More than 30% of Consumer Reports EV Charging Community members who have replaced their tires have replaced tires on their EV sooner than expected, with more than half replacing tires at or before 30,000 miles, according to Consumer Reports. Among those who bought new tires, about 66% chose models other than with what their vehicle came.

According to new Consumer Reports tests, the original factory-installed tires on EVs may not be the best for all drivers. Choosing a conventional, not EV-specific all-season tire can provide improved poor weather performance, longer tread life, and cost less than the original equipment (OE) tires. CR said that its tests once again show that tires are all about compromises and finding the right balance for your needs and budget.

To determine how different replacement tires affect the performance of an EV and how they compare against the OE tires that came with the car CR bought four sets of comparable tire models and put them through a battery of tests.

Among EVs, the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y dominate the market, accounting for more than 40% of the electric vehicles sold in the US in 2024. For this evaluation, CR tested tires on its 2024 Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD using the 18-inch Hankook Ventus S1 AS T0 tires that came on it as the baseline (size 235/45R18-XL). CR compared that tire to the Bridgestone Turanza EV, Hankook ION EVO AS, Pirelli PZero All Season Plus Elect, and Yokohama Advan Sport EV A/S.

These tires are engineered for the unique traction needs and weight of EVs. They come in multiple sizes to fit the most popular EVs, but given that they are new, niche products, there are fewer sizes available than available for regular all-season tires.

For comparison, CR also included two non-EV-specific tires that have performed well in its tests: General Altimax RT45 all-season tire and the Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 ultra-high-performance all-season tire. Both are XL-rated and suitable for use on the Model 3 or similar EVs.

The test protocol included dry and wet braking, dry and wet handling, hydroplaning resistance, ride comfort, noise, ice braking, snow traction, rolling resistance (a measure of tire efficiency), and treadwear. One key EV-specific difference: CR also performed a highway range test to evaluate the real-world impact of each tire’s rolling resistance to give a real-world sense of what a tire change may mean to overall range.

CR found that when prioritizing safety factors, a non-EV-specific tire can be a better choice. While EV-tuned tires tend to be optimized for range and efficiency, they may not perform as well as some non-EV replacement models in all weather conditions.

In fact, CR said, even emphasizing efficiency (rolling resistance) in the ratings calculations, the standard non-EV labeled all-season tire ranked as high as the top-rated EV models mainly due to its better showing in areas such as wet braking, snow and ice grip, and hydroplaning resistance—all important safety-related areas. Those contributions came without significant sacrifices to range.

And if winter weather isn’t something you need to deal with, the ultra-high performance all-season excelled in the wet for braking, handling and hydroplaning though it put more of a dent in the Model 3’s overall highway range prediction.

In the end, as CR recommends for any car, focusing on performance in safety-related areas may lead you to models that aren’t necessarily marketed as being specific to EVs. As long as you’re choosing models that meet the load capacity needs (look for XL versions) and that have at least the same speed rating. You may find they’re not only a better choice, but perhaps also a better value, CR said.