With over 12,000 kms logged, three EV drivers weigh in on their Sailun ERANGE tires

This article is Sponsor Content presented by Sailun ERANGE EV Tires.

Here’s the thing about switching to all-season tires: You need to have somewhat summery weather to make the entire scenario work as planned.

And this spring was anything but temperate across many parts of Canada.

We planned to have Sailun ERANGE tires on our three testers’ vehicles in April, but due to adverse conditions most of them didn’t go on until mid- to end-May.

Like other all-season tires, Sailun ERANGE tires are engineered to provide optimum performance in +7-degree Celsius (45-degree Fahrenheit) weather. But, they also cater to the needs of EVs – namely, the heavier weight and faster acceleration.

As a general rule the rubber used in all-season tires is more durable and less pliable; these qualities are needed to ensure that the compound can withstand higher operating temperatures. This is especially important in EVs because they are often heavier and far quicker accelerating than the typical internal combustion vehicle.

On the other hand, tires suited to colder weather are softer with tire tread that can grip the colder road surface more readily. Driving on summer tires in cold weather simply doesn’t provide the optimum level of grip, because rubber compounds harden in cold temperatures, which reduces grip and braking performance.

But, somewhere between the constant deluge in April, a frigid May and an intense heat dome June the Sailun ERANGEs were installed and our drivers hit the road to put them through their paces and are reporting back their early findings.

Devin in Sudbury, Ont.

None of our participants were affected more by the weather than Devin Arthur, who resides in Sudbury, Ontario.

When we spoke with him in early June, the Sailun ERANGE tires had been on his Chevrolet Bolt for over a month — but he had experienced only about 20 days of optimum summer tire weather.

As a work-from-home consultant, Devin isn’t faced with a difficult commute. But by nature of having a young family, he finds himself behind the wheel every day and, by his estimate, he has put about 500 kilometres (310 miles) on the Sailun ERANGE tires fitted to his Bolt.

“I did notice the tires got stiffer in colder weather — you could feel the bumps more,” Devin noted in an interview. “But I couldn’t perceive any other difference in performance in the cold. They’re a lot smoother, a lot more comfortable ride, the body roll going around corners is better than with my previous tires.”

(For the record, Devin’s previous summer tires were a white label brand sold in a national automotive chain and extremely inexpensive, even compared to the value-priced Sailun ERANGE.)

“The Sailun tires seem a bit louder,” he noted. “Not sure if it’s the tread pattern. In town, [at slower speeds], there was no conceivable difference in noise levels.”

For drivers like Devin, though, quietness is just one aspect of performance: “For me, it’s more about the comfort of the tire and the performance in terms of stability. These tires are for sure better.”

As well, to further enhance its environmental impact, ERANGE EV tires back their EcoPoint technology with an 80,000 KM or 60-month warranty — reinforcing a commitment to durability that not only ensures long-lasting performance but also helps reduce waste, conserve resources, and extend the environmental benefits of every set of tires.

Bob in Squamish, B.C.

Out west, in British Columbia, the provincial government introduced stringent winter tire directives that took effect in October 2021.

In Squamish, situated roughly halfway up the Sea-to-Sky Highway that runs from Vancouver to Whistler, the local legislation dictates that summer tires can only be fitted from April 1 to September 30.

This doesn’t give Bob Porter much of a chance to stretch the summer legs of his Tesla Model S, but this former rally competitor certainly gives it his best shot.

When we spoke with him in early June, he reckoned his set of Sailun ERANGE tires had absorbed some 3,000 kilometres (1,800 miles) of driving.

“The tires are working well,” he noted during a check-in interview. “We finally had a good rainstorm this week and I had to drive from Squamish to Vancouver — about 65 kilometres. — and it was raining very hard. They seem to be good in the rain and in the dry.”

Bob also mentions that tire noise was noticeable when the Sailun ERANGE set was first fitted to his EV, but the situation seems to have remedied itself.

According to the EV veteran who measures ambient noise through an app on his smartphone, he initially measured it around 70 db. Now, he reports that readings are in the range of 65-66 db.

He also reports that the Sailun ERANGE tires are quieter than his previous summer tires, which are from a noted Tier 1 tire manufacturer.

Finally, he had some interesting things to say about the efficiency benefits ERANGE tires provide.

Bob’s Tesla Model S is now seven years old and, in his estimation, the battery pack has lost between 6-7 per cent of its original range.

By his estimate the Sailun ERANGE tires are offering him about 10 per cent more range.

Narelle in Mississauga, Ont.

Our third participant, Narelle Smith, has logged the most mileage.

One of the main reasons she opted for her Tesla Model Y back in 2022 was her relatively long commute to work and the onerous cost of fuel.

By late June, she had already put some 8,500 kilometres (5,300 miles) on her set of Sailun ERANGE tires. In her feedback, Narelle focused mainly on three areas: quietness, comfort and driving dynamics.

Narelle did not report any undue tire noise from the start; in fact, her impression is that the ERANGE tires perform well in this respect.

“There’s hardly any noise driving on the highway,” she says. “They’re really quiet.”

For the record, her previous summer tires are priced at a premium level.

“For me, it’s definitely the noise that’s improved,” she added. “Some new tires feel very hard — but with these tires, there’s been no hard banging over bumps and no vibration.”

Narelle also made reference to the near record-setting rain southern Ontario received in April and May. For her, the wet-weather performance of the Sailun ERANGE tires brought a new level of confidence to her daily commute.

“Everything has been great,” she noted. “The tires handle well, there’s been no skidding or sliding when going around corners, even in wet weather.”

This quality is especially comforting now that her daughter, a relatively new driver, borrows the keys to her Tesla with increasing regularity.

It’s early days still for our three participants, but this is valuable initial feedback nonetheless. Roll on, Sailun ERANGE evaluators!