Acoustic foam filled tyres and EVs (especially special fitment Tesla T0, T1 & T2 tyres).

In this (unscripted) video I try to answer the common questions when it comes to acoustic foam filled tyres, such as what are they, can they be repaired and do I need to fit them? Many EV drivers and in particular, Tesla drivers, are being told they must fit special fitment tyres, such as T0, T1 etc to their EV, which is not the case. There is a lot of naivety when it comes to tyres for electric vehicles and just because the vehicle came from the factory with a special fitment tyre, doesn't mean it must always have a special fitment tyre. As long as the size, speed and weight ratings are correct, you can fit any tyre that suits your needs, climate or environment. EVs are now different to any other vehicle when it comes to tyres. Some EVs can be heavier, some can be very powerful, but they're no different to any other vehicle and you just need to make sure the tyre is the correct load index rating for your vehicle.
There are some advantages to buying a special fitment tyre, such as Tesla approved T0, T1 & T2 tyres, as the tyre manufacturers put a lot of effort into tweaking their tyres for that vehicle manufacturer. But that doesn't mean it's the best for you. These tyres tend to only be summer high performance tyres. There are other summer tyres which could be quieter or better fuel efficiency. There's also all-season tyres or winter tyres which could be better for your location, climate or season.
To learn more about the Tesla Model S, see our playlist • Tesla Model S
To see other videos on tyres and specifically on EVs, see the playlist • EV tyres
Please subscribe and have a look at the back catalogue of EV videos on this channel, see / gogreenautos
Why not follow Go Green Autos on Facebook at / gogreenautos ?
For EVs for sale, see www.gogreenautos.co.uk/for-sale
For referral codes, see www.gogreenautos.co.uk/referr...
#gogreenautos #evlearning #teslamodels #gogreenautosuk #electricvehicles #teslaaccessories #teslareview #teslaowner #michelintyres #electriccar #electriccars #michelintires

[@michaelgoode9555]

Thanks for this. The little gem I got from this is that if I decide to fit OEM 18 inch wheels and associated tyres to my VW ID.3 1st Edition which came with 19 inch alloys, I need to inform the insurance company. Never knew this.

[@dot7107]

Why the heck insurace company need that information?

[@GoGreenAutos]

If I was fitting OEM wheels that were available on other ID models, then yes, I wouldn't tell the insurer either. But if you were fitting anything that was non-standard, then you should really.

[@jboomhauer]

Fantastic information!!

[@GoGreenAutos]

Thank you

[@neiltharme9290]

As always great information.

[@GoGreenAutos]

Thanks

[@judebrown4103]

Really useful info, thanks Matt. We're fortunate, our local tyre place is getting into ev's in a big way, training their service engineers to work on ev's, so not only can we get tyres but I might not have to trouble James at Cleevelys to come all the way down to Kent to service it! This for the algorilla 👍😄

[@GoGreenAutos]

Thanks. All comments appreciated.

[@irgtk]

Well done summary of tyre (tire😁) types. 👍

[@GoGreenAutos]

Thanks!

[@JohnLovesSpain]

Great information, cross climate tyres are a good idea. Many people, incuding me, use the same tyres throughout the year as our winters are pretty lame most of the time. Next tyre change I'm going for cross climates, thank you, I always find your videos informative and of great value 👍

[@GoGreenAutos]

Thanks

[@paulf3353]

Acoustic rating is measured from outside of the car. Foam cuts certain frequencies only, so even with DB meter it might be difficult to measure.

[@jerrythefatcat2849]

Thank you for the useful information, much appreciated. It’s interesting to see the foam. My Id4 came with Pirelli scorpion ‘elect’ tyres, I was wondering what the elect meant apart from the extortionate price! When they need replacing I’ll look for all season alternatives that meet the speed/load rating.

[@GoGreenAutos]

"elect" normally means the tyre characteristics are focused towards less noise and rolling resistance. But its mostly marketing, as that's been the focus for years before EVs.

[@jilimalominchy3674]

Thank you for exposing this commercial scam Go Green. An acoustical engineer immediately spotted (by sight) the scam because the foam stuck inside the tyre does absorb near zero energy. Also, you were correct in the -3dB being half the noise energy of the 0dB reference level; however, to hear a difference in noise/sound level, one must reduce the noise energy by at least 6, but better, 10dB! Keep up the good work.

[@GoGreenAutos]

Thanks for the info.

[@Rajjjjjjjjjjjjjjjj]

Very well said !

[@GoGreenAutos]

thank you

[@johntisbury]

Thanks Matt, My Tesla Model 3 needed new tyres and I went for std Michelin Pilot Sport non foam tyres, I didn't notice the difference in tyre / road noise.

