Dive Brief:
- The satisfaction gap between electric and gas-powered vehicles with original equipment tires increased year over year as EV drivers complained about excessive wear, according to the J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Original Equipment Tire Customer Satisfaction Study released March 25.
- Overall satisfaction for internal-combustion engine vehicles was 796 (on a 1,000-point scale), while EVs scored 769, said Kristin Kolodge, VP of auto benchmarking and mobility development, in an email.
- “The widening satisfaction gap between EVs and gas-powered vehicles highlight an opportunity for tire manufacturers and automakers to educate EV owners on the differences in performance,” Ashley Edgar, senior director of benchmarking and alternative mobility, said in a statement.
Dive Insight:
The automotive industry has attempted to address consumer concerns over premature EV tire wear in recent years because it can deter new car shoppers from considering a battery-electric vehicle. Addressing those concerns could help automakers boost EV sales, but the widening gap in tire satisfaction between ICE vehicles and EVs suggests the auto industry has more work to do.
“Additionally, because of the inherent conflict of maximizing vehicle range and optimizing tire wear for EVs, tire manufacturers and automakers need to work together to overcome the challenge without completely sacrificing tire performance in other areas, especially as the EV market continues to increase,” Edgar said.
EV tires can wear up to 20% faster than tires on internal-combustion cars and trucks, according to tire supplier Michelin. That’s mainly because EVs are significantly heavier and produce more wheel torque than traditional vehicles.
In addition, aggressive tire wear may worsen an EV’s environmental impact by increasing the amount of polluting tire particulate released.
The J.D. Power study, which surveyed 31,414 owners of model year 2022 and 2023 vehicles, found overall O.E. tire satisfaction fell slightly from 799 in 2023 to 796 in 2024, Kolodge said. Consumers rated them on ride quality, wear, traction and appearance, according to a press release.
Luxury car owners were most satisfied with Michelin tires, while Goodyear and Continental came in second and third, respectively.
Michelin also took the top spot among passenger car tires, followed by Goodyear and Kumho, respectively.
Michelin scored best among performance sport tires, too.
Truck owners, including those who drive large pickup trucks and SUVs and midsize pickup trucks, ranked Falken as the best O.E. tires, while BFGoodrich and Hankook took second and third place, respectively.
