Question of the week: Why do EV-specific tyres have less tread when new?
Fri, 24 Apr 2026
Dear Honest John,
"Are you aware that Renault are fitting Michelin e.Primacy tyres with only 6mm of tread instead of the normal 9mm on their electric and hybrid cars?
They claim some technical benefits but nowhere can I find any information in their brochures or literature.
Michelin via their chat bot line say that 8 to 9mm is normal. I suspect this is an economical decision not technical. Safety must surely be compromised as will longevity?
- IV
Dear IV,
The thread depth of a brand-new tyre can vary by manufacturer, design and the type of tyre, so there is no normal amount of tread depth for a new tyre.
Michelin's website explains that 'if the tread is too deep, it will also consume too much energy during driving, and therefore fuel, because of the heat released by the rubber when it deforms. This is why the tyre's tread depth is designed by the manufacturer to find the best balance between the life of the tyre and the fuel consumption related to tyres.'
It also goes on to say that Michelin tyres are designed to perform well until the minimum tread depth is reached.
While the minimum legal tread depth is 1.6mm it is generally recommended to replace tyres at 3mm depth in order to maintain optimum performance. Studies have shown that once tyre tread falls below 3mm, braking performance in wet conditions decreases drastically.
When it comes to replacing tyres it is ultimately the buyer's decision over whether to choose an EV-optimised tyre with lower rolling resistance and potentially less tread or a conventional tyre.
