Would you go with 20" wheels or 21" wheels on Launch Edition R2?

[ksurfier]

I didn’t read all the replies but if having more sidewall is not of any interest, maybe having 25x more options is? I count ~250 options that fit 20” rims and 10 or less that fit 21” rims. Also willing to bet the most efficient tire will be 20”…just a hunch.

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[racekarl]

It is stated on the Rivian site I believe that the 20” are forged.

It Is? That's cool, that was a big reason I got 20s on the R1T. Where did you see that for R2?

 

[cusetownusa]

I wonder if the 20" AS might be a (secret?) no-cost option on Performance, otherwise some devoted to 20" but not wanting to cough up more $ to downsize wheels might drop themselves down to Premium?

Otherwise Rivian might own-goal itself?

Yeah seems backwards to charge extra for a smaller wheel. If they don't charge extra for the 20" wheels and the color we want for LE, then we will mostly likely purchase the LE. Otherwise we may wait until the premium trim is out and reassess.

 

[Eric9610]

It Is? That's cool, that was a big reason I got 20s on the R1T. Where did you see that for R2?

Someone posted in the chat and got a detailed answer from Rivian. The LE / P models 21" and 20" are both forged aluminum.

I didn’t read all the replies but if having more sidewall is not of any interest, maybe having 25x more options is? I count ~250 options that fit 20” rims and 10 or less that fit 21” rims. Also willing to bet the most efficient tire will be 20”…just a hunch.

The 20" is about 10% less efficient in range due to rolling resistance. The 21" is purely being the standard to achieve max range. This also applies to tire option. Expect the 21 to wear much quicker.

 

[racekarl]

Someone posted in the chat and got a detailed answer from Rivian. The LE / P models 21" and 20" are both forged aluminum.

That was an AI chat response, I give that as much credence as anything I made up on my own

 

[Mathme]

I went with the 20" ATs on my R1T over the stalk 21s because there were replacement tires available. There were several people on here when the R1 first came out that had a flat and had to wait days to get a replacement tire. Since there was only one size in the market, you were stuck with the $400+ price Prielli charged. Now four years later, there are getting to be more options in that 21" size, but it was slim picking for many years.

On the 20s the stalk Pirelli's are still a $400+ tire, but there are a multitude of options in that size in the $250 range. I also liked the looks of the 20" tire better when I had to make that decision.

I paid close enough attention to the R2 wheels to offer a "which looks better" opinion. But there is something to be said for liking the looks of the wheels every time you walk up to the vehicle

 

[Revo]

I seem to be going the other direction to everyone else.
I had an OG R1T 2022 w/20".
I now have a 2025 R1T G2 w/22".

Pros 22":
1. Better range = Less charging cost and less charge time (way better to me #1 reason)
2. Quite
3. Better dry road traction
3. For me the sport look

Pros 20":
1. Better off road
2. Pothole absorption
3. Less costly to replace
4. Good off road look

Cons 22:
1. More expensive to replace
2. Less off road traction
3. Pothole absorption not as good (I have not had a problem with this)

Cons 20"
1. Less range = More charging cost + more time charging (my #1 complaint)
2. Not as planted in a faster curve
3. More tire road noise
4. My 20" Factory Pirelli went out of round at 30k (maybe just a me issue)

Hope this helps some.

 

[Revo]

Thanks for bringing this up Jim. I prefer the look of the 20" AT wheel option on the Performance trim. I also like the extra traction of an AT tire when driving dirt roads to trailheads etc., and of course would like to have the cushiest ride available. However, I have seen estimates of decreased range on the AT, going from 330 down to 318, and another one said 307. Not so good. I'm not sure how much of the decreased range is due to the AT tread, and how much due to the higher profile somehow. If it's the tread and I really needed that extra 12 to 23 mile range I suppose I could switch to another tire tread in the same 20" size.

It's mostly the rolling resistance of the taller sidewall the flex of the sidewall creates higher resistance and thus needs more energy to over come that resistance.

 

[rfkxyz]

Do we know for sure that the Rivian version of the BFG is actually 3PMSF rated? I've looked at images from Rivian events and couldn't see the mark on the tire wall.

Additionally, while the BFG website states "The BFGoodrich Trail-Terrain T/A tire is severe snow rated with a three-peak mountain snowflake symbol.[2]", the superscript states "[2] Excludes Original Equipment tires."

If it turns out the 20” BFG ATs aren’t 3PMSF then I really don’t want them at all. Perhaps factory would put 20” Pirelli AS on Performance 20” wheels instead?

