Tesla Model Y will be the first to carry Goodyear ultra-high-performance electric vehicle tires

Reporter | Zhou Chunliang

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The Tesla Model Y is about to feature a brand new high-tech tire from tire manufacturer Goodyear.

A few days ago, according to foreign media reports, the company launched a new ElectricDrive GT tire, which is the company's first replacement tire designed specifically for electric vehicles in North America - more specifically, it will be first installed on the Tesla Model Y.

Goodyear's ElectricDrive GT is an ultra-high-performance all-season weather tire that is tuned for long-term use and delivers the most needed quality for electric vehicle driving – quietness.

Goodyear was founded in 1898 and was born just 12 years after the first car was invented. Arguably, they understand cars, and more specifically, the tires that make them run safely.

But what will a company with more than 120 years of experience making internal combustion engine car tires do when electric vehicles start making demands on how consumers get around?

Electric vehicles provide instant and stable torque while on the go, and their large battery packs provide extra weight that conventional tires may not handle for long.

To solve this problem, tire companies like Goodyear have developed their own tires, specifically for electric vehicles, that can accommodate these vehicle characteristics.

Back in 2018, Goodyear disclosed its EficientGrip high-performance tires with electric drive technology, its first electric vehicle-specific tire to handle faster bursts of torque. Since then, the company has joined the ranks of other tire manufacturers, such as Pirelli, whose design of electric vehicle-specific tires debuted on the Lucid Air; bridgestone, which designed custom tires for the Lightyear One SEV.

Now, Goodyear has introduced a new electric vehicle-specific tire in its portfolio, which will be used in North America starting in 2022.

The tire and rubber recently introduced its new range of electric vehicle tires and shared some of its details and designs.

According to Goodyear, the ElectricDrive GT is the first electric vehicle replacement tire offered by a U.S. tire manufacturer in North America. David Rees, vice president of product development at Goodyear Americas, said products that anticipate consumer mobility needs are at the heart of Goodyear's innovation. Electric vehicles have a range of very specific requirements for load, torque, noise, endurance, rolling resistance and overall performance.

The ElectricDrive GT is designed with Goodyear's SoundComfort technology, which actively acts as a built-in sound barrier to reduce road noise.

The electric tires also feature an asymmetrical tread pattern and specialized tread compounds that provide enhanced traction regardless of whether the terrain is wet or dry.

It supports a limited warranty of 40,000 mph tread life, as well as a W speed rating (168 mph).

Goodyear said the initial release of the ElectricDrive GT will only be 255/45R19 104W XL in size, but it plans to expand its ElectricDrive product line in 2022.