21" tread replacement

[oskeei]

I am sure other have seen, but Pep Boys do have a listing for the **rumored** 21" option for the 116 EV "compatible" Defenders.

Can't find the thread anymore, but someone pulled a July 2024 release date from some inventory system.

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[Rickmc]

Dumb question or just a dumb person asking a question:
$1800 for OEM tires….where did this come
From? Will Rivian just sell you the tires? I only see the wheel -tire combo in threir online shop for about $3800.

You can purchase the Pirelli 21" tire from other places but generally looking at around $450 a tire. When I say OEM, I mean the one and only tire that will fit the 21" Rivian wheel, whether you but it from Rivian or from Discount Tire or other online tire seller. $450 x 4 = $1800

 

[Rickmc]

I’m at 24k on my 21s using a 5 tire rotation. I’m around 5-6/32nds remaining.

I ordered the Black Rhino Votaic 20” rims for about $2,800. I will hopefully get them in December. I haven’t decided on tires yet - maybe the Michelin Defender Platinums or maybe a true A/T tire.

Cost is a factor, but for me I’m switching to the Black Rhino wheels because I like the way they look. I don’t expect to break even v. staying with the stock 21s.

I’m sure more 21” tire options will be coming out. Supposedly Michelin is coming out with a Defender A/S next summer. That said, I haven’t been unhappy with the stock Pirelli 21“ tires. They’ve performed well both summer and winter.

$2800 is for 4 wheels correct? If you are switching from 21's, you need 5 if you wish to have a spare. TPMS on their site is listed at $380 for 4.

Just saw the set of 5 Voltaic 20" with TPMS and Michelin defenders for $6118.75 on evsportline's website

If you are doing the swap for looks then none of the ROI matters, it's all about personal gratification at that point and money is only paper that you can't take to the grave!

 

[daorte]

Well 15k is pessimistic as others have gotten 30k or more on their 21's. I think initially many used conserve mode which prematurely wore the fronts down as well as allowing "auto" ride height which lowered the height and changed the camber/alignment on the tires which also prematurely wore them down. Let's say 20k as a compromise. Let's also not say 50k for a tire that no one has proven to go 50k on these Rivians. Warranty means nothing other than you will get the next set with a little discount which is an unknown variable. Let's assume 30k for the Michelin's.

$2500 - 5 20" replacement forged rims
$1750 - 5 20" tires at $350
$ 100 - mount and balance 5 tires @ $20/per
-----
$4350 (assuming the tps sensors from the 21's can be swapped in)
$ ?? TPS sensors x 5 if you want to leave the others in place on the 21's

You can probably sell each of the 21" tire/wheel combo for $500 (-$2500) as a spare but that's going to be pennies from heaven as who knows how long that will take given shipping costs and demand if buyers are not local to you.

I don't rotate the spare in so replacement of tires is x 4

$1800 - 4 21" OEM tires
$ 80 - mount and balance 4 tires
-----
$1880 to replace 4 OEM tires every 20k miles (2 years?)

$1400 - 4 20" Michelin tires
$ 80 - mount and balance 4 tires every 30k miles ( 3 years?)
-----
$1480

After 6 years (60k miles)
$5640 - 1880 x 3 changes of 21" OEM
$2960 - 1480 x 2 changes of 20" tires
------
-$2680 savings in 6 years using the 20" tires

$4350 initial outlay for 20" tires/wheels
-2680 savings having the 20" tires/wheels
-----
$1670 still in the hole from initial costs to swap.

So, it's going to take atleast 8-9 years to recoup the initial investment to switch to 20's.
Assuming you do sell the 5 21" OEM tires/wheels over the first couple years, you could break even sooner but it'll still be years.

Again, not downing anyone who does this, I would like to as well but I've been holding out based on this math that maybe we get a better 21" option from Michelin or someone else that gives us better wear at a better price similar to the 20".

