ELECTRIC CARS WHEELS - MUST KNOW

Posted by:tire specialist1

DID YOU GET HEAVIER WHEELS AND TIRES THAT WHAT YOUR NEW ELECTRICAL CAR'S WLTP-RANGE IS STATED WITH? DID YOU EV GOT LOWER PAYLOAD THAN STATED DUE TO THE TOO HEAVY WHEELS?

Initially, the WLTP range of the electric car is often achieved with very light rims, which are not always offered with the car for various reasons. Many new electric car owners are disappointed. The car looks cooler with larger and wider rims and tires, but the range is significantly shorter with larger and heavier wheels. If the winter tire is from Continental or Nokian, the starting point is hopeless because these tires have no drainage and push energy-intensive water waves. Therefore, it may be advisable for the car dealer to present all type approvals for the car, confirming or denying that the wheels actually purchased with the car have the correct WLTP range. This applies to both summer wheels and winter wheels. If you turn off the heat in the car, the car should have almost the same range in winter as in summer when the rims have the same design and weight and the tire has the same sidewall/tire characteristics. The author of the article has an average of 6% higher energy consumption in the winter half-year when the same wheels are used all year round, measured on the 2018, 2020, and 2023 Model S models.

 

BIG IMPROVEMENTS POSSIBLE FOR TESLA MODEL Y

Tesla reports shorter range for Model Y with heavier wheels. Many other car brands do not report the big differences. Tesla is among the few car manufacturers that report different WLTP range with different wheel weights. Model Y LR has 565 km with 19 inches and 533 km with the slightly heavier 20 inches. The Model Y Performance, which has very heavy wheels, is reported with a range of 514 km for the original 21-inch "staggered" wheels. This is clear information. The difference in wheel weight between 19" and 20" is approximately 1 kg/wheel, totaling 4 kg, but also moved slightly further out in radius. You lose 32 km WLTP range from 19 to 20" and vice versa. We recommend 18 inch wheels for Tesla Omdel Y and YP if you need more range or if you want a very good car on snow and ice. 

Most who have purchased other car brands have not been informed in writing that heavier wheels reduce the range (not good for the industry). Below table shows the potential for increased range with the large weight reductions we recommend with the EV program from ZAX Wheels. 

AUDI E-TRON IS ALSO A VERY GOOD EXAMPLE OF SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT IN RANGE WITH LIGHTER ZAX WHEELS

All Audi E-trons delivered since 2019 have enormous potential for upgrading the range by swapping the excessively heavy winter wheels for light electric vehicle wheels (Rotary Forged wheel rings) with electric vehicle tires from Frigus EV that do not push energy-intensive water waves on wet roads. If you replace the 20" winter wheels (which weigh 32.45 kg x 4) delivered with the car with this 19" package (24.7 kg x 4) with the electric vehicle tire from Frigus EV that drains 100% compared to Continentals zero draining, you will experience a completely different range and sportiness for the car.

The latest news test is that the Tesla Model S Long Range actually achieves a range of 530 km in the winter. The article's author has such a car, but has changed the original wheels to light ZAX wheels that build a bit more, mounted with slightly smaller Frigus EV tires, approximately 2 kg/wheel reduced weight, and achieved about 6% lower energy consumption, which indicates 32 km additional range. Our Model Y is about 10% lower in range with 18-inch ZAX wheels and recommended winter tires, which indicates about 500 km in winter comparison.

There are huge differences in energy consumption between heavy and light wheels. Many people experience huge differences, and excessively heavy winter wheels are a contributing factor. If you have not accepted winter wheels that are measurably much heavier than the wheels specified in the WLTP range of the car and/or have heavier wheels that reduce the car's payload, you have the right to reorder with new winter wheels with the correct weight and properties. See the table below. Since many drivers weigh more than 75 kg, we have changed the car's registration card to make it easier to understand what weight you can actually have in the car. Many car manufacturers specify the weight without any additional equipment, and with the wheels that the car is actually delivered with, so it will come as a shock to many during a weight control. The rule is that you must reduce to the legal weight to be able to drive on, after accepting a suitable fine. According to rumors, there will be many weight checks on the way to the mountains in the future, and EVs with ski boxes are not in a good position. Check your car weight, preferably with the ski box mounted.

Some European car models with a lot of additional equipment may weigh significantly more than what is stated in the table below. It is recommended to weigh the car so you know more about what you actually have for weight. A lot of extra equipment on the car, heavy winter wheels, and a ski box can be unfortunate, so checking car weight provides good information.

TESLA MODEL Y IS ANNOUNCED WITH 32 KM LONGER RANGE WITH 4 KG (1 kg/each wheels) GAIN IN WHEEL WEIGHT. SEE OPORTUNITIES FOR MOST EV'S BELOW

You can imagine how big improvements of the range you will get on Audi E-tron and Volvo XC40 and C40 when upgrade to ZAX recommendations.

