ksurfier
Well-Known Member
- Thread starter
- #1
Spoiler: If you want to skip straight to the point, the Firestone Destination X/T in the 285/60R20 (33.5") size is the winner by a longshot, it's lightweight of 51# and aggressive characteristics plus a beefy 9.9" stance make it an easy choice for keeping high efficiency while maintaining a nearly perfect offroad profile. It's also available in 34 and 34.5" too if desired. Ratings at Tire Rack indicate it's well recommended and rank in the mid to high 8s for performance, comfort, and treadwear. Of course there may be better options out there, but they are not likely to be as efficient, as always do your on research to see what is the best option for your use case.
Disclaimer - If using non-OEM 20" Rims, make sure the dimensions will fit without rubbing...
Source: evmike - 51# 285/60R20 LT (E) Destination X/T (~1.85 MPK), $1,656 on 20x8.5 Voltaic Black Rhino rims (Matte Bronze), $2,796. Total ~$4,500.
A range of sizes will fit the OEM 20" rims, some examples below:
As most here know, there is opportunity to get some crazy high MPKs from the 275/60R20 size which is 33” diameter. It’s not clear yet if any ~34” tires can compete with the OEM 20” efficiency, so MPKs are not discussed here, but refer to the Affordable 33” tires post here for a more in depth look at MPK versus tire weight:
Affordable high efficiency 20" wheels and 33" tires options (275/60R20)
For everyone else looking for 20” OEM tire size(s) 275/65R20, this post is for you. So let’s dive into high efficiency tires in the OEM+ sizes, including OEM 34” plus some others near it (33.5” to 35”). Tires below should all come very close to OEM efficiency, but wont know for sure until someone can test them out.
Analysis is focused on tires that are relatively lightweight and as wide or wider than OEM width of 9.1”. All terrains are of primary interest for two reasons. First is that the AS 275/60 options are between 34 to 42# and all the ~34” options are 10-20# heavier so there is no sense looking at heavy AS options. Second, most people getting 50-60# tires are doing so for off-road performance reasons (otherwise they’d stick with OEM Pirelli, which as we’ll see is not a bad option-just not a great one either). A list of honorable mentions is at the bottom of this post where you can submit data efficiency/treadwear is nearly same or better than OEM tire.
Criteria used to select tires:
Width: >9” and <10”
Weight: 56# and under
Speed: S = 112 and above
Category: All-terrain family
Subjective: Some tires might be excluded if ratings or test data clearly show that they are not a great option.
Results are grouped by narrow vs skinny tire options, with ~9.5” being the division line.
Width and Height Considerations:
Treadwear is affected by how well the tire dissipates heat, so maintaining the correct overall surface area of the tire is important, here's a subjective guide for minimum tread width vs tire size. The shape of the contact patch is also impacted with short and wide tires having a wider but shorter CP (better for performance but not great at stopping quickly) tall skinny tires having a longer narrower CP (generally better for rain/snow traction)
Tire Pressure note - Tires in the bigger sizes are all LT and can handle higher pressure between 65-80 psi, running them at higher pressure improves both rolling resistance and treadlife, but can reduce performance in wet or low traction environments, so be careful running too high of a pressure. Seems like people tend to run the LT 80 psi tires in pressures ranging from mid 50s to mid 60s depending on the load rating of the tire (usually between 3,000 to 4,000 pounds).
Results:
Wide Tires (>9.5”) - Best for 33.5 and 34" OEM sizes
Firestone Destination X/T:
This is probably the frontrunner for ATs under 56#. There are two+ sizes:
53# 34.5” option that is 9.6” wide - it's wider than needed and likely makes for a very strong wet/snow tire (as well as off-road) due to it's height. Sidewalls are a sturdy 7.3" tall.
51# 33.5” option that is 9.9” wide - this is an ideal width for 33.5" size. Sidewalls are ok at 6.7" tall.
53# option has more sidewall and likely better snow driving characteristics; 51# is wider and likely slightly better for off-road/rim protection.
If more clearance for off-roading is a concern, then the 34.5" (53#) option is a easy choice.
