TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Kenda Rubber Industrial Co. launched a new tire specifically designed for EVs, featuring specialized tread, higher load capacity, and improved mileage compared to typical tires for gasoline-powered cars.

Company Chair Yang Chi-jen (楊啓仁) said the company, which primarily focuses on manufacturing car tires, is developing more products to meet the increased weight of EVs, per CNA. He explained that EV batteries are significantly heavier than the internal combustion engines used in gasoline-powered cars. For the same vehicle model, tires on electric cars must support around 500 kilograms more than those on their gasoline counterparts.

Yang said the company’s EV-specific tire can last up to 45,000 km. To help reduce energy consumption, the tire is designed with a shallower tread compared to regular tires, which lowers rolling resistance.

To ensure strong road grip, the company adjusted the tire’s internal structure to maintain stable handling. It also features an asymmetric tread pattern to improve traction and ride stability. The EV tires are priced about 10 % higher than the company's standard models, Yang added. 

Kenda has increased the price of its car tires in the US by 10% since June. The decision followed President Trump's 25% tariff on imported auto parts, which took effect in March. The company's car tires, exported to the US from its Vietnam plant, are subject to this tariff.

Additionally, Yang highlighted that Kenda’s bicycle tire orders in the US market have declined since 2022. However, the company expects orders to increase in the second half of this year.

Kenda’s revenue from January to August declined by 1.55% year-on-year. Yang emphasized that despite the drop, the company has not cut employee working hours or imposed unpaid leave. To address business slowdown and tariff impact, it will continue to roll out products and enhance innovations across its four R&D centers in Taiwan, Germany, China, and the US.