What EV Tire is right for you? XL, HL, EV, E+… What does it all mean?
What EV Tire is right for you? XL, HL, EV, E+… What does it all mean?
Posted on September 18, 2023
Electric Vehicles have arrived in the automotive industry, and they aren’t going anywhere. These powerhouses are similar but still different than gas engine vehicles. They have different parts, a different maintenance schedule and different tires than their gas counterparts.
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The tires that EV & Hybrid vehicles drive on are made specifically for them. EV & Hybrid vehicles have a large, heavy battery for storing electric energy. Like large trucks, these heavy vehicles need specialty tires designed to carry a heavy load. There is already a good selection of EV tires available for sale and they all have different labels. Let’s dive into what each of those labels mean.
XL
The most common symbol on EV tires. The “XL” represents that this tire has been created with “Extra Load Capacity” and can be used on EV vehicles. You will find these available for most passenger car & truck vehicles. These tires are a Load Range, B Tire/4PLY Tire, that have been created with additional load capacity. In short, these tires are suitable for your average day-to-day EV passenger vehicle.
HL
Many commercial EV vehicles have the HL symbol. The “HL” represents this tire has been created with “Heavy Load Capacity”. Larger vehicles like cargo vans and trucks typically have higher Load Ranges, like C/D/E, and will need a HL tire. These tires will be created with additional Heavy Load Capacity to offset the weight of the EV/Hybrid vehicle batteries.
EV
A new symbol being found on many EV Tires. This is a very straight forward approach to labeling tires specific for EV vehicles. If you see the EV symbol on a tire it has been created specifically for EV/Hybrid Vehicles.
E+
Also newly emerging symbol for EVs. The “E+” means this tire is created for EV/Hybrid vehicles with additional load capacity. They will likely also help with reducing road noise and with creating a smoother drive and safer handling for those larger EV/Hybrid vehicles.
Most tire manufacturers are creating EV tires because of their importance in the marketplace. More and more electric vehicles are becoming available and they will need specialty tires to ensure long lasting and safe vehicles. Make sure your EV is getting proper tires that have XL, HL, EV or E+ located on the sidewall of the tire. That will ensure you have a tire that can handle the weight, torque, speed, noise & handling of your EV.