Tire Technology International - March 2024 Issue
Toyo Open Country A/T III EV
2024-04-06 08:12:35
An early entrant to the EV light-truck replacement market broke cover at the 2023 SEMA show
20% lower rolling resistance from the new compound
The North American light-truck EV sector is set for huge growth in the coming years as contenders from Chevrolet, Ram and Tesla set their sights on trailblazers Ford, Rivian and Hummer. Buyers expect to use their electric pickups to reach some of the same off-road spots that are frequented by ICE-powered machines, so the door is opening for the tire replacement market to fill a new niche.
“You’re starting to see more EVs at overlander events,” says Sonny McDonald, national training manager at Toyo Tire USA. “They want an all-terrain product to get them there, and a little more aggression in the styling, too.”
Toyo is one of the first into the space with a made-for-EV, all-terrain tire – as opposed to a conventional A/T with an appropriate load rating. Its Open Country A/T III EV in size LT275/60 R20 has just gone on sale as a replacement for the Ford F-150 Lightning’s standard H/Ts.
The newcomer shares its tread pattern with the regular A/T III, introduced in 2020. For the EV version, Toyo’s goal was to keep the look and traction of the conventional A/T – including its 3PMSF certification – while reducing noise, optimizing aero and lowering rolling resistance.
FLUID THINKING
The biggest change is a new tread compound that features better bonding and more uniform filler dispersion for a more homogeneous result. As part of the new development, Toyo has also liquefied the rubber mixing process. Interestingly, the EV version of the tire contains a higher synthetic rubber content than the regular A/T III, with a predictable trade-off in cut-and-chip resistance but a small benefit in initial traction under direct torque, according to McDonald.
“You’re starting to see more EVs at overlander events. They want an all-terrain product to get them there, and a little more aggression in the styling, too” Sonny McDonald, national training manager, Toyo Tire USA
Toyo claims almost 20% lower rolling resistance from the new compound alone. The A/T III EV is also lighter thanks to the use of a higher-tensile-strength polyester in the belts, providing a further reduction in energy consumption.
A notable change to the sidewall is the introduction of the AeroWing lug design, which reduces the tire’s wind resistance by channeling the air down and away from the rotating rubber. The sidewall’s smooth, high-contrast lettering and beveled shoulder blocks also help reduce drag while maintaining the desired rugged look and off-road performance.
The tire was designed and tested in the USA in a two-year project based in White, Georgia, where the A/T III EV is also being made using Toyo’s ATOM strip-winding production technology. At the heart of the test program was an early F-150 Lightning obtained by Toyo. However, during the development program it also consulted with Rivian on the requirements for an all-terrain EV tire.
Additional OE and plus sizes (LT and metric) of the A/T III EV are planned for release later in 2024. They will target the Rivian R1T and R1S and the GMC Hummer EV Pickup and SUV, as well as upcoming vehicles including the Tesla Cybertruck and the Chevrolet/GMC EV pickups.
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