Three EV drivers, 12 Erange EV tires and thousands of kilometres driven — Canadians are putting Sailun tires to the test

When you stop to think about it, there are a lot of demands on an EV tire.

The typical EV has other characteristics that create unique challenges for the tires: they’re relatively heavy compared to comparable combustion vehicles and they’re often significantly higher-performing from a standing-start.

These characteristics require an EV tire to be incredibly durable and to offer very good traction.

A decade ago EVs were a niche, novelty purchase. Now there are far more battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) on the road. With the ever-increasing popularity of EVs, tire manufacturers are now engineering tires that tailor-made for these vehicles and drivers.

What we at Sailun Tires see time and again is that buyers skim past where, literally, the rubber hits the road — the tires on your EV.

That’s why we are turning to Canadians to help determine what EV drivers expect from their tires and how our Erange EV tire line performs.

Meet the drivers

There are many critical factors to consider when you are considering buying an EV.

To better understand and assess how our tires are performing in day-to-day, real-world conditions, Sailun enlisted the help of three EV drivers in Canada, two from Ontario and one from British Columbia.

Narelle Smith of Mississauga, Ontario, is relatively new to EV ownership. She purchased her Tesla Model Y in 2022 and uses it to commute a significant distance to work — about 100 kilometres round trip per day.

Bob Porter of Squamish, B.C., is the president of the Vancouver Electric Vehicle Association (VEVA). A former motorsport participant, he made the switch to EVs about 10 years ago and currently owns a Tesla Model 3, which he purchased in 2017.

Devin Arthur of Sudbury, Ontario, is an engineering consultant and chapter president of the Electric Vehicle Society (EVS). He owns a Chevrolet Bolt, which he purchased in 2018, and puts about 35,000 kilometres per year on the odometer.

All combined, our three participants have over 20 years’ experience in owning and driving their EVs.

A changing market

A decade ago, tires fitted to EVs were a definite weak link: skinny with little grip, unsure cornering capability and middling traction in wet conditions.

These tires had a relatively tiny contact patch — the section of tire that’s in contact with the surface of the road — and low rolling resistance.

While low rolling resistance is still an important quality in an EV tire, it isn’t the be-all and end-all — it can’t be.

Tires are too important when it comes to safety; they need to provide grip in all road conditions and they need to help reduce braking distances to an absolute minimum in the event of a panic stop.

A low rolling resistance tire from a decade ago would not be able to get the job done today.

Finally, one last thing to consider: As EVs are super-quiet, the tires should be super-quiet, too. If your EV tires are howling or squealing or otherwise complaining, that gets in the way of what should be a peaceful driving experience.

The testing project

Earlier this year, Sailun hooked each of the three test drivers up with a set of Erange all-season tires.

The goal: To have these electric drivers report back on how these tires compare to others they’ve used in the past.

They will drive them in all conditions, on highways and rural roads, up (and down) steep inclines and across long, flat expanses.

Their findings will give a window into real-life use cases for Sailun Erange EV tires that will, hopefully, help other buyers to make a tire choice that enhances their EV driving experience.

Stay tuned for the findings coming out this summer!

For more information visit erangetires.com.