R1T spinning out on Donner pass

[ElGuano]

Rivians, especially quads, have poor lateral traction, and because regen doesn't have antilock brake capability, one can spin out that way, too. I really want Rivian to add antilock brake capability to regen. Snow mode is not a solution, it is an ass-covering hack.

What does snow mode do, exactly? Is it better in ice to turn down/off regen and use friction brakes for ABS?

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[Sgt Beavis]

R1S not a truck

Optometrist can do wonders for vision these days. You should make an appointment. ?

 

[Joules Burn]

I’ve driven that road over a thousand times. You can get a variation of black ice extremely fast at high altitude. The road condition can deteriorate before they have a chance to institute chain control. And too many “valley folks” don’t know how to drive in snow.

 

[CharonPDX]

That’s definitely a snow tire OR chains only situation and I’d bet those folks drove right past the signs saying so.

The stock Pirelli 20" tires *ARE* "snow tires" legally. (At least in my state.)

Doesn't mean they *SHOULD* be used in such conditions. (As I found out myself last year.)

 

[Singletracker]

I’ve been over Donner Pass when it was an ice skating rink, almost literally undrivable. It is not much fun! As a skier, who lives very close to and is in the Sierras a fair amount, I have driven those mountains for years, mostly on good A/T’s. I’ve been fortunate to not have had a major incident. I’ve sure seen a lot, however. I have Bizzaks on my R1T as a form of insurance. Not going to take unnecessary chances with my $80k, 7000+ pound rig. Unfortunately, one can only do so much. It’s the other driver that’s coming at me that is scary.

 

[SDH]

When it's that bad, CHP has chain control set up as a gate, I don't think you can just drive through, right?

Correct. I went through one time but the snow wasn't quite as settled on the road. They gave me a pass with AT/Winter tyres and 4WD. It was fine.

In this instance, i think the physics of a 7k lb truck going down hill don't help. Snow mode or not.

 

[jbssfelix]

They are, but they're absolutely terrible on dusted icy roads. This video is how I felt in Idaho when I thought we were gonna eat the barrier going under 15.

My truck sees 95% pavement, 4% gravel/off-road, and 1% icy/snowy. Having the wrong tires for 99% won't kill you or others, just make things less convenient. That 1% can do some real damage.

Experiencing that now here in Denver, where we just got a few inches of snow that has now compacted and gotten icy in patches. I had Falken AT3W's on my old Toyota's, and they were perfectly fine in this stuff. Obviously no match for dedicated winters (which I have on my Tesla and feels like a damn cheat-code), but they never left me feeling uncomfortable. The Pirelli's are straight-up scary on ice, to the point where I'm shopping right now for replacements.

 

[jbssfelix]

What does snow mode do, exactly? Is it better in ice to turn down/off regen and use friction brakes for ABS?

Snow mode from my experience just retards the power output when you gas it (can we still say "gas it"?), reducing the risk of throwing too much torque onto the snow/ice at launch.

 

[Zorg]

What's the best deal for a dedicated snow wheelset? Evsportline wheelset is basically $4600 with tax and shipping.

 

[Paul Hackett]

So glad I got Nokian‘s on my R1T TriMax. Have already successfully navigated a snowy Berthoud pass with them. Next up is Rabbit Ears this Thursday!

Yeah, enjoy Steamboat.

 

[sdemeester]

Looks like he was approaching a curve. Wonder if he panicked and let off accelerator and didn’t have Regen at lowest setting. High regen and sudden letting off accelerator is almost certain to cause a spin like that. Been there.

 

[TollKeeper]

I would bet he is in All-Purpose with the Regen set to high. When he starts going again, the front right tire immediately stops as he let off the throttle.

 

[HyperionMark]

Rivians, especially quads, have poor lateral traction, and because regen doesn't have antilock brake capability, one can spin out that way, too. I really want Rivian to add antilock brake capability to regen. Snow mode is not a solution, it is an ass-covering hack.

This is absolutely unequivocally false. If you don't have antilock brakes on your regen braking then you need to take it into service. This has been tested by my vehicle as well as many others that antilock works even if you don't touch the brake pedal when the vehicle is sliding.

 

[RivnSoon]

Not my video, just saw it.

Snow tires would help

Was this anybody here? Not making fun of, just curious.

The truck certainly didn't lose control on its own, it's all about driver inputs and reading the vehicle's dynamics

 

[Lrak1973]

So glad I got Nokian‘s on my R1T TriMax. Have already successfully navigated a snowy Berthoud pass with them. Next up is Rabbit Ears this Thursday!

Let us know how the Nokians do. I did Rabbit Ears in snow with Blizzaks and had no problems.

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