For one thing, EVs are generally heavier than an equivalent-sized, conventionally powered vehicle. And because range is so important to the EV-buying market, low rolling resistance is essential. In fact, a 20 percent increase in rolling resistance can reduce range by 5–8 percent. But the tire still needs to have plenty of grip because electric motors make so much torque—and from so low in their rev range…

And there’s one more problem: EV powertrains are almost silent, so tire noise that could be unnoticeable in a conventionally powered vehicle becomes significant at the same speed in an EV. “Now there’s a variety of technologies out there. [Tread] pattern is one aspect. There has been a big uptake in noise-cancellation systems, which [involves] an open cell structured foam [being] placed inside the tire; the sponge absorbs the noise, and [the noise cancellation] stops it from being carried through,” he explained.