Stepping out of my house I was met by the (still) eerie sound of an EV parking in the street. Whilst nothing unusual these days, I did notice that it wasn’t the usual SUV style, but a rather over-inflated BMW i7. It was the first time I’d seen one up close (I live a sheltered life these days) and was struck by the sheer scale of the body and the domination (abomination?) of the ‘grille’. Size envy? Not this time.
Talking of EV sounds, my neighbour’s friend visits in a Porsche Taycan. I love the EV sound generator which really does hint at serious powertrain performance. Hilarious. Well done to whoever thought of doing this, using a legally required noise generator to enhance the brand.
Anyhow, back to the i7. Forget the noise and notice the tyres. In-keeping with the size of car, they are enormous. And worn out. What? It is a new car (according to the number plate, less than 6 months old), yet the front tyres are down to the wear bars. Beautifully worn actually. Clearly good toe and camber control, allied to significant drive torque has led to even wear across the tread. Maximum use of the tyre. Great result.
(Isn’t it strange what some of us notice when a car is parking in front of us? By the way, the photograph introducing this waffle is not of the culprit – just another random EV that happened to be parked with the tread showing).
Whilst beautifully worn, I guess it is not really a great result when the bill comes in for replacement tyres. And what about the tyre debris (particulates in particular) and carcass remains? Good suspension design and accurate set up will maximise tyre life. But vehicle mass and drive torque will soon a slick tyre make.
Have you noticed how many EV drivers exploit the standing start torque capability to whizz quietly up to speed? There is a road junction in our town which has a red, elevated, high grip surface as part of the traffic calming measures on the main street. Unfortunately, the surface is starting to break up, so otherwise quiet EVs are now creating a ‘scrunch’ and gravel ricochets before the wheel slip electronics intervene. Ironically, it is only the scrunch that pedestrians hear. Where is the Porsche sound generator when you need it?
Tyre wear only happens when the driver creates it. Driving finesse can help to reduce the rate, as can accurate wheel alignment and suitable suspension upgrades to maintain wheel geometry control. Keep an eye on how your tyres are progressing.
The benefits of tyre wear? It can inform how well your car is performing and perhaps more importantly, your skill levels as a driver.