I don't disagree with your math, but in your scenario, unless you are replacing the tires before they are needed to is not a waste. You are having to buy a new set of tires irregardless. So wouldn't your initial cost be the wheels minus the difference in tire cost?

I have the 21's, and I have been happy with the performance, but I am just over 20k miles and I doubt I have more than 2-3k miles remaining. At my last rotation, around 4k miles ago, Discount Tire told me it would be the last rotation I would get out of them, and I don't think they are wrong. I used conserve only a little within the first few hundred miles, otherwise been in AP mode. I think if the replacement tire was $300-$350 it would be a much easier decision to stay with. But at $450 vs something that can give you potentially 50%-75% more life for $300, it becomes a tougher decision.

 

[Rickmc]

I don't disagree with your math, but in your scenario, unless you are replacing the tires before they are needed to is not a waste. You are having to buy a new set of tires irregardless. So wouldn't your initial cost be the wheels minus the difference in tire cost?

I have the 21's, and I have been happy with the performance, but I am just over 20k miles and I doubt I have more than 2-3k miles remaining. At my last rotation, around 4k miles ago, Discount Tire told me it would be the last rotation I would get out of them, and I don't think they are wrong. I used conserve only a little within the first few hundred miles, otherwise been in AP mode. I think if the replacement tire was $300-$350 it would be a much easier decision to stay with. But at $450 vs something that can give you potentially 50%-75% more life for $300, it becomes a tougher decision.

For me, I have 5 tires (4 on the ground and a spare) so when I swap to 20's, I need to purchase 5 of everything, not just the 4 on the ground.

If I wait until I'm about to purchase 4 new 21" pirellis, yes, it would be the cost of all 5 tires/wheels/tpms - $900 (4 21" pirellis I don't have to now buy)

However, my estimate of $4350 may be pretty light considering I just looked up 20" voltaic rims with michelin tires and tpms sensors for $6118. So take something like that and subtrace $900 and you are at $5218 initial outlay.

Fingers crossed that with another 50k Rivians made this year and 85k Rivians next year, many of which have the 21" option, SOMEONE is going to want a piece of that tire pie!

 

[ksujeff99]

$2800 is for 4 wheels correct? If you are switching from 21's, you need 5 if you wish to have a spare. TPMS on their site is listed at $380 for 4.

Just saw the set of 5 Voltaic 20" with TPMS and Michelin defenders for $6118.75 on evsportline's website

If you are doing the swap for looks then none of the ROI matters, it's all about personal gratification at that point and money is only paper that you can't take to the grave!

Yes, that is for 4 wheels. I’m not buying 5. I am keeping a 21” as a spare. I may change my mind in the future if the cost of the Voltaics comes down when more competition hits the market.

TPMS are about $35 each on Amazon. It’s the same part number and OEM as the Rivian part but is their universal version without the Rivian logo. No programming needed.

Agree, it’s about personal taste. Cost for these aftermarket wheels will never work out. Same as the cost of the Rivian itself will never work out. A Ford Maverick hybrid would get me around just the same for a lot less cash. But what’s the fun in that?!

 

[jemkewl]

Going to use local numbers for tires and try some math.

I am assuming I am at 20000 miles and my stock 21 pirelli need to be replaced.

I will assume 20k miles is the life of the pirellis.

I will assume 30k miles is the life of the Michelin Defender m/s2.

Costs are $485 installed per pirelli tire.
Costs are $360 installed per Michelin tire.

I will assume it costs 2000 dollars for 4 new 20" rims.

M/20000 x 4 x 485 = 2000 +(M/30000 x 4 x 360)

Then

M/20000 x 1940 = 2000 + (M/30000 x 1440)

Solivng for M = 41000 miles

So, at 41000 miles (total would be 61000 truck miles - 20000 from factory pirellis + 41000 from M ) I would break even?

I'd be out about $3980 for the pirellis at 61000 miles.

I'd be out about $3970 for the defenders plus new rims.



Is the math wrong?

