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

[JasonK]

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.

You are wrong. The sidewall has nothing to do with rolling resistance.

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[Revo]

Taller sidewalls (20-inch wheel setup)
→ More flex, more deformation
→ More energy loss
→ Higher rolling resistance (generally)
Shorter sidewalls (22-inch wheel setup)
→ Less flex
→ Less energy loss
→ Lower rolling resistance (in isolation)

 

[Revo]

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

 

[Revo]

You are wrong. The sidewall has nothing to do with rolling resistance.

1) Chunky all-terrain tread (the main culprit)
Those big blocks on the 20" Pirelli Scorpion AT:
Bend, twist, and “squirm” every rotation
Trap and release air
Generate heat (lost energy)
This is the largest contributor to rolling resistance in your comparison.
It’s why EV range drops so noticeably with all-terrain tires.
2) Taller sidewall (secondary effect)
The 20" setup has more sidewall, which means:
More flex per rotation
More energy lost in deformation

 

[pricedm]

Per the EPA filings, tire sizes are:

255/55R21
255/60R20

From Tirerack; confirming 255/60 20 tire size. All sizes (19,20,21) are 32 inch diameter.

 

[rfkxyz]

1) Chunky all-terrain tread (the main culprit)
Those big blocks on the 20" Pirelli Scorpion AT:
Bend, twist, and “squirm” every rotation
Trap and release air
Generate heat (lost energy)
This is the largest contributor to rolling resistance in your comparison.
It’s why EV range drops so noticeably with all-terrain tires.

2) Taller sidewall (secondary effect)
The 20" setup has more sidewall, which means:
More flex per rotation
More energy lost in deformation

From Tirerack; confirming 255/60 20 tire size. All sizes (19,20,21) are 32 inch diameter.

I'll be watching to see if R2's BFG size really doesn't get 3PMSF tag - seems like a very strange exception for the T-T T/A lineup -

If not, I have no interest in these tires and their noted efficiency sacrifices - would rather have the Pirelli AS on those nifty 20" AT wheels. Anyone speculate if the factory could install a different tire? Or like-for-like swap at delivery? I won't be an early adopter so perhaps things evolve a bit during year 1.

OTOH, if Premium to Performance is $4k, then another $3k (speculated) to drop back to 20", are those nifty AT wheels really worth $7k for the full jump up to Performance and step back down to 20"? (Perhaps closer to $6.5k when adding back spare?) Maybe not? Need to see them, etc. (I know Performance brings other stuff but the AT wheels are what has my attention.)

 

[Jeremy3292]

I thought I was going 20s but I'm liking the look of the 21s the more I see them.

With that said, I'll still say go 20s. Like others have mentioned, more comfortable ride and like you said, more options for replacement. The range hit is not as big as I thought it would be and honestly just replacing with AS once those wear out should cover the difference in range.

Rivian's drive great but not vehicles you want to drive at full 10/10. With the 20s you can still go around 7/10 for the occasional fun but be happier overall with the ride for the more realistic mundane day to day driving.

Main con - tire noise, though these don't seem as aggressive as your typical AT, so may not be much of an issue.

Thanks for this thought as I didn't really think about that. Rivian really needs to tell us what the paint and wheel upgrade costs are going to be. I don't see why they left that out on purpose.

My wife's GX460, which is also heavily known as an off-roader enthusiast vehicle, has 18" rims for this exact reason. Interesting Rivian is doing 19" as the smallest available and that is only on the standard trim. 20" smallest available on all other trims.

 

[Jeremy3292]

This has mostly been a discussion about the LE/Performance trim. What does everyone think about the Premium trim wheel lineup?

20" Bicolor AS stock with the 21" LE/P AS wheels as a paid upgrade option. I like the 21" wheel look way more than the 20" but likely $2k+ upcharge for 21" wheels with the same replacement tire issue that has been discussed already...

 

[Jeremy3292]

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.

Are you saying larger rims have better range/rolling resistance than smaller rims? That is the opposite of what I understood. If you're just speaking to the fact that AT tires are worst than AS tires for range then that makes sense.

 

[Teledatageek]

I'm back to debating this a little (in my own mind).... I wish that one of the three models they had at the ATL block party would have had the 21". Would have been nice to see in person.

We won't be off roading, but my R1T has the 20" AT tires, so could if we wanted to, as we have a capable vehicle. The R2 will be our primary vehicle - around town, road trips, etc. My wife doesn't care about what wheels, I'm sure.

However, given last winter - I didn't like taking our MachE in the snow, felt super squirrly to me. I would like to have the best traction and performance in all conditions. I know dedicated snows are best, but would rather not go that route.

I kind of like the look of the 21" wheel better, but the 20's are nice. Potholes, snow, etc. still leans me to the 20's. Of course we also don't know yet what the upcharge will be for the 20's.

Anyway - musing for the day.

 

[R1TCntrlMaIzzy]

I had 21s on my G1 T. The lack of options had me replace them with the 22s.

Go with the 20s, unless you want a summer vs winter combo. Then get both.

 

[iamnid]

Are you saying larger rims have better range/rolling resistance than smaller rims? That is the opposite of what I understood. If you're just speaking to the fact that AT tires are worst than AS tires for range then that makes sense.

Rims don't really affect range or rolling resistance - it's mostly down to the tires. The only affect a rim specifically would have would be the difference in weight of the wheel/tire combo. All else being equal (i.e. same tires on 21" vs 20") you'll have negligible difference in range and rolling resistance.

 

[macb00kemdanno]

I think the best compromise for me would be the Premium with 20-inch all-seasons. Don't really care about off-roading, and would prefer the extra range that the all-seasons would give.

I guess the alternative (if I really want a pavement scorcher) would be to get the Performance with 20-inch all-terrains, then switch to all-seasons when they wear out.

 

[algo]

I think the best compromise for me would be the Premium with 20-inch all-seasons. Don't really care about off-roading, and would prefer the extra range that the all-seasons would give.

I guess the alternative (if I really want a pavement scorcher) would be to get the Performance with 20-inch all-terrains, then switch to all-seasons when they wear out.

Your alternative plan is mine as well, but I'll be grabbing the smallest diameter wheels I can find that will fit for either all-terrain or winter tires that I can swap on myself.

 

[EV-overland]

Definitely 20”. Will be doing some overlanding and will need AT’s.

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