Interesting comment about tire tread wear

[R1Thor]

I had them rotate the tires, tight a loose cable going to the tailgate (note: it's still loose, but less so than before), and replace a piece of PPF on the gear tunnel door that had pollen trapped under it (was like that when I took delivery). I also asked them questions about the radio showing that Morse code message on FM stations for the past few months (no fix, other than "hopefully it'll be fixed in an OTA"), passenger airbag sensor going off (wife weighs under 110 lbs, nothing they can do besides tell her to eat a sandwich), and asked about getting grommets for the roof rack clamps (Rivian changed the design, they don't have anything that will fit).

So basically a few actual work items and me asking a bunch of dumb questions. I was there at 9:15am and out the door before 2pm. They offered a rental but I had my laptop and just worked remote from the lobby. WiFi is fast. Password is "RivGuest" (but you'll have to make a login through a website and it'll email you an account password). Might've drank all their coffee a few times. They checked on me periodically and gave me updates throughout the day.

Considering the time it takes to get there (at least for me), I would avoid the rental and just plan on spending the day if you can. Whatcha going in for?

I'm going in for a laundry-list of items.

The one that I think will require me to leave it for an appreciable amount of time: my rear passenger door handle isn't completely affixed to the door (been that way since delivery). I had a mobile tech out almost 6 months ago now who confirmed that the welds either never took or were never applied to the rear portion of the bracket that holds the door handle cup to the door. Suffice to say, he couldn't fix it and it will likely need to go somewhere that can perform body work (unless the SC is just going to JB Weld it to the inside of the door panel?).

Otherwise:
- I have a loose piece of window molding (on the same door).
- Wind whistle over ~50 (climate depending)
- An occasional 'clunk' when heavily accelerating while turning.
- My drivers front quarter panel keeps swelling out (also climate dependent). Right now it looks great, but I have several photos of it bulging out from the vehicle, so I think there is some odd swelling going on with whatever gaskets are under there.
- And the windshield wiper-could-cut-the-wire-harness recall

99% certain my truck was built on a Friday at 450PM...

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[mpw81]

To add another, completely opposite, data point.... yesterday at the Denver SC they told me my fronts need to be replaced and my rears are at about "half life." I'm at 9600 miles. Telling my wife resulted in numerous comments about my driving, hehe.

 

[Ingo B]

Had my tires rotated up at the Gaithersburg (Maryland) SC yesterday, along with addressing a few other minor warranty items. 5,300 miles. Figured while I was going up there for other stuff I'd pay the $60 bucks to have that done, as well. Then blew my budget buying Rivian merch from the waiting room, but that's another story. ?

Anyhow, while I was checking out the lady looked on her tablet and mentioned that my front tires were 10/32nds, and rear were 12/32nds. "Basically like new", she said. I think it's interesting that Rivian seems to be aware of some people having issues with tire wear and seems to be tracking this. I wonder if they keep histories or compile this into a database somewhere?

Besides that, good trip. Northern Virginia / DC metro traffic is a hellscape but half the distance of going south to Richmond. SC was nice. Many vehicles there. Saw a steady stream of people coming in to pick up their new trucks while I waited. Mostly S's. Everyone seemed very excited. Tech left my vehicle in Sport mode. Probably the only time it's ever been changed from "all purpose". Hit up a few wineries in the area on my way back down but that's a whoooole other story. ?

So this begs the question, how would you describe your driving style? Assuming easy acceleration, easy deceleration, sort of like replicating coasting in an ICE truck? This is a no-judgement question. Just trying to max out my tires. Haha

 

[Iwannarivian]

Had my tires rotated up at the Gaithersburg (Maryland) SC yesterday, along with addressing a few other minor warranty items. 5,300 miles. Figured while I was going up there for other stuff I'd pay the $60 bucks to have that done, as well. Then blew my budget buying Rivian merch from the waiting room, but that's another story. ?

Anyhow, while I was checking out the lady looked on her tablet and mentioned that my front tires were 10/32nds, and rear were 12/32nds. "Basically like new", she said. I think it's interesting that Rivian seems to be aware of some people having issues with tire wear and seems to be tracking this. I wonder if they keep histories or compile this into a database somewhere?

Besides that, good trip. Northern Virginia / DC metro traffic is a hellscape but half the distance of going south to Richmond. SC was nice. Many vehicles there. Saw a steady stream of people coming in to pick up their new trucks while I waited. Mostly S's. Everyone seemed very excited. Tech left my vehicle in Sport mode. Probably the only time it's ever been changed from "all purpose". Hit up a few wineries in the area on my way back down but that's a whoooole other story. ?

it is interesting that tire wear seems to be all over the place. I have driven my R1T like I stole it from day 1, and yet with 30k on it now, I still have LOTS of tire life left. This was solidified when I finally took it in for balance/rotation at 15k..I kept putting it off because it seemed unnecessary…then the tech told me I should really wait until I had more miles/wear on the tires before service…haha. He was shocked when I told him it had 15k!

