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The Ioniq Guy Facebook club is a very good group, and well run. We spotted a topic there that we feel deserves some in-depth analysis. The topic is an important one – tires. Since battery electric vehicles (BEVs) have so little maintenance to perform, tires end up being the top maintenance cost during cost of ownership. So, tires are a very important topic. Also, we know from our own extensive tire testing at Torque News that choosing the wrong tire can reduce efficiency and range by as much as 20%. Here’s what a member posted:
What tires did you put on your IONIQ 5 for all-season use (not winter)? Maintaining efficiency and ride comfort is a priority.
This is a very good post by the member for many reasons. One reason we like it is that the poster highlights two very popular priorities. She is not interested in performance, nor is she stating that her priority is long tire life. She just wants good efficiency and a comfortable ride. Do you think you have an answer for her?
Top Tire Picks For an EV Like the Popular Hyundai Ioniq 5
Under the post by the member, a poll was conducted. Top suggestions from the membership of the Ioniq 5 group included the following:
-Michelin Primacy – 37%
-Hancook EVO Ion – 26%
-Michelin CrossClimate2 – 12%
All of these are good choices. We should note that Michelin Primacy A/S is the OEM fitment for the 19-inch wheels on the Ioniq 5. It’s what you get from the factory. Genesis also uses this tire on the GV60. You won’t go wrong with this tire. It’s a known good bet, since so many owners have used it. This tire earns high review scores and is from a respected brand.
Pricing Comparison – Ioniq 5 Replacement Tires
Let’s use the 235/55-19 size of tire for our pricing consideration in this story. We searched Tire Rack to see what recommendations the popular online retailer suggests and found a very large selection of options. Here are a few we think are worthy of consideration.
-Falken Ziex CT60 A/S $231
-Michelin Primacy A/S – $276
-Hancook EVO Ion $260
-Michelin CrossClimate2 $273
-Goodyear Electric Drive2 $288
As you can see, the Falken tire is the best value. In addition to having the lowest up-front cost, the Falken Ziex CT60 also offers a 65,000-mile treadwear warranty. We tested this tire using a Toyota Highlander as the test vehicle, and LOVED it. The tire was great in every way, and we saw no reduction in fuel efficiency, though we will say that a Highlander is not as sensitive to efficiency changes as a vehicle like the Ioniq 5 BEV. The tire was quiet and comfortable in our testing. Handling was also very good. This is the tire that Jeep chose for its newest battery-electric vehicle.
Tires For Cars With No Spare Tire – Run-Flat and Self-Sealing Tires
Self-sealing tires are a fantastic option for EVs that don’t have a spare. However, in the sizes and load ratings the Ioniq 5 uses, we had trouble finding any. Tire Rack confirmed this is the case. Run flats are not ideal for EVs, since they are generally heavier and can compromise efficiency.
Tires For EVs – Acoustic Noise-Deadening Foam Or No Acoustic Foam?
One feature that many EV owners turn to is sound-deadening foam. This foam is found in the Michelin Primacy A/S tire. EVs have very little powertrain noise at highway speeds. While this is a fantastic plus, it also makes road sounds from tires seem louder than you would otherwise notice. The foam helps to reduce noise. The only downside is that the foam can sometimes cause problems with balancing, and we have seen reports of the foam detaching. It can also be troublesome when repairing a puncture. Here is a comment that one member made that speaks directly to the issue of foam problems:
I got cheap Goodyear Assurance tires at Walmart. I now have over 30k miles on them, and they still look fine. No foam in them to come loose and throw the tire out of balance, and it seems you don’t have to pay double for an EV-branded tire.
EV Tires – DO You Need Severe Snow Duty Capability – Michelin CrossClimate2
The poster did not mention wintery conditions, but if we were shopping for an all-season tire rated for severe snow duty, we’d opt for the Michelin CrossClimate2. This is a proven tire, that exceeded all-season capability in snow, and has no bad habits. Here are some comments that Ioniq 5 owners made regarding the Michelin CrossClimate2:
“Fantastic handling in nearly all weather.”
“Very impressed.”
“Great tires.”
Do Hyundai Ioniq 5 Owners Needs Special EV Tires?
Some manufacturers label their tires as having an “Eco Focus” that helps to ensure the tires won’t cause any meaningful reduction in efficiency. All new tires have a tendency to reduce efficiency and range slightly for five well-known reasons. However, some tires can reduce efficiency much more than others. For example, in our test of the new Goodyear WeatherReady2 tires on a hybrid-electric vehicle, we saw a meaningful efficiency reduction compared to other tires we had used.
It is not necessary to look for EV-specific tires. In fact, Michelin says that it is a bunch of malarky, but they also stamp many tires ECO-Focus. Any properly sized and properly rated tire (XL is necessary) will work with any EV. However, many tires don’t put an emphasis on efficiency. So, choosing a tire known to have a low rolling resistance is always a wise move for EV owners.
One tire that Tire Rack says fits this bill is the Goodyear Electric Drive 2. This tire retails at $288 and earns very high reviews. However, we saw a review that gave us pause. The owner of a VW ID.4 commented:
The Goodyear tire was firmer and more responsive, and they offered more confidence in daily driving. The biggest warning was that I lost over 20% range with highway driving and over 10% range in city driving.
As you can see, EV focus may not always translate to good efficiency in real-world use for some owners.
Torque News Opinion On All-Season Tires For Ioniq 5 EV
We agree with many members that the Michelin Primacy A/S is a great choice. You know what you are getting, there will be zero reduction in efficiency, and ty do have foam lining. If you like a sure thing, this is your best bet. If snow is a consideration, the CrossClimate2 is the way to go. If you are willing to take a chance on a brand we have had good luck with, the Falken Ziex CT60 is about $200 cheaper per set of four tires, and they were outstanding in our non-EV testing.
What do you think of these choices? Which tires would you opt for if you had the same priorities? Tell us in the comments below.
Images by John Goreham. Torque News has no affiliation with Tire Rack and does not accept any direct advertisement from outside sources.
John Goreham is a long-standing member of the New England Motor Press Association and an expert vehicle tester. John completed an engineering program with a focus on electric vehicles, followed by two decades of work in high-tech, biopharma, and the automotive supply chain before becoming a news contributor. He is a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE int). In addition to his eleven years of work at Torque News, John has published thousands of articles and reviews at American news outlets. He is known for offering unfiltered opinions on vehicle topics. You can connect with John on Linkedin and follow his work on his personal X channel or on our X channel. Please note that stories carrying John’s by-line are never AI-generated, but he does employ grammar and punctuation software when proofreading and he also uses image generation tools.
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Source: torquenews.com
