Tyre wear - the other 'big pollutant' of motor vehicles (especially EV's) that nobody ever wants to talks about.

If you put tailpipe emissions of internal combustion powers road vehicles aside, the other major pollutant is tyres. Tyre wear specifically.

The EV evangelists forget to talk about this almost deliberately. Why? Because EV's are normally heavier than equivalent petrol/diesel powered vehicles and that means MORE tyre wear, and MORE OFTEN tyre replacements.

EV's also have higher acceleration and braking characteristics which means even MORE tyre wear associated with hard acceleration and hard braking.

That means more rubber particulate pollution getting into the environment, more waste tyres to dispose of somehow, and all that rubber particulate pollution gets into the soil, the waterways and oceans, and is consumed by animals including us humans.

Is that better for the environment? Remember that YMMV because everyone has different usage requirements for their motor vehicle(s).

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samueltyler2 · 80-89, M

Actually, the tire manufacturers make special tires for EVs and they don't really wear out any faster.

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Elessar · 31-35, M

@zonavar68 But the point being discussed is that it pollutes more: it doesn't. The weight difference isn't that big to matter. And anyway, a Fiat 500 Elettrica still weighs less than the average ICE car you see around, if weight was really an issue then we should ban SUVs and trucks altogether, instead of trying to demonize EV over bullshìt.

There's plenty of "non-genuine" ICEs as well, the problem is hardly EV's. Buy a Mercedes A-class and you're buying a Renault lol

Show me any EV 30+ years after it was made still running on it's original battery module

And show me any ICE 30+ years car that is still running with its original clutch, fuel pump, etc. That's a pretty dumb argument because there's more consumable parts on an ICE than on an EV (basically only the battery)

Big Oil did a number with you, didn't it?

zonavar68 · 56-60, M

@Elessar Being heavier means EV's cause more tyre wear. Having higher acceleration and deceleration abilities cause more tyre wear. The biggest pollutant caused by ALL motor vehicles after tailpipe emissions are ignored is tyre wear. The motor packs on an EV are a 'consumable'. All the electronics is a consumable. Saying EV's are 'maintenance free' isn't correct. And the battery modules need very careful care and feeding to prevent (a) thermal runaway incidents and (b) premature degradation. High capacity fast charging for an EV is actually bad for the battery module.

Elessar · 31-35, M

@zonavar68 You can buy a lighter EV than your current heavy ICE car, if weight concerns you that much. It's really that simple.

Everything is consumable dude, even f*cking horses were/are.

Elessar · 31-35, M

From engine + tyres to only tyres it's already a significant reduction.

And why "especially EVs"? Tyre degradation is the same on both, it has nothing to do with propulsion.

72andy · 51-55, M

My experience is that ev tyres last far longer.
I asked the tyre guy and apparently it’s the engine braking is much softer on the tyres.
I have not had to change them in 2 years.
My normally aspirated car has been through a set and will need another soon.
Go figure.

zonavar68 · 56-60, M

@72andy I don't really think that can be true as regardless of what sort of braking is used the connector to the road is still the tyres, so even with regen braking the loss of energy has to occur by reducing kinetic energy of the moving vehicle. Being heavier, more braking is required.

72andy · 51-55, M

@zonavar68 but it’s not braking in the same way, and you do drive differently.
I am Just pleased i am not gong through tyres as quickly. It was an unexpected bonus.
Bottom line is that the new electric car is way superior to the aspirated car it has replaced in almost every way.
I just wish i had not been a sceptic and changed earlier.

whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M

I confess the last couple of sets of tyres I replaced were not fully used and had to be replaced because the rubber was perished. I just dont do enough miles any more..😷

SandWitch · 26-30, F

The difference between a new tyre and a tyre worn down to the wear bars is only about 5mm of thickness, which is basically 1/4 of an inch of rubber wear in depth.

That's actually negligible considering the remaining tyre carcass is recycled at the end of a tyre's life span, which is a lot of waste rubber in comparison to what wore off on the roadways and got left behind as dust for animals and humans to interact with.

I'm not actually sure I understand the point of your post then. 🤔

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swirlie · 31-35

@samueltyler2

Yes, that does seem like a rather unusual circumstance the manufacturer is presenting to you, which raises a caution flag in my mind. I have to ask myself, how is the manufacturer making money on that transaction involving your son? Somewhere, there is something hidden I would think, because the profit margin is very slim on cars anyway. Maybe it's just an incentive to make people act in one direction or the other?

Your lease arrangement sounds like what I too have been offered for a leased car, but I'm still thinking about it.

See now, that wasn't so bad, was it Sam?! 🫣

samueltyler2 · 80-89, M

@swirlie I am waiting for the other shoe to drop.

swirlie · 31-35

@samueltyler2

🌬️🌪️🙈

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