[@GoGreenAutos]

Hi John. I think in the Model S, they were slightly quieter.

[@paulf3353]

There is a difference on a rough asphalt, but you can only notice it if compared directly.

[@TunekoLtd]

Eu tire noise label is showing outside driveby noise. Its not necessary same values that tires produce inside the car. So in that sense the EU labelling system is not to be trusted 100% to give less noise between tires when target is less noise inside car.

[@stiggertoot]

Hi there, good video and informative but if your particular car doesn't have a spare tyre , just the squirty foam you spray inside the tyre valve then it wont seal the puncture under the foam so as I live in the countryside and haven’t got a spare like many thousands of other cars, what happens when my tyre goes flat? Is there anything I can do or do I have to buy a spare tyre and wheel and carry it in my boot? Thanks for the video, very informative. Steve Fletcher.

[@GoGreenAutos]

In all my vehicles, I carry a gunk type puncture kit (most have this as standard) and a string plug type kit. The string plugs are ideal if you have foam inside the tyre.

[@enhanceish]

I plan to diy treat my tire with some PU foam like this. May I ask what is the thickness and width of the foam in your video ? Thanks

[@GoGreenAutos]

I don't have this tyre any more. However, I would be very cautious about sticking your own foam into a tyre. As I said in the video, even some of these factory tyres have had the foam come loose and cause balancing issues.

[@2011ppower]

Hi do you have any data on how crossclimates affect efficiency?

[@GoGreenAutos]

No, but if they do its hardly measurable. I've put all-season tyres on four of our EVs now and there's no noticeable difference in efficiency at all. Check the rolling resistance letter on the EU label though. From memory, the Goodyear FourSeason tyres are better than the Michelin CrossClimates for rolling resistance, but it may depend on your particular size though.

[@alan2804]

I was under the impression you can’t fit run flat tyres unless you have tyre pressure monitoring system?

[@GoGreenAutos]

There would be nothing stopping you, but the only issue is you wouldn't know if you had a puncture, so could be driving around on a flat tyre which is dangerous. So yes, run flats should be used with TPMS. But all cars from 2014, and much earlier in many cases, have got TPMS.

[@barriedear5990]

Yup, had the foam come away. Took to local farmer Autocare to get wheels balanced. They had to add 100g to balance it. Went out of balance a day or so later, balanced again. On third occasion took to Tesla who knew straight off what the problem was, and took foam out.

[@GoGreenAutos]

Were they Michelin tyres?

[@barriedear5990]

@@GoGreenAutos Yes, Michelin Pilot Sport 3, with T0 designation.

[@GoGreenAutos]

@@barriedear5990 from our sample test of 2, it would seem Pirelli's PNCS tyres may be more robust with better foam glue.

[@computerbob06]

Just wondering if it's just down to the type of driving that the tyre gets used for? Mainly motorway miles, the tyre won't be shaken around or compressed as much as a life of mainly pot hole and speed hump ridden city streets!

[@GoGreenAutos]

@@computerbob06 it could be. Potholes (there's some vicious ones out there now!) and speed humps would have quite an impact on the tyre.

[@dot7107]

That tyre can be repaired as easily than non foam tyre, just use those sticky glu strings and that's it. I have repair kit in car all the time.

[@CosyP]

Don’t think those repairs are legal. The repair has to be vulcanised (?) sealed on the inside of the tyre.

[@dot7107]

@@CosyP those tyre plug repair kits are on sale everywhere and are legal to use

[@GoGreenAutos]

Yes, so do I. But these should be treated as a "get you out of trouble" repair, rather than a permanent repair.

[@CosyP]

As Matt said they are not considered a permanent repair so shouldn’t be used as such. This is a quote from a tyre repair website “Emergency roadside plug repairs are NOT intended to be a permanent tire repair. Plugs and string repairs are designed to get you back up and rolling long enough to get home or to the nearest service center to perform a proper tire repair.” Legality is maybe the wrong word but the reasoning is the same.

[@rodden1953]

Qwick fit are rip off merchants. never use them . if you use the foam puncture kit can the tyre be used again ?

[@GoGreenAutos]

Yes the tyre can be used again, if.... 1. the tyre is damaged from driving it flat 2. the tyre sealant is washed out, which is awkward 3. the original puncture is repairable

[@dot7107]

Those A0, T0 etc marks are just tyre manufacturing marketing BS, those can be fitted to any car if the tyre size is correct to the target car and wheel. Almost every car manufacturer have their own branded tyres and surprisingly it is every time some the most expensive tyre manufacturer and its top end tyre model 😁

[@GoGreenAutos]

Yep, completely agree.