Narrow Tires (<9.5”) - Best for taller 34.5 to 35" sizes, ok for OEM too if >9.3 or so.
OEM Pirelli:
It’s only 48# but it just doesn’t last and there are reports that it can’t handle snow (despite being snow rated).
Also in the stock 20” OEM size there are three narrow options worth mentioning:
51# Bridgestone Dueler A/T Revo:
More of an on-road AT this one is narrow at 9”. It’s a winner for treadwear and efficiency but obviously won’t have the off-road prowess that some may be looking for. Seems too narrow, could be used on road though.
Firestone Destination X/T makes another appearance in the OEM 34” size that is 9.4” wide and 52#. A great option if you think the 51# is too wide/short and/or the 53# is 0.5” too tall. Or you just want to stick to stock sizing with a 9.4” width. This is a great match to tire width of 9.4". Sidewall is sturdy too at 7.0" tall. This is the best option if a 9.9" tire width is too much for rims and rubbing could be an issue.
55# Toyo Open Country A/T III:
This tire shines in off-road capability and treadwear, but all that comes at sacrifice of efficiency, a great option for those that spend more time on the trails but still want something that performs decently on the road, it’s fairly narrow at only 9.1”. This is a bit narrow for OEM size.
In summary, unfortunately, not that many options out there for a lightweight AT, fortunately the Destination XT is a great AT tire with 3 solid options:
51# 33.5" - Pick this tire if you are more interested in a beefy 9.9" wide tire that will shine off road and have solid footing. If coming from 20" OEM your speedo might be off by 1.5% (1 mph). If coming from 21 or 22" tires your speedo should be essentially unchanged (likely too little to tell).
52# OEM - Pick this one if you want 34" with 9.4" width for all around performance. For those coming from 21/22" tires, speedo could be off 1-2 mph.
53# 34.5" - Pick this 9.6" tire if you want something in between and likely slightly better in the snow. Those coming from 21/22" tires could have a 3 mph discrepancy...
Honorable mentions:
Cooper Discover AT3 XLT (64-67# on-road AT, impressive tread life, sidewalls and off-road ability slightly lacking, 9.2” width is on the narrow side though).
Kumho Road Venture AT52 (55# 285/60 and 9” wide, on-road AT, very narrow)
Nitto Ridge Grappler (many sizes 58-63#)
Michelin Defender LTX versions (not ATs, but still worth looking at due to treadwear and efficiency)
Mickey Thompson Baja Boss came in with MPK of 1.7*(2 before being adjusted for elevation) running ~34 miles at 65 mph, size is OEM 275/65R20…see test video and info in reply below.
It's worth noting that the General Grabber A/TX is extremely capable but also very heavy once above 33". With that in mind, let's look at it in 33" range since it's worth mentioning.
Grabber A/TX comes in two 33" variants (116T 50# 9.6" and 119/116S 56# 9.4")
A great discussion is here: https://tiredriver.com/general-grabber-atx-review/
The 50# version would perform better for efficiency but the 56# would likely be better on-road and treadwear. The 33.5" and 34" are both 64#, little too heavy to be a good efficiency option.
Tire Tests, please contribute if you can to MPK info, 15 minute tests on relatively flat ground with minimal wind are best, here's a template for reports:
If you don't feel like running a 15 minute test, you can get a ballpark estimate of your current MPK by doing the following:
Calc your Est. MPK
Your indicated range at 78% SOC divided by 100 = your estimated MPK
Final note: True offroading and crawling isn't really possible with Rivians for 2 reasons:
1) Heavy! Fully loaded the rig is pushing almost 9,000 pounds that's about twice the weight of the typical off road rig.
2) Tires - With 20" rim the smallest option, that means we'd need a 40" tire for ideal offroading.
So with that in mind, tires on the Rivian are more about compromising than most other vehicles. Best to have at least one extra set of rims so you have an onroad and offroad/winter setup...
Disclaimer - If using non-OEM 20" Rims, make sure the dimensions will fit without rubbing...
Source: evmike - 51# 285/60R20 LT (E) Destination X/T (~1.85 MPK), $1,656 on 20x8.5 Voltaic Black Rhino rims (Matte Bronze), $2,796. Total ~$4,500.
