Aftermarket wheels efficiency

[brancky3]

Wow! That’s really great efficiency (compared to me at least). What does your typical drive look like?

It's just about exactly what to expect from the 21" tires IMO. 135kwh * 2.48 = 335 miles

My average over the past year is 2.44; 15 mile commute to work each way and typically ~20-30 degrees in the morning during winter months. I've only taken 2-3 "road trips" with my truck, either to Charlotte (100 miles) or to the coast (~250 miles)

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[NCRivian]

It's just about exactly what to expect from the 21" tires IMO. 135kwh * 2.48 = 335 miles

My average over the past year is 2.44; 15 mile commute to work each way and typically ~20-30 degrees in the morning during winter months. I've only taken 2-3 "road trips" with my truck, either to Charlotte (100 miles) or to the coast (~250 miles)

Where are you located? Sounds like the same distances as me. I’m in Burlington, NC.

 

[brancky3]

Where are you located? Sounds like the same distances as me. I’m in Burlington, NC.

Greenville, SC

 

[JamboF4]

He's talking about the aftermarket wheels having less offset, so the wheel/tire is pushed out from the side of the car. That DOES make the wheel/tire stick out into the airflow.

..not just that, but I would be concerned about brake caliper clearance on wheels with less than 45(or so) neg offset

 

[Whataboykie!]

I also had the factory 21's with the Pirelli's. I now have a 20" wheel with a 285/60/20 Michelin Defender Platinums mounted. These are super smooth and super quiet, my efficiency dropped at least by 20%.

 

[charlie_780]

I also had the factory 21's with the Pirelli's. I now have a 20" wheel with a 285/60/20 Michelin Defender Platinums mounted. These are super smooth and super quiet, my efficiency dropped at least by 20%.

nice! what wheels are those? side view photos pls? clean.

 

[sly177]

I did not take the time to read all of the threads in this post, but I will give you my information based upon experience. If you go with a +18 offset you will no longer be able to drive your vehicle in anything but standard height. There is barely enough room between the fender well and the top of the tire to slide my hand across the tire. you won’t be able to drive your vehicle in low or lowest ride setting.
I made this mistake and have since ordered the +40 offset and will have my Bridgestone Blaszak’s re-mounted on those. I may possibly use a 50 series tire mounted on the +18 wheels to use later in the summer.

 

[NCRivian]

I did not take the time to read all of the threads in this post, but I will give you my information based upon experience. If you go with a +18 offset you will no longer be able to drive your vehicle in anything but standard height. There is barely enough room between the fender well and the top of the tire to slide my hand across the tire. you won’t be able to drive your vehicle in low or lowest ride setting.
I made this mistake and have since ordered the +40 offset and will have my Bridgestone Blaszak’s re-mounted on those. I may possibly use a 50 series tire mounted on the +18 wheels to use later in the summer.

Thanks for the input…since starting the thread I have found a great 20” rim option with the +48 offset. MSW type 52 wheels look very similar to the stock Rivian 20” and have the correct offset.

 

[downranger12]

The shape, face and openings in your wheel make a difference at freeway speeds. Sometimes a significant difference.

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a30169467/tesla-model-3s-aero-wheel-covers-efficiency-test/

In tests I have seen, there is a three to five percent hit going from a good aero wheel to a better looking offset wheel when tested at normal freeway speeds.

Vehicle wheels account for significant turbulence, and can be a source of drag. Many modern vehicles, including Rivian, have an aero curtain that helps smooth this turbulence. That is the slot by the fog lights that directs the air over the wheels behind it. A wheel that sticks out farther is going to affect, and even completely negate this feature.

I have a set of wheels and tires that I use for local and off-road use, that get significantly lower efficiency than the highly tuned stock 21s with their smooth covers. For local travel, I don't care.

But when I am making long trips across the Mexican desert where range really matters, those 21s and the aero covers go back on the rig.
?

I wanted the mud tires and 20s too, but bought a Red Canyon with 21s from the shop instead.
After 37000 on mine, I have to say, the 21s with aero still strike me, and others, as very good looking.
I replaced the tires at 31,000. Logged efficiency over the last 18,367 is 2.3 mostly on low conserve. That, though, includes 2,689 miles that I am now running on AP auto height, running 1.89 efficiency.

The R1T already is a head turner. To each their own, but to spend ten grand for forged wheels and winter rated tires plus the reprogramming seem like over kill just to avoid getting stuck somewhere.

