Winter driving in cold climates means higher consumption. It is true for both EVs and gasoline combustion cars. You’re battling more dense cold air, snow/slush on the roadway, and increased HVAC demands to keep passengers comfortable.
Winter tires are designed for increased winter safety and control, and they do this with large sipes in their tread patterns and a softer rubber compound that stays pliable when temperatures drop. These properties help the driver remain in control, but also further decreases efficiency. I’ve observed this firsthand when my driving energy consumption increase by at least 20% in the winter compared to the summer.
Optimized for Lower Rolling Resistance?
What about EV Optimized winter tires? If a tire claims to have reduced rolling resistance compared to conventional winter tires, how much does it actually matter? For the second half of the 2024/2025 winter season, I’ve ran the premium Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 EVs to get a comparison with my previous budget tire of choice, the Falken EuroWinter. I’ve tested these tires in very similar conditions on my Model Y, in 225/40/R20 sizes. Watch the video for the whole experiment.
In my testing, I observed a 5%-6% lower energy consumption on the Hakkapeliitta R5 EVs versus the non-optimized tire while driving at 120kmh/74mph on the highway in very cold winter conditions. While not a perfect test, I’ve taken every possible measure to get a consistent conditions as I could.
These Hakkapeliittas impressed me beyond just the lower consumption. They also ride very plush compared to my old tires. Despite being the same size and having no additional side wall material, the R5s absorb bumps and road imperfections so much better. This was a surprise to me, because a softer tire and reduced rolling resistance are opposing goals in my mind. I thought tires needed to be firmer in order to roll more freely, but somehow Nokian had achieved both a smooth ride and measurable range gains.
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