I have the AI acquired source called Co Pilot that was asked about psi tire load of an electric vehicle. There was no mention of the EV tire load actually being excessive.
“The weight in psi of electric vehicle tires on the road surface depends on several factors, such as the tire pressure, the tire size, the tire construction, the vehicle weight, and the road surface temperature. There is no single answer to this question, but I can provide some general information and examples based on the web search results.
The tire pressure is the amount of air inside the tire, measured in pounds per square inch (PSI). The tire pressure affects the tire contact area, which is the part of the tire that touches the road. A higher tire pressure means a smaller contact area, and vice versa. The tire pressure also affects the tire stiffness, which is the resistance of the tire to deformation. A stiffer tire has less rolling resistance, which means less energy loss and better efficiency. However, a stiffer tire also has less grip, which means less traction and braking performance. Therefore, there is a trade-off between tire pressure and vehicle performance1.
The tire size is the dimension of the tire, usually expressed in terms of width, aspect ratio, and diameter. The tire size affects the tire contact area, as well as the tire load capacity, which is the maximum weight that the tire can support. A larger tire size means a larger contact area, and vice versa. A larger tire size also means a higher load capacity, and vice versa. Therefore, there is a trade-off between tire size and vehicle performance1.
The tire construction is the design and material of the tire, such as the tread pattern, the rubber compound, the inner liner, and the sidewall. The tire construction affects the tire rolling resistance, which is the force that opposes the motion of the tire. The tire rolling resistance is influenced by the tire deformation, the tire hysteresis, and the tire slip. The tire deformation is the change in shape of the tire due to the road surface and the vehicle weight. The tire hysteresis is the loss of energy due to the repeated deformation and recovery of the tire. The tire slip is the difference between the actual and the intended movement of the tire. A lower tire rolling resistance means less energy loss and better efficiency. However, a lower tire rolling resistance also means less grip, which means less traction and braking performance. Therefore, there is a trade-off between tire construction and vehicle performance2.
The vehicle weight is the mass of the vehicle, including the passengers, the cargo, and the battery. The vehicle weight affects the tire load, which is the force that the tire exerts on the road surface. The tire load is proportional to the vehicle weight, assuming a uniform weight distribution. A higher vehicle weight means a higher tire load, and vice versa. A higher tire load also means a higher tire contact pressure, which is the ratio of the tire load to the tire contact area. A higher tire contact pressure means more stress on the tire and the road surface, which may lead to more wear and tear1.
The road surface temperature is the heat of the road surface, which may vary depending on the weather, the season, and the location. The road surface temperature affects the tire temperature, which is the heat of the tire due to the friction and the deformation. The tire temperature affects the tire pressure, the tire stiffness, and the tire grip. A higher tire temperature means a higher tire pressure, and vice versa. A higher tire temperature also means a lower tire stiffness, and vice versa. A higher tire temperature also means a higher tire grip, and vice versa. Therefore, there is a trade-off between road surface temperature and vehicle performance3.
As an example, let’s consider a typical electric vehicle tire with a size of 215/55R17, a pressure of 35 PSI, and a load capacity of 1,356 lbs. Assuming a uniform weight distribution, each tire supports 25% of the vehicle weight. If the vehicle weight is 4,000 lbs, then each tire load is 1,000 lbs. The tire contact area can be estimated by dividing the tire load by the tire pressure, which gives 28.6 square inches. The tire contact pressure can be estimated by dividing the tire load by the tire contact area, which gives 35 PSI. This means that the weight in PSI of the electric vehicle tire on the road surface is equal to the tire pressure in this case. However, this is only an approximation, and the actual weight in PSI may vary depending on the tire construction and the road surface temperature41.
I hope this information helps you understand the weight in PSI of electric vehicle tires on the road surface. “
Kid’s Tesla seemed to require a high PSI like a trailer tire. The weight is not much worse than an old Tahoe so I think the issue on Tesla tires is the very low center of gravity puts sidewall flex to the max.