In Iowa, not as flat as you might think, we just stay put for a few hours or overnight until the plows get out. The Scorpion All Season tires plus the weight of the vehicle are plenty good for around here. Snow mode works very well. Just in case, I purchased towing insurance for all three of our cars from Good Sam, the RV people that own Campers World. My cost for that was 600 dollars for five years....unlimited destination milage to the nearest "service center". I checked with them about the Rivian SC being four hours away. They said I would be covered for that.

Custom wheels look nice, of course, and to each their own. For my money, a night in a hotel, would be preferred over a night spent in the ditch in the dark....not to mention the damage to your vehicle and your driving reputation for failing to avoid an obvious predicted snowstorm.

I doubt that Rivian decided on these custom Pirelli's lightly or without much trialing and testing with the manufacturer. I tried the Scorpion ATs Plus on my ICE Frontier twice and found them superior to any other tires on those trucks after 500k of driving the Nissans.

 

[Riviot]

Thanks! I’ve seen the other threads with the ram wheels, I just didn’t notice anyone saying what the range hit was, if any. The powder coated ram wheels actually look really nice!

Following up on this, we're cruising east right now and looks like 2.35mi/kWh in ABRP compared to using 2.2 with stock ATs in winter. I opted for conserve/low, which we used to do with stock ATs for apples to apples comparison. Started with 100% and 94°F battery with 45°F outside before the elevation gain, now across the pass it's been 34°F.

 

[NCRivian]

Following up on this, we're cruising east right now and looks like 2.35mi/kWh in ABRP compared to using 2.2 with stock ATs in winter. I opted for conserve/low, which we used to do with stock ATs for apples to apples comparison. Started with 100% and 94°F battery with 45°F outside before the elevation gain, now across the pass it's been 34°F.

Great info!

 

[Herb]

FWIW, we had the first decent snow and I was SHOCKED by the traction in what I call soapy snow. I floored the thing and I swear, I could barely tell a difference compared to wet conditions we had earlier in the day. I am on 21 original street tires and only have about 2,000miles on them, but still - the forward traction left me puzzled. Haven't been brave enough to whip it around a corner to see what it takes to really upset it sideways, but it feels very competent driving at an appropriate speed for the conditions. I have 20" Blizzaks with MSW 52 on order from the Rack, but they are on backorder. I am now questioning the need for snow tires...

 

[Mark_AZR1T]

This is my set-up, which is a custom built wheel with the correct off-set but in 9" width. I run the Cooper Discoverer AT3's (Load Range E), and just finished an 1100 mile road trip (85% highway) . I ran at 75psi (rated 80psi) and ride was no different then at 65psi and range loss was zero over OEM's 20's with Pirellis.

If people want to retain a true A/T tire, then go with a Load Range E, so you can run the higher tire pressure. I have 30,000 miles on these tires now. Side benefit, the Coopers eliminated 100% of steering wheel wobble over the Scorpions.

 

[downranger12]

Your truck is very nice looking. Where did you get the idea to run semi tractor pressures on the Rivian? That would explain your high milage efficiency. Going that close to maximum would work with any fire I suppose....for a while at least.
On several Nisan Frontiers ran over 550,000 miles between them, I tried three sets of Cooper ATs 4s and found one mpg loss of milage which is rarely over 16. I also found them to ride harshly at 35 psi. I am on my second set of Scorpion ATs plus now and think they are great at everything.. I use the Pro 4x for hunting and logging. It runs great with 267k on it, and the Perellis.
I had a sidewall puncture in a frozen cornfield with the 21s on my Rivian. Changing out my spare alone, in the dark at 5 degrees F took 45 minutes with the Rivian screw jack. I didn't enjoy it.
Thanks for reporting what you did.

 

[mikehmb]

FWIW, we had the first decent snow and I was SHOCKED by the traction in what I call soapy snow. I floored the thing and I swear, I could barely tell a difference compared to wet conditions we had earlier in the day. I am on 21 original street tires and only have about 2,000miles on them, but still - the forward traction left me puzzled. Haven't been brave enough to whip it around a corner to see what it takes to really upset it sideways, but it feels very competent driving at an appropriate speed for the conditions. I have 20" Blizzaks with MSW 52 on order from the Rack, but they are on backorder. I am now questioning the need for snow tires...

I found the 21s to be -excellent- in snow. Will be testing the 20” Pirelli AT OE tires next week, but I honestly don’t expect them to be much better unless things get deep.

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