 

[Donald Stanfield]

Going to use local numbers for tires and try some math.

I am assuming I am at 20000 miles and my stock 21 pirelli need to be replaced.

I will assume 20k miles is the life of the pirellis.

I will assume 30k miles is the life of the Michelin Defender m/s2.

Costs are $485 installed per pirelli tire.
Costs are $360 installed per Michelin tire.

I will assume it costs 2000 dollars for 4 new 20" rims.

M/20000 x 4 x 485 = 2000 +(M/30000 x 4 x 360)

Then

M/20000 x 1940 = 2000 + (M/30000 x 1440)

Solivng for M = 41000 miles

So, at 41000 miles (total would be 61000 truck miles - 20000 from factory pirellis + 41000 from M ) I would break even?

I'd be out about $3980 for the pirellis at 61000 miles.

I'd be out about $3970 for the defenders plus new rims.



Is the math wrong? Seems like something is not right

The defenders have a 50k mile warranty.

 

[jemkewl]

The defenders have a 50k mile warranty.

They actually have a 70k warranty. There are a lot of stipulations to meet and the warranty prorates the tires based on the usage.

 

[daorte]

Going to use local numbers for tires and try some math.

I am assuming I am at 20000 miles and my stock 21 pirelli need to be replaced.

I will assume 20k miles is the life of the pirellis.

I will assume 30k miles is the life of the Michelin Defender m/s2.

Costs are $485 installed per pirelli tire.
Costs are $360 installed per Michelin tire.

I will assume it costs 2000 dollars for 4 new 20" rims.

M/20000 x 4 x 485 = 2000 +(M/30000 x 4 x 360)

Then

M/20000 x 1940 = 2000 + (M/30000 x 1440)

Solivng for M = 41000 miles

So, at 41000 miles (total would be 61000 truck miles - 20000 from factory pirellis + 41000 from M ) I would break even?

I'd be out about $3980 for the pirellis at 61000 miles.

I'd be out about $3970 for the defenders plus new rims.



Is the math wrong? Seems like something is not right

I am looking at the Atomic wheels, of which right now would cost me about $2000, plus a set of Defenders at $1200 plus install. I would hope to get 35k, half of the the warranty claim. I think your math comes out right, it would only take about 2 cycles to be even, if not ahead, switching out.

 

[Donald Stanfield]

They actually have a 70k warranty. There are a lot of stipulations to meet and the warranty prorates the tires based on the usage.

No that series has a 50k mile warranty if used on an EV. I have the paperwork somewhere from when I got the tires if you want me to dig it up. I'm 90% sure its 50k unless my registration paperwork was incorrect somehow.

There is a 70k mile one but for some reason it doesn't apply here. I remember someone else saying so in a different tire thread and another party provided that information. Regardless, the pirelli has a 0 mile warranty and I know that if I wind up getting 16k off these Michelin tires like I did the pirelli I'm better off with the warranty but I don't think that will be the case as these Michelin's are robust for sure.

 

[jemkewl]

No that series has a 50k mile warranty if used on an EV. I have the paperwork somewhere from when I got the tires if you want me to dig it up. I'm 90% sure its 50k unless my registration paperwork was incorrect somehow.

There is a 70k mile one but for some reason it doesn't apply here. I remember someone else saying so in a different tire thread and another party provided that information. Regardless, the pirelli has a 0 mile warranty and I know that if I wind up getting 16k off these Michelin tires like I did the pirelli I'm better off with the warranty but I don't think that will be the case as these Michelin's are robust for sure.

Thanks for the correction and clarification.

 

[shap]

My order for non forged Radius WI35 wheels + 275/60R-20 MICHELIN DEFENDER LTX M/S2 XL
is 2953 including TPMS and taxes. So your math is correct, but what I gain by switching - I am getting a spare tire - my old 21” (that I do not have now, and getting 21” tire replaced fast is almost impossible).

But I also gain ability to install AT tires if I want off-road. Or snow tires. You just got much more options

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