My hybrid uses the brakes significantly less than a nonhybrid ICE. The motors do a lot of the stopping work instead of the brakes. It’s easiest to see this going downhills. My cars recharging while other cars are using brakes. Tire wear though is definitely not abated.
They've also banned certain materials from brake pads that were causing problem. Copper is a no-no in the time between when my car was built and I last talked to someone about replacements (my car didn't need it because while it's an ICE, the computer is smart enough to do engine braking much of the time).
Think about how many times you refuel your car between tyre changes. Contemplate the volume of fuel burned versus the volume of material scraped off your tyres over their lifetime. Whatever the environmental cost of tyres, they cannot compete with liquid fuel.
It’s more about PM2.5 and similar particulate pollution. But absolutely there are bigger concerns. Tire and brake pollution gets brought up as a false equivalency between ICE and EV car emissions often. Just wanted to add a factoid about how electrified vehicles really are more efficient.
It's not just how much stuff is consumed. Different materials break into different size and shape particles. Tires may wear out slower but the particles they release may cause more damage.
