle supports.

“These travel preparations are important for EV drivers and ICE drivers alike,” McClure says.