A range of sizes will fit the OEM 20" rims, some examples below:
As most here know, there is opportunity to get some crazy high MPKs from the 275/60R20 size which is 33” diameter. It’s not clear yet if any ~34” tires can compete with the OEM 20” efficiency, so MPKs are not discussed here, but refer to the Affordable 33” tires post here for a more in depth look at MPK versus tire weight:
Affordable high efficiency 20" wheels and 33" tires options (275/60R20)
For everyone else looking for 20” OEM tire size(s) 275/65R20, this post is for you. So let’s dive into high efficiency tires in the OEM+ sizes, including OEM 34” plus some others near it (33.5” to 35”). Tires below should all come very close to OEM efficiency, but wont know for sure until someone can test them out.
Analysis is focused on tires that are relatively lightweight and as wide or wider than OEM width of 9.1”. All terrains are of primary interest for two reasons. First is that the AS 275/60 options are between 34 to 42# and all the ~34” options are 10-20# heavier so there is no sense looking at heavy AS options. Second, most people getting 50-60# tires are doing so for off-road performance reasons (otherwise they’d stick with OEM Pirelli, which as we’ll see is not a bad option-just not a great one either). A list of honorable mentions is at the bottom of this post where you can submit data efficiency/treadwear is nearly same or better than OEM tire.
Criteria used to select tires:
Width: >9” and <10”
Weight: 56# and under
Speed: S = 112 and above
Category: All-terrain family
Subjective: Some tires might be excluded if ratings or test data clearly show that they are not a great option.
Results are grouped by narrow vs skinny tire options, with ~9.5” being the division line.
Width and Height Considerations:
Treadwear is affected by how well the tire dissipates heat, so maintaining the correct overall surface area of the tire is important, here's a subjective guide for minimum tread width vs tire size. The shape of the contact patch is also impacted with short and wide tires having a wider but shorter CP (better for performance but not great at stopping quickly) tall skinny tires having a longer narrower CP (generally better for rain/snow traction)
| Ideal Minimum Tread Width (All-Terrain Focus) |
| 34.5" (285/65) - >9.2" (Sidewall: 7.3") |
| 34" (275/65) - >9.4" (Sidewall: 7.0") |
| 33.5" (285/60) - >9.6" (Sidewall: 6.7") |
| 33.0" (275/60) - >9.8" (Sidewall: 6.5") |
Tire Pressure note - Tires in the bigger sizes are all LT and can handle higher pressure between 65-80 psi, running them at higher pressure improves both rolling resistance and treadlife, but can reduce performance in wet or low traction environments, so be careful running too high of a pressure. Seems like people tend to run the LT 80 psi tires in pressures ranging from mid 50s to mid 60s depending on the load rating of the tire (usually between 3,000 to 4,000 pounds).
Results:
Wide Tires (>9.5”) - Best for 33.5 and 34" OEM sizes
Firestone Destination X/T:
This is probably the frontrunner for ATs under 56#. There are two+ sizes:
53# 34.5” option that is 9.6” wide - it's wider than needed and likely makes for a very strong wet/snow tire (as well as off-road) due to it's height. Sidewalls are a sturdy 7.3" tall.
51# 33.5” option that is 9.9” wide - this is an ideal width for 33.5" size. Sidewalls are ok at 6.7" tall.
53# option has more sidewall and likely better snow driving characteristics; 51# is wider and likely slightly better for off-road/rim protection.
If more clearance for off-roading is a concern, then the 34.5" (53#) option is a easy choice.
Narrow Tires (<9.5”) - Best for taller 34.5 to 35" sizes, ok for OEM too if >9.3 or so.
OEM Pirelli:
It’s only 48# but it just doesn’t last and there are reports that it can’t handle snow (despite being snow rated).
Also in the stock 20” OEM size there are three narrow options worth mentioning:
51# Bridgestone Dueler A/T Revo:
More of an on-road AT this one is narrow at 9”. It’s a winner for treadwear and efficiency but obviously won’t have the off-road prowess that some may be looking for. Seems too narrow, could be used on road though.
