LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – With the rapid spread of electrification in today’s automotive landscape, it was only a matter of time before tire manufacturers decided to capitalize on this trend. While just about every tire manufacturer offers rubber that is “EV-ready”, they have yet to engineer and produce tires that are specifically dedicated to supplementing the performance of the electric vehicle – until now. Sailun Tire Americas invited us to spend a day sampling the latest Sailun ERANGE EV tires.
While Sailun is quick to receive criticism from tire purists, the fact of the matter is that the average consumer is pinching pennies and trying to maximize value when shopping for rubber, and this is especially the case with the majority of mainstream vehicles. Sailun’s tires provide excellent value for the dollar spent, and the ERANGE EV is a great fit as an OE replacement on models like the Nissan Leaf, Chevrolet Bolt, and Hyundai IONIQ 5.
We were put behind the wheel of a 2023 Tesla Model 3 with just 200 miles on the odometer, and fitted with a fresh set of ERANGE EV rubber. Sailun uses their liquid phase mixing method to create a uniform rubber compound right across the tire. This helps with tire longevity and most of all, rolling resistance.
The pattern is also supposed to maximize traction on acceleration, which is an area where most EVs tend to eagerly burn rubber thanks to the instant torque. Sailun claims a slight improvement in overall braking distance, but it’s difficult to actually put this to the test with so many variables in any given situation.
From initial impressions, the ERANGE EV provides a quiet and smooth ride, perfectly suited to the personality of the electric vehicle. We noticed a small improvement in road noise when compared to the Continental tires fitted to the last Tesla Model 3 we sampled. Bombing through some tight, hilly canyon roads we noticed a surprising amount of compliance from the tires, noting that these are not performance oriented tires in any way.
The ERANGE EV rubber held their own even when pushed hard, though it’s important to adjust expectations here. This isn’t a Michelin Pilot Sport 4S or a Potenza RE-71R. It’s still an economy tire that excels at zipping through the city while maximizing efficiency, not trying to get times at the local parking-lot autocross course.
We observed a marked improvement in ride quality, which is a major weak point of these Tesla vehicles, considerably softening the blow going to the driver’s spine. It may be as simple as a pressure adjustment, but whatever they’ve done, they’ve done well. Sailun also claims that their improvement in rolling resistance does increase range slightly, but this will need to be observed with time and over the course of a longer test.
Offered in 30 sizes starting at 15-inches for older production, early EVs and going up to the 22-inch sizes that fit the Tesla Model X and Mercedes EQS SUV, there is a Sailun ERANGE EV tire for just about every electric vehicle on sale today. While one can argue there’s no real “need” for a dedicated EV tire, we’re sure that this initiative by one manufacturer is going to spark a fire under the competition.
We’re about to hit the golden age of tire technology, with more options than ever before. The Sailun ERANGE EV is an excellent value proposition that we’re looking forward to seeing hit the market.
