A roundup of the latest new and expanded lineups of tires for electric vehicles from global tire manufacturers

For many drivers in Canada, after months of travelling on snow- and ice-covered roads, it’s now time to give winter tires a break and switch back to all-season rubber.

This year there is a trend in the tire market. Several tire manufacturers are releasing new EV tires while others are adding to existing lines in response to the growing EV adoption rates in Canada.

In the market for EV tires? Electric Autonomy has compiled a list of the latest options now available in Canada and a peek at those to come.

Goodyear

Goodyear’s latest EV tire, the ElectricDrive 2, hit the market in Canada this month in 17 sizes tailored for EV models such as Tesla’s Y, 3 and S; Ford Mustang Mach-E; Chevy Bolt; Audi Q4 e-tron; and more.

This tire is designed to boost EV performance with sustainable materials, reduced rolling resistance and a longer tread life.

The ElectricDrive 2 features Goodyear’s SoundComfort Technology to minimize interior vehicle noise, along with an asymmetric tread pattern for better handling in various road conditions.

Kumho Tire

South Korean tire manufacturer Kumho Tire added two new EV tires to its lineup in April: the Majesty 9 Solus TA91 EV and the Crugen HP71 EV.

Both tires feature Kumho Tire’s K-Silent technology, aimed at reducing cabin noise and enhancing comfort by using sound-absorbing foam materials and a specially designed tread pattern.

The Majesty 9 Solus TA91 EV is ideal for EV coupes, sedans and crossover utility vehicles (CUVs), while the Crugen HP71 EV is for CUV and SUV all-weather performance.

According to Kumho, both tires lower rolling resistance. This helps extend the driving range per charge for electric vehicles.

The Majesty Solus TA91 EV is available in sizes ranging from 18-to-21 inches. Meanwhile the Crugen HP71 EV comes in 19-to-22-inch sizes. Both tires come with an 80,000-kilometre warranty.

Kumho Tire’s EV tire lineup currently fits five EV models in North America and serves as an original equipment supplier for Kia and Hyundai and six models outside of North America.

Bridgestone

In May 2023, Bridgestone debuted its first tire designed for premium EVs: the Turanza EV grand touring tire. Now it is expanding the line.

The Turanza EV tire is the first tire in North America to incorporate Bridgestone’s Enliten technology, which is engineered to help optimize all-season performance, provide longer wear life and incorporate renewable and recycled materials. The tire also features a tread pattern made from PeakLife polymer.

The Turanza tire initially came in five sizes, for Tesla Model 3, S, X and Y; and Ford Mustang Mach-E. Thirteen more sizes were added in early 2024.

Continental Tire

Continental Tire unveiled its line of UltimateContact tires, available exclusively at Canadian Tire, in April.

This lineup includes the UltimateContact and UltimateContactWinter tires, both featuring EV-compatible logos on their sidewalls.

Designed to enhance tread life for electric vehicles, these tires offer longer-lasting performance on the road. Additionally, they prioritize low rolling resistance and minimal noise, says Continental.

The UltimateContact EV tires are currently available for purchase in Canada, while the UltimateContactWinter will be launched in September 2024.

Yokohama Tire

Yokohama Tire launched its first “ultra-high performance” all-season tire, the AdvanSport EV A/S, earlier this year in North America.

The AdvanSport EV is the first Yokohama tire to feature the company’s new “E+” mark. It denotes tires designed for EVs.

Available in nine sizes ranging from 18-to-20 inches, Yokohama says the tires incorporate a new compound with more silica and a proprietary mixing process that improves mileage and optimizes grip.

Hankook

Hankook’s iON series is specifically designed for EVs, with technology geared towards better tread wear, noise reduction, and grip performance.

In December 2022, Hankook introduced the iON evo AS and iON evo AS SUV for all-season driving needs in Canada.

In June 2023, the tire maker expanded the lineup with the iON evo and iON evo SUV, focusing on delivering optimal performance in summer conditions for high-performance EVs and the summer Ventus S1 evo3 ev tires for luxury EVs. These tires are not yet available in Canada and Electric Autonomy did not receive a response to questions about anticipated availability in time for publication.

(And, incase you got the news that your winter EV tires need replacing, Hankook also offers the iON icept and iON icept SUV in Canada for winter driving.)

Radar Tires

Omni United is a Singapore-based tire manufacturer that recently launched its EV tire range under the flagship brand, Radar Tires.

The Radar EV Collection comprises a dedicated EV tire range called Radar all-season EV, along with EV-compatible fitments in the Dimax and RPX lines.

The new all-season EV tire features an advanced tread compound that delivers high mileage and safety performance. It also incorporates new structural components for balanced ride comfort, superior steering feel, and minimal noise. Omni United conducted tests to assess the tread wear performance of the tires under the heavier weight and higher torque conditions of a typical EV. The tires come with a 64,000-km treadwear warranty.

Radar offers all-season EV tires in sizes suitable for Tesla models, with rim diameters ranging from 18-to-20 inches. Additionally, Omni United has designed EV-compatible fitments in the Dimax R8+, Dimax R8, and RPX 800 lines to meet the requirements of both battery-powered electric and hybrid vehicles.