Car model

CAR WEIGHT WO/DRIVER

max weight

PAYLOAD INCL. DRIVER

IMPROVEMENTS → RECOMMENDED ZAX Ev WHEELS

 

Car weight without driver
 
Max weight w/driver, pass. & luggage
Includes driver +
passengers + luggage
reduced weight on winter tires
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Tesla Model Y Performance 4WD 2007 2634 552 29 kg reduction →21OE to 19" ZAX
Tesla Model Y Performance 4WD 2007 2634 552 36 kg reduction→21OE  to 18" ZAX
Tesla Model Y 21-22 LR 4WD with OE 19''  1984 2371 387 22 kg reduction →19 OE to 18" ZAX
Tesla Model Y 21-22 LR 4WD with OE 19''  1984 2371 387 12 kg reduction →19 OE to 19" ZAX
Tesla Model Y 21-22 LR 4WD with OE 20'' 1984 2371 387 28 kg reduction →20 OE to 18" ZAX
Tesla Model Y 23-UP LR 4WD with OE 19'' 2007 2532 525 22 kg reduction →19 OE to 18'' ZAX
Tesla Model 3 LR 4WD w/ OE 18" & Cover (10.44) 1905 2305 400 from 9 kg →18 OE to 18" ZAX
Tesla Model 3 STD Range RWD 1666 2060 394  
Tesla Model 3 Performance 4WD 1874 2305 431 12 kg reduction→20 OE to 18" ZAX
Tesla Model S  85D, 90D 13-17 4WD 2175 2640 465  
Tesla Model S 75D 4WD 17-20 2108 2600 492  
Tesla Model S 100D 4WD 17-20 2215 2694 479  
Tesla Model S P100D 4WD 17-20 2241 2720 479  
Tesla Model S LR 4WD 22-UP 2095 2534 439  
Tesla Model S Plaid 4WD 21-UP 2190 2629 439  
Tesla Model X 75D 4WD 2352 2985 633  
Tesla Model X 100D 4WD 16-20 2458 3079 621  
Tesla Model X Plaid 4WD 12-UP 2464 2970 506  
         
Audi E-tron 55 19-22 2601 3130 529 31 kg reduction → 20 to 19" ZAX
Audi E-tron 55 Sp.back S-line 19-22 2565 3150 585 31 kg reduction → 20 to 19" ZAX
Audi E-tron 50 19-22 2389 3040 651 31 kg reduction → 20 to 19" ZAX
Audi E-Tron Sportback 60 19-22 2702 3280 578 31 kg reduction → 20 to 19" ZAX
Audi Q8 E-tron 50 23-UP 2655 3170 515  
BMW iX1 2093 2580 487  
BMX iX3 RWD 2225 2725 500  
BMW iX xDrive 40 AWD 2365 3010 645  
BMW iX xDrive 50 AWD 2636 3145 509  
BMW iX M60 AWD 2642 3160 443  
BMW i4 2285 2735 450  
         
BYD HAN AWD 2250 2660 410 8 kg reduction→ OE 19" to ZAX 19" 
BYD Tang AWD 2489 3060 571  
Jaguar I-Pace AWD 2191 2670 479 20 kg reduction →OE 20" to ZAX 19"
Porsche Taycan GTS AWD 2397 2875 478 16 kg reduction →OE 20" to ZAX 20"
Porsche Taycan 4S AWD 2220 2880 660 16 kg reduction →OE 20" to ZAX 20"
Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo AWD 2225 2885 660 16 kg reduction →OE 20" to ZAX 20"
         
Volkswagen ID.3 1840 2270 430  
Volkswagen ID.4 2104 2660 556  
Volkswagen ID.4 GTX 2220 2750 530  
         
Skoda Enyaq AWD 2211 2750 539  
Skoda Enyaq AWD RS 2242 2750 508  
Skoda Enyaq AWD RS Suite 2270 2740 470  
         
Voyah Free 2340 2945 605  
         
Hongqi EHS9 2660 3205 545  
         
Hyundai Ioniq 5 AWD 2020 2540 520 22 kg reduction →19" OE to 19" ZAX
Hyundai Kona 2022 1570 2020 450  
Hyundai Kona 2019 1685 2170 485  
NIO ES8 AWD 2430 3099 669  
NIO ET7 AWD 2379 2900 521  
         
Polestar 2 Performance AWD 2113 2600 487 12 kg reduction →20" OE to 19'' ZAX
Polestar 2 long range AWD 2123 2600 477  
Polestar 2 std range RWD 1940 2390 450  
         
Ford  Mustang Mach-E 2WD 2099 2605 506 12 kg reduction →19" OE to 19" ZAX
Ford  Mustang Mach-E AWD 2086 2640 554 17 kg reduction→19" OE to 18" ZAX
         
Mercedes EQC 2455 2940 485  
Mercedes EQS SUV 2892 3375 483  
Mercedes EQE 2542 2970 518  
Mercedes EQE 300 2WD 2383 2880 497  
Mercedes EQE AMG 4WD 2553 3095 542  
MG ZS EV 2093 2580 487 22 kg reduction →17" OE to 16" ZAX
Kia EV6 2WD  (19" OE = 28,5 kg/each ) 1936 2425 489 22 kg reduction →19" OE to 19" ZAX
Kia EV6 AWD        22 kg reduction →19" OE to 19" ZAX
Kia e-Niro 1777 2230 453 16 kg reduction →17" OE to 17" ZAX
         
Kia Soul electric 20-UP 1737 2180 443 16 kg reduction →17" OE to 17" ZAX
         
Volvo C40  2187 2620 433 22 kg reduction →19" OE to 18" ZAX
Volvo XC40  2113 2650 537 22 kg reduction →19" OE to 18" ZAX

The weight of the wheel and the weight distribution are important factors for energy consumption. Choosing lighter wheels and the right rims is crucial for the wheel's (and car's) energy consumption, which greatly affects the range of an electric vehicle. It is also important to place as much of the wheel weight as possible close to the center of the wheel. The diameter of the wheel, the weight of the wheel, and the width of the wheel all play a role in the energy required by the car's drive system.

 

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