Firestone Destination X/T makes another appearance in the OEM 34” size that is 9.4” wide and 52#. A great option if you think the 51# is too wide/short and/or the 53# is 0.5” too tall. Or you just want to stick to stock sizing with a 9.4” width. This is a great match to tire width of 9.4". Sidewall is sturdy too at 7.0" tall. This is the best option if a 9.9" tire width is too much for rims and rubbing could be an issue.
55# Toyo Open Country A/T III:
This tire shines in off-road capability and treadwear, but all that comes at sacrifice of efficiency, a great option for those that spend more time on the trails but still want something that performs decently on the road, it’s fairly narrow at only 9.1”. This is a bit narrow for OEM size.
In summary, unfortunately, not that many options out there for a lightweight AT, fortunately the Destination XT is a great AT tire with 3 solid options:
51# 33.5" - Pick this tire if you are more interested in a beefy 9.9" wide tire that will shine off road and have solid footing. If coming from 20" OEM your speedo might be off by 1.5% (1 mph). If coming from 21 or 22" tires your speedo should be essentially unchanged (likely too little to tell).
52# OEM - Pick this one if you want 34" with 9.4" width for all around performance. For those coming from 21/22" tires, speedo could be off 1-2 mph.
53# 34.5" - Pick this 9.6" tire if you want something in between and likely slightly better in the snow. Those coming from 21/22" tires could have a 3 mph discrepancy...
Honorable mentions:
Cooper Discover AT3 XLT (64-67# on-road AT, impressive tread life, sidewalls and off-road ability slightly lacking, 9.2” width is on the narrow side though).
Kumho Road Venture AT52 (55# 285/60 and 9” wide, on-road AT, very narrow)
Nitto Ridge Grappler (many sizes 58-63#)
Michelin Defender LTX versions (not ATs, but still worth looking at due to treadwear and efficiency)
Mickey Thompson Baja Boss came in with MPK of 1.7*(2 before being adjusted for elevation) running ~34 miles at 65 mph, size is OEM 275/65R20…see test video and info in reply below.
It's worth noting that the General Grabber A/TX is extremely capable but also very heavy once above 33". With that in mind, let's look at it in 33" range since it's worth mentioning.
Grabber A/TX comes in two 33" variants (116T 50# 9.6" and 119/116S 56# 9.4")
A great discussion is here: https://tiredriver.com/general-grabber-atx-review/
The 50# version would perform better for efficiency but the 56# would likely be better on-road and treadwear. The 33.5" and 34" are both 64#, little too heavy to be a good efficiency option.
Tire Tests, please contribute if you can to MPK info, 15 minute tests on relatively flat ground with minimal wind are best, here's a template for reports:
| User: ABC | 0.00 MPK | Tire Size: | 275/65R20 (116) |
| Pressure: | 00 psi | Brand/Model | Name (00#) |
| Batt. Temp | unk | Tire Mileage (Depth) | unk (unk) |
| Outside Temp. | unk | ave. Speed | xx |
| AC/Air Temp | 70 F | Miles Traveled | 000 |
| Fan Speed | 2 | kwh used | 00 |
| Mode | All Purpose | Burritos (lbs), xtra cargo | unk |
| Height | Standard | Date: March 2024 Notes: | R1S QM, Flat, no wind, preconditioned (70 F) |
If you don't feel like running a 15 minute test, you can get a ballpark estimate of your current MPK by doing the following:
Calc your Est. MPK
Your indicated range at 78% SOC divided by 100 = your estimated MPK
Est Range Miles (SOC 78%) | MPK |
250 | 2.5 |
230 | 2.3 |
210 | 2.1 |
Final note: True offroading and crawling isn't really possible with Rivians for 2 reasons:
1) Heavy! Fully loaded the rig is pushing almost 9,000 pounds that's about twice the weight of the typical off road rig.
2) Tires - With 20" rim the smallest option, that means we'd need a 40" tire for ideal offroading.
So with that in mind, tires on the Rivian are more about compromising than most other vehicles. Best to have at least one extra set of rims so you have an onroad and offroad/winter setup...
Sponsored
Last edited:
