Downsizing Wheels Boosts Hyundai Ioniq 5 N Highway Efficiency by 12%

A Hyundai Ioniq 5 N owner has demonstrated that reducing wheel size can meaningfully offset the range penalties associated with high-performance electric vehicles. By swapping factory equipment for a custom setup, the owner achieved a double-digit increase in highway efficiency.

Matt, a creator from the YouTube channel 'Downshift,' replaced the vehicle's stock 21-inch forged wheels and sticky Pirelli P Zero tires with custom 20-inch Demon Forged wheels paired with Kumho Ecsta Sport all-season tires. According to data reported by InsideEVs and Yahoo Finance, this modification increased highway efficiency at 75 mph from 2.5 mi/kWh to 2.8 mi/kWh, representing an improvement of approximately 12%.

The Performance Trade-off

The Ioniq 5 N is engineered as a track-capable machine, prioritizing grip and power over endurance. This focus is evident in its factory specifications, which utilize wide 275-section tires that increase rolling resistance. Consequently, the Ioniq 5 N carries an EPA-rated combined range of just 221 miles. This is a stark contrast to the standard non-N dual-motor version, which achieves 290 miles of range despite utilizing the same 84-kWh battery pack.

During his testing process, Matt also experimented with Kumho Majesty 9 EV tires, which are designed for low rolling resistance. While these tires yielded higher efficiency gains—reaching between 3.3 and 3.6 mi/kWh on a mixed driving loop—they were ultimately rejected because they dulled the vehicle's handling characteristics. The 20-inch Ecsta Sport setup was chosen as the optimal middle ground between efficiency and performance.

Implications for Performance EVs

This experiment highlights a critical tension in the EV market: the trade-off between factory-specified performance aesthetics and real-world utility. Large wheels and high-grip tires are often standard on 'N' or 'Performance' trims to ensure stability at high speeds, but they act as a constant drain on the battery. The results mirror trends seen in other EVs, such as the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y, where smaller wheel diameters consistently result in higher efficiency.

For owners of performance EVs, this suggests that a strategic move to slightly smaller, lighter wheels can reclaim a meaningful percentage of range without requiring a battery upgrade or a total loss of driving dynamics.

Looking Ahead

While the efficiency gains at 75 mph are concrete, the total impact on maximum range remains theoretical. The owner suggested the vehicle could potentially reach a 310-mile range based on mixed-driving results, but this figure is an extrapolation. As noted by reporters at InsideEVs, this has not been verified through a full-battery depletion test. Future testing will be required to determine if these gains hold steady across varying temperatures and driving conditions.