Steering & suspension 38 November 2026 ǁǁǁ͘ ĂŌ ĞƌŵĂƌŬĞƚŽŶůŝŶĞ͘ ŶĞƚ Turning EV tyre wear into a workshop opportunity Pro-Align, the UK distributor of Hunter wheel alignment systems, tyre changers and diagnostic wheel balancers, looks at how the extra demands placed on tyres by electric vehicles can present workshops with an opportunity to offer customers a valued service. Workshops are seeing a growing number of electric vehicles with uneven or premature tyre wear. While this might seem like a maintenance issue, it’s often due to the unique demands EVs place on their tyres. Understanding these differences is essential for any garage aiming to properly support EV drivers and maximise tyre lifespan. Electric vehicles tend to wear tyres more quickly because they are heavier, produce instant torque that increases scrubbing during acceleration, and use regenerative braking. This braking system places additional strain on the tyres, particularly the front tyres, and on rear-wheel-drive models, the rear tyres as well. On top of this, EVs are highly sensitive to wheel alignment issues; their extra weight and frequent use of low-profile tyres mean even minor misalignments in toe or camber can lead to significant shoulder wear. While EV-specific tyres help to manage the load and torque, they cannot fully compensate for poor alignment. This is why wheel alignment has become one of the most effective and manageable ways for workshops to reduce tyre wear in electric vehicles. EV tyre wear One of the largest contributors to tyre wear in EVs is vehicle mass. EV battery packs are heavier compared to Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) models. More weight equals more force pushing the tyre into the road surface. This increases contact pressure, frictional heat buildup, and structural fatigue. According to tyre industry testing, every 45 kg of additional weight corresponds to a 3.2% increase in longitudinal thread shear stress under identical driving conditions. Heavier vehicles also cause greater lateral forces and faster wear. This is why workshops often observe premature outer edge wear on EVs even when alignment is correct. In addition, electric motors produce peak torque instantly from zero RPM, placing significantly higher stress on tyre contact compared to internal combustion engine vehicles. Even under normal acceleration, this results in micro-slip, where the tyre momentarily slides against the road surface. Over time, these repeated high-load interactions cause greater deformation of the tread, leading to increased wear on the driven wheels. Finally, regenerative braking can compress contact more forcefully than traditional friction braking and can create saw-toothing, feathering, or uneven shoulder wear, especially in stop-start driving. To support heavy battery loads and maximise efficiency, many EVs run tyres with higher load ratings and reinforced sidewalls, low rolling resistance compounds, noise-reduction foam liners and optimised tread designs for torque handling. While these technologies improve efficiency and comfort, they can also increase wear rates. Reducing tyre wear Correct wheel alignment is critical to maintaining optimal load distribution and contact patch stability, making it essential for preventing premature tyre wear. Proper alignment reduces scrub and rolling resistance. When wheels are not properly aligned, they sit at slight angles to one another, causing the tyres to “scrub” across the road surface instead of rolling cleanly and rapidly eroding the tyre shoulder and accelerating wear. Correct alignment keeps all four wheels pointing in the right direction, reducing unnecessary rolling resistance and helping the tyres work more efficiently. Misalignment can cause a vehicle to drift, pull or feel unstable, forcing the driver to constantly correct the steering. With proper alignment, the vehicle is straight, stability improves, and tyre stress stays consistent across the tread. Poor toe, camber, or caster angles can each create different patterns of uneven wear, feathering, cupping, or edge wear. EVs are particularly sensitive to this because of their weight distribution and
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