 

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

So this begs the question, how would you describe your driving style? Assuming easy acceleration, easy deceleration, sort of like replicating coasting in an ICE truck? This is a no-judgement question. Just trying to max out my tires. Haha

Haha, see my pictures earlier in this thread. I spend about two hours a day sitting in traffic. Coast forward a couple feet, sit, wait a few minutes, coast forward a couple more. On rare occasions if I feel like paying the $30+ bucks I'll take the express lanes. You can cruise at 80 mph in those. But unless your job is paying you back, they are cost-prohibitive for most folks around here. ?

Guess I should mention it's the 20" AT tires. I like the look, although the closest I see to off-roading most days is driving on the mean streets of Manassas Park (that haven't been paved since the late 1950's), LOL.

 

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

I'm going in for a laundry-list of items.

The one that I think will require me to leave it for an appreciable amount of time: my rear passenger door handle isn't completely affixed to the door (been that way since delivery). I had a mobile tech out almost 6 months ago now who confirmed that the welds either never took or were never applied to the rear portion of the bracket that holds the door handle cup to the door. Suffice to say, he couldn't fix it and it will likely need to go somewhere that can perform body work (unless the SC is just going to JB Weld it to the inside of the door panel?).

Otherwise:
- I have a loose piece of window molding (on the same door).
- Wind whistle over ~50 (climate depending)
- An occasional 'clunk' when heavily accelerating while turning.
- My drivers front quarter panel keeps swelling out (also climate dependent). Right now it looks great, but I have several photos of it bulging out from the vehicle, so I think there is some odd swelling going on with whatever gaskets are under there.
- And the windshield wiper-could-cut-the-wire-harness recall

99% certain my truck was built on a Friday at 450PM...

Oof. That sounds like quite a lot. I'm sorry. ? Let us know how it works out for you / how they treat you there.

I'd be idly curious to see what you mean about the "drivers front quarter panel swelling out" (you mentioned having pictures)? Do you think it's something behind pushing on it? Or just flex from the metal being so thin?

 

[R1Thor]

Do you think it's something behind pushing on it? Or just flex from the metal being so thin?

I don't necessarily think the metal is too thin--I think there's something pushing on it from the underside. I could be wrong, about this, but given how this is temperamental and not consistently doing it, I feel like there's some type of gasket (several, likely) that are swelling due to this being non-uniformly heated at times. Because the easiest way for me to 'reset' this is to leave the car back in the garage for a few hours without the influence of direct sunlight and/or air movement.

Oof. That sounds like quite a lot. I'm sorry. ? Let us know how it works out for you / how they treat you there.

I'd be idly curious to see what you mean about the "drivers front quarter panel swelling out" (you mentioned having pictures)?

Again, to emphasize, it doesn't look like this all the time. Right now, it looks completely normal:

This is one instance:

Here's another:

 

[PVguy]

OM, can you please review the mead? Assumig that you have opened it…..

 

[Superdad]

I hope Rivian is paying attention. I really don’t want to spend $2600 on tires every year (29k miles. 2 rotations. 11 months).

 

[atebit]

I just got my PA inspection done, 8/32 after just shy of 11K miles. I think that’s roughly 50% from PA’s perspective. Getting ready to put my winter tires on so maybe I can get another year out of the original tires.

 

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

This is one instance:

Here's another:

That's a pretty significant amount of something going on. Please come back and update us once that's taken care of!

 

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

OM, can you please review the mead? Assumig that you have opened it…..

Excellent stuff. One of the best. Personally consider it my favorite, but it's also the official mead of the Maryland Renaissance Festival (where I've been going for almost 30 years) so it's got a lot of strong memories for me. ?

 

[LevelHeaded]

I hope Rivian is paying attention

Well, they can’t make the vehicle lighter. I guess they could reduce the torque?

 

[Superdad]

Well, they can’t make the vehicle lighter. I guess they could reduce the torque?

I agree those could help but I don’t want that.

I’m more concerned about the toe wear. I’ve done a lot of highway miles and feel the auto “low” adjustment on the highway has been the culprit. Maybe some guidance as to what the vehicle is aligned at for toe and what the other settings will do in contrast.

I’m fine with even tire wear. Even if it’s fast. I completely get that. Taking the inside of the tire to the metal bands when there’s still 5k of tread is no fun.

That and maybe give folks a heads up if projected expected tire ranges of less than 30k miles.

 

[RivianDeac]

I wasn’t really sure where to put this video, but figured this is thread is better than any. Love seeing this many Rivians!

This was taken at the gaithersberg service center last week. They had my truck for about two weeks and really did a great job!




MD rivian service center

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