MOT tyre failure rate 40 percent higher for electric vehicles

Test fail more likely due to weight of vehicle and torque delivery

MOT tyre failure rate 40 percent higher for electric vehicles
Photo: Bigstock

Electric cars have a 40 percent higher MOT tyre failure rate than cars with a petrol engine, according to a report from the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI).

The IMI looked at data from 2021, focusing on cars registered between 2015 and 2018.

Steve Nash, CEO of the IMI, said: “Most electrics are electric versions of petrol and diesel, so they are relatively heavy, and it doesn’t really matter what you do with different tyre mixes, they are simply going to wear tyres more.”

The report suggested that an EV’s greater torque delivery is another contributing factor, especially from a standing start.

A separate study in 2022 found that, although electric and hybrid vehicles had a better MOT pass rate, they are more likely to fail for having tyres that don’t meet the minimum legal requirements.

The Carwow analysis found that around a third (36.18 percent) of EVs that failed their tests had tyres that didn’t meet legal standards. Hybrids were only slightly better, at 33.24 percent.

AA president and electric car owner, Edmund King, disagreed that weight is a factor in the failure rate, saying that EVs use specialist tyres “made from more robust compounds with stronger side walls”.

He added: “Tyre wear is mainly affected by driving style and state of the roads.”

The RAC’s Simon Williams agreed, saying: “We suspect their higher failure rate for defective tyres may relate more to driving habits than anything else.

“As EVs can accelerate more quickly than most petrol or diesel vehicles, those who take advantage of this will get through tyres faster than those who drive more conservatively.”

Source: The Telegraph

1 Comment

  1. main issue we find, people are to lazy to check the tyre pressures then get premature wear
    plus they will not pay for alignment to be done correctly when they buy new tyres
    simple as that

    Reply

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