 

[iamnid]

I seem to be going the other direction to everyone else.
I had an OG R1T 2022 w/20".
I now have a 2025 R1T G2 w/22".

Pros 22":
1. Better range = Less charging cost and less charge time (way better to me #1 reason)
2. Quite
3. Better dry road traction
3. For me the sport look

Pros 20":
1. Better off road
2. Pothole absorption
3. Less costly to replace
4. Good off road look

Cons 22:
1. More expensive to replace
2. Less off road traction
3. Pothole absorption not as good (I have not had a problem with this)

Cons 20"
1. Less range = More charging cost + more time charging (my #1 complaint)
2. Not as planted in a faster curve
3. More tire road noise
4. My 20" Factory Pirelli went out of round at 30k (maybe just a me issue)

Hope this helps some.

Your points about range are really only applicable to the tires that come on each rim from the factory. The stock 21" rims come with more efficient tires than the 20" rims. You can change the tires on the 20" rims to get better efficiency. 20" tires are generally cheaper than 21" tires and, currently, there are a lot more options for the 20" tires. It seems shortsighted to get the 21" rims solely because the tires they come with are more efficient.

Overall, get what you like. I don't like huge wheels because I don't like the way it looks and I like more sidewall for a more compliant ride and less chance of curbing the rim. I also like there to be options when it comes time to get new tires. Efficiency is important to me too but that is easily changed with different tires.

Last, has anyone else noticed that the Rivian website no longer has different range estimates depending on rim selection?

 

[SANZC02]

Your points about range are really only applicable to the tires that come on each rim from the factory. The stock 21" rims come with more efficient tires than the 20" rims. You can change the tires on the 20" rims to get better efficiency. 20" tires are generally cheaper than 21" tires and, currently, there are a lot more options for the 20" tires. It seems shortsighted to get the 21" rims solely because the tires they come with are more efficient.

Overall, get what you like. I don't like huge wheels because I don't like the way it looks and I like more sidewall for a more compliant ride and less chance of curbing the rim. I also like there to be options when it comes time to get new tires. Efficiency is important to me too but that is easily changed with different tires.

Last, has anyone else noticed that the Rivian website no longer has different range estimates depending on rim selection?

If you look at the R1 inventory it does. Max pack with 22s is 374 miles of range, 20 ATs shows 325.

 

[Just Passing By]

Last, has anyone else noticed that the Rivian website no longer has different range estimates depending on rim selection?

It does for the R2 Performance when you select the different wheel option icons on the "Explore the lineup" graphic - 307 miles for 20" Black Sand All-Terrain 330 miles for 21" Liquid Tungsten All-Season.

 

[iamnid]

It does for the R2 Performance when you select the different wheel option icons on the "Explore the lineup" graphic - 307 miles for 20" Black Sand All-Terrain 330 miles for 21" Liquid Tungsten All-Season.

You are correct -- when I checked this morning when I wrote that, it showed "----" for all stats next to the performance R2.

Overall, it's a difference of 23 miles anyway -- considering the recommendation to charge to 80% or less regularly, that's realistically a difference of 18.4 miles range -- not worth making the number one consideration in purchasing. I think you should get whatever rim size you like -- I've stated the reasons why I'll be going with the 20"

 

[rfkxyz]

If it turns out the 20” BFG ATs aren’t 3PMSF then I really don’t want them at all. Perhaps factory would put 20” Pirelli AS on Performance 20” wheels instead?

I think you should get whatever rim size you like -- I've stated the reasons why I'll be going with the 20"

Agree with this - even if it means getting stuck w/ non-3PMSF (AW) BFG 20" ATs - one set and done. I'd prefer the factory install the Pirelli 20" AS on the Performance AT rims instead, if not anything AW. We'll see.

 

[Just Passing By]

You are correct -- when I checked this morning when I wrote that, it showed "----" for all stats next to the performance R2.

Overall, it's a difference of 23 miles anyway -- considering the recommendation to charge to 80% or less regularly, that's realistically a difference of 18.4 miles range -- not worth making the number one consideration in purchasing. I think you should get whatever rim size you like -- I've stated the reasons why I'll be going with the 20"

I agree with your previous preferences and suspect that range is likely to have more to do with where I drive, how I drive, i.e. light foot versus heavy foot, anticipation of traffic behavior/efficient regen and at what speed I drive. So if I get an opportunity for the LE then it will be 20" rims for me. However, if they require an expensive All-Terrain package option to get them, like the R1S at $3,700, then I'd need to evaluate options.

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