Football away days SHOULD be a recipe for disaster, but for some reason, they are the opposite!
The early starts. Traveling up and down the country. Wrong turns. Arguments in the car. Snack thieves. Road Rage. But it often translates the best memories. The ‘banter’ in the car. The wrong turns. Snack breaks. Roadside toilet stops!
The debates that start friendly and somehow end very loudly. Now imagine all of that — but done silently, smoothly, and without a drop of eye-wateringly expensive petrol.
This trip – powered by Hankook Tyres took us on a zero-emission mission between two UEFA host cities, Nottingham and Birmingham, with two electric cars, four football fans (including Ex-Pro Ian Taylor), and one very important question: *does the right tyre really make a difference on an electric road trip?*
Spoiler: It really does.
Football, road trips and why this one mattered
This wasn’t just a drive from A to B. This was about celebrating football culture, European competition, and the partnership between UEFA Europa League football and EV tyre innovation — all wrapped up in a proper road-trip challenge..
On board were four fans with very different perspectives:
– lifelong supporters
– seasoned away-day travellers
– and one genuine football legend, Ian Taylor, who’s experienced European nights from both the pitch and the stands.
As we set off, the conversations quickly turned from route planning to memories: iconic away days, dream European finals, and why competitions like the Europa League have a big place in our hearts.
For clubs and fans alike, it’s about:
– testing yourself against different opposition
– travelling to new countries and the opportunity to explore new cities
– and feeling like you’re back where you belong
That sense of purpose carried straight into the drive.
The halfway stop: charging, clichés and common EV myths
Halfway through the journey, we pulled in for what every road trip demands: half-time refreshments and a quick top-up.
And this is where one of the most common EV myths tends to surface.
“Range anxiety.”
In reality, this stop wasn’t stressful. It was relaxed, predictable, and — importantly — educational. Charging fitted naturally into the flow of the trip, much like a coffee break would on any motorway run.
But the more interesting conversation was happening around the cars themselves — specifically, what actually affects EV range.
Because while people obsess over battery size, there are very few changes you can make to an EV that genuinely increase real-world efficiency and tyres are effectively the only one that does. I’ll explain why.
Why EV tyres matter more than most people realise
Electric cars behave differently to petrol or diesel cars. They can be heavier because of the battery. They accelerate quicker thanks to the instant torque, and rely heavily on efficiency to maximise range. That puts far more importance on what connects the car to the road.
EV tyres are designed differently. In this case, the tyres we were running are engineered specifically for electric vehicles, with a focus on:
– Lower rolling resistance to improve efficiency
– Stronger construction to handle extra weight
– Better grip under instant acceleration
– Reduced road noise, which matters more in a quiet EV
During the drive, the difference wasn’t theoretical — it was felt.
Villa Legend and EV convert Ian Taylor summed it up perfectly:
“It’s like turning up to a match wearing boots that don’t suit your pitch.”
Confidence was the big word that kept coming up.
Confidence under acceleration.
Confidence under braking.
Confidence when cornering.
And confidence is everything — whether you’re driving an EV or stepping onto a football pitch.
Cut corners on tyres, and you feel it immediately. Buy cheap, buy twice.
The quiz: football knowledge meets road-trip chaos
As we rolled closer to Birmingham, things got competitive.
A running quiz covered everything from:
– legal tyre tread depth
– famous European fixtures
– motorway trivia
– and classic football curveballs
There were confident answers. There were guesses. There were very loud disagreements.
Somehow, amid all the noise, the group nailed:
– the legal tread depth (1.6mm)
– major motorway milestones
– and more than a few obscure football facts
And all the while, the cars just… kept going.
No drama. No stress. Just smooth, efficient progress.
64 miles later: proof that preparation beats panic
Our journey was a short one. Just 64 miles, so we could have done the journey 5 times on a single charge in Ian’s BYD Seal (354 mile range WLTP) – with room for wrong turns! By the time we rolled into Birmingham, the discussion was ongoing, the laughs were still coming, and the trip computer was quietly proving a point. Range wasn’t even a consideration and we worked out that, if they wanted, Ian and Luke could have driven from Birmingham to Bruge on a single charge!
Short and long journeys are a easy. Especially with a little bit of planning. And before you ask, this wasn’t hypermiling. This wasn’t crawling along in eco mode. This was normal driving, with football chat, laughs, and a bit of competitive spirit thrown in.
Like football, the right preparation can go a long way. Make sure you have your tactics on point. Make sure you check apps like Zapmap which show your where all the public chargers are, how much they cost, if they’re available and fast they are. And charge when you can, NOT when you have to.
The takeaway?
If you’re doing longer EV journeys:
– make sure your tyres are correctly inflated
– choose tyres designed for electric vehicles
– Avoid harsh accelerating or late braking.
– and relax — the car will do the rest
Good tyres don’t just help efficiency and performance. They remove mental load. And that’s huge.
When football and tyres collide
Once parked up, it was time for the final challenge.
A football-meets-tyres showdown, complete with:
– point scoring, or not in some cases.
– pressure and high jinx
– and a blindfolded curveball that separated confidence from chaos
Some talked the talk. Others… less so.
In the end, victory went to those who combined technique, confidence, and just a bit of luck — which felt fitting after a journey all about preparation and performance.
What this road trip really showed us
This wasn’t about proving EVs can do long distances. We’re past that now.
This trip showed that:
– EV road trips can be fun, social and stress-free
– the small details — like tyres — genuinely matter
– and sustainable travel doesn’t mean sacrificing enjoyment
Football culture is built on journeys. Electric cars are quietly making those journeys cleaner, smoother, and more enjoyable.
And when you pair the right vehicle setup with the right mindset, zero-emission travel just becomes… travel
