Monthly Archives: January 2023

With so many car manufacturers jumping on the electric vehicle (EV) bandwagon, tire makers are paying attention, and they’re starting to cater to this side of the market with tires that are specifically engineered for EVs.

The question is, do you really need EV tires for your electric vehicle? The short answer is no. Theres’ nothing wrong with using tires that were designed for conventional gas-powered vehicles. However, if you want to get the most from your electric vehicle, then you’ll want to invest in tires that were made with the demands of EVs in mind.

You can think of EV tires for an electric vehicle like a good pair of running shoes for an athlete. While you could technically jog in a pair of cross trainers or basketball sneakers, your performance would get a boost if you were to wear a pair of dedicated running shoes. The same can be said about your EV: Your electric vehicle has certain strengths and needs that

Choosing a tire for a pick-up or an SUV can seem like a daunting task. Not only do you have to figure out whether you want a P-metric (passenger) tire, or a light truck (LT) tire, but you also have to make sense of all the subcategories: HT, AT, MT and RT.

The decision-making process begins with an honest assessment of you actual needs and wants. In the “needs” category: Do you really need a tire that allows you to crawl over rocks, or do your off-roading adventures take you across less demanding terrain?

Also, ask yourself whether you want a quiet tire that allows for a more tranquil environment when you’re on the freeway, or if you’re okay with the constant road noise made by more aggressive tires.

Once you know what you actually need and what, you’ll be able to figure out what’s best for your truck.

P-Metric vs. LT Tires

Just be

The next time you’re shopping for replacement tires, you might be surprised when you’re told your vehicle needs tires with a speed rating that’s way beyond any posted speed limits you’ve ever heard of. So why would you have to buy a tire that can go 186 mph (speed rating: Y) when you’ll never drive that fast without getting arrested or killed?

Even if you own a family sedan, like a Toyota Camry, you still might need V-rated tires, which means they have a speed rating of 149 mph? You’ll never drive that fast to the grocery store, so what’s the point?

A Misnomer

The confusion stems from the fact that speed ratings have nothing to do with how fast you actually drive. The term is a bit of a misnomer, but a recent conversation I had with Ian McKenney, Senior Product Manager at Bridgestone, sheds some light on where the speed rating idea comes from, and why it’s important for you to consider speed ratings when bu