Posted on 08/11/2023 3:20:48 PM PDT by Responsibility2nd
The Rivian R1T and R1S are both super cool electric vehicles, offering huge power, impressive range and distinctive styling. They aren’t cheap, but if you can afford one, we suspect you’ll find it’s an absolute hoot to drive. Sadly, no vehicle is perfect, and apparently, one downside of owning a Rivian is that they tend to eat through tires much faster than you’d expect given that the Pirellis they come with from the factory are warrantied for up to 50,000 miles.
According to The Drive, owners have been complaining on Rivian forums that their tires, specifically their front tires, haven’t lasted as long as they expected. At least one owner claims to have had to replace theirs after only 6,000 miles. Considering they’re large EVs with big, heavy batteries, it’s not surprising to hear that tires wear out faster than they would if they were installed on, say, a Mazda Miata. But there’s more going on here than the fact that the R1T is heavy.
As it turns out, this excessive front tire wear can likely be tied back to Rivian’s “Conserve” drive mode. In order to maximize range, when you switch to Conserve, your Rivian switches from four-wheel drive to front-wheel drive and lowers the ride height. Sending more than 400 hp to the front wheels in a truck that weighs more than 7,000 lbs is bound to increase tire wear, but it appears that lowering the suspension also causes problems.
Apparently, the lowest ride height causes toe-in and more negative camber, which can accelerate and also cause uneven tire wear. According to one owner who drove in Conserve mode for 6,000 miles, the front tires lost an entire millimeter more than the rears. Which seems bad but also explains why Rivian has reportedly told owners not to use Conserve mode over long distances. Owners have also reported issues with the stock alignment.
So, essentially, Conserve mode gives you better range, but the changes that improve range also wear through tires faster. It’s a tradeoff that owners will need to weigh for themselves, although, as The Drive points out, owners who want to maximize range while minimizing treadwear can also get a more toe-out alignment that will help preserve their tires while driving in Conserve mode. Rotating tires regularly can also help. But ultimately, there’s no getting around the fact that you’re driving something that weighs as much as three Miatas.
Whatcha bet specially engineered tires that can handle a 7,000 pound truck cost at least $1,000 each?
All while only getting 230 miles on a charge. (base model)
That’s worse than my Goodyear Eagle summer tires on my V8 hot rods
What a scam
EV makers could care less , they know governments will ORDER everyone to buy the crap EVs
Nor do I even know if 27K miles between tire changes in an ICE is normal for Alabama roads. (I'd read years ago that our pavement in the south is more course to allow it to bend with less cracking in the summer sun, compared to northern pavement. But that was years ago and maybe not correct anyway.)
My U404 weighs 9,000 pounds loaded and U1300L 16,000 pounds loaded, which they both usually are.
Depending on where you shop, the 42" tires are from $1200 to $690 each.
The tires are rated to carry the weight and a LOT more.
This is another no publicity down side. Tires will last half as long because of the weight. The roads too once the percentages get well into the double digits. Another is the insurance. On and on and kept on the down low until it’s too late.
I work for a company that produces parts for the Rivian. To be blunt, my co-workers and I are not impressed with the quality of the materials.
My employer bought a rivian, I haven’t drove any of the battery powered vehicles they’ve bought, but everyone who has have said they are a hoot.
Any ways, the rivian has been out of commission due to a cracked wind shield. Insurance won’t let it continue for it’s purpose (public take a turn driving) and no one locally can replace the wind shield. My employer isn’t cheap, the fact is they’ve bought a Volt, Leaf, Tesla, Rivian and Lightning, so cost to replace a window isn’t the issue.
I’ll stick to my rust-plated vehicles.
So this mode that only saves power on average over the long haul can't be used over the long haul. Wow!
“It’s a hoot to drive.” I’s sure be hooting!
According to Car and Driver 95% of all electric vehicles are on the road today, the rest were able to get home and are currently charging.
“Nor do I even know if 27K miles between tire changes in an ICE is normal for Alabama roads.”
I drive Alabama roads. I always get around 50-60 thousand miles on tires. Just replaced mine at 48000 and they weren’t totally bad yet. Something’s not right if you’re only getting 27.
Rivians are between 533 to 835 hp.
That might explain the tire burn.
Nope it’s the weight.
It’s a good thing tires are biodegradable so as to complete the circle of green that is EVs.
My diesel sedan has 457 ft lbs of torque at 900RPM. But my tires last 40,000 miles.
I was able to get 65k miles from the last set of Yokohama tires on my 04 F-150.
Wrong compound for the high temperatures caused by the weight. But if they change it to a harder compound they will have to give up some ride, handling, and traction.
The Rivian uses a standard tire size, so I guess the weight has something to do with it when also starting and stopping using high torque.
It’s not the weight. Something is wrong with the camber and toe-in. I expect the reality is more like 16k miles not 6k though because you could not hold it in the road if it was bad enough out of alignment.
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