While CES has historically been a consumer electronics-focused event, it has recently become increasingly important for the automotive industry as new and innovative technologies find their way into modern cars. It’s perhaps for this reason that Goodyear decided CES was the right place to unveil its latest EV-specific tire, the ElectricDrive 2.
The company’s second-generation EV tire will roll out across the U.S. from May and be available in 17 different sizes, allowing it to be easily fitted to vehicles including the Tesla Model 3, Tesla Model Y, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Chevrolet Bolt, Audi Q4 e-tron, and many more.
When setting out to design the new tire, Goodyear says it wanted to deliver something that provides improved performance while also being quieter than its other tires. To improve grip in both dry and wet conditions, a new asymmetric tread pattern has been developed and to reduce sounds, the ElectricDrive 2 tire is equipped with the company’s SoundComfort Technology.
Air vibrating inside a tire is transmitted to a vehicle’s structure and is one of the key contributors to the noise in a vehicle’s cabin. This phenomenon is known as tire air cavity resonance and Goodyear’s SoundComfort Technology reduces this resonance with an acoustic barrier implemented into the tire.
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EV owners will also be pleased to know that the new tire uses at least 50% sustainable materials, including soybean oil, rice husk ash silica, and sustainably sourced natural rubber. It remains unclear what kind of warranty the new tire will come with but the first ElectricDrive tire from Goodyear had an impressive 60,000-mile (96,000 km) warranty.
“With the continued adoption of EVs, we want to meet consumer and market needs with an updated EV replacement tire,” Goodyear Americas vice president of product development, David Reese said. “We know EV drivers prioritize performance and a more sustainable tire. The ElectricDrive™ 2 was designed with at least 50% sustainable materials, a focus on providing greater traction and maintaining a quiet ride.”
