Do I need AAA roadside assistance with my Rivian R1S

[stewart248]

So I’m taking delivery soon of my R1S after 4 years waiting (LE, RB, 22 Dark, Undershield) and I don’t know what to do about roadside assistance. Historically I’ve never needed it but seeing as how they have removed my spare and I’ll have to wait a bit to get it, and it’s winter, I’m wondering if I need to use AAA or goodsam? Or will Rivians roadside assistance be sufficient along with my farmers roadside assistance. The biggest problem I see needing help with is a blown tire. I’d like to see what you all think and how you approach this. For me I’d like the peace of mind if one of these would bring me a tire to get me on my way or can I only expect them to tow me and leave me at a garage? I’ve never needed in past because all my vehicles have spares and I’m pretty capable. Reality is I’ve only had a few flat tires my whole life and it’s always been the case where found it flat in morning at my house. Never blown one while traveling.
So do I buy AAA or something else or not? Am I over thinking this? Looking for some insights.

‘Thanks.

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[COdogman]

Do whatever makes you feel comfortable.

I doubt mine will come with the spare I ordered either, so I plan to just roll with the Rivian/ insurance roadside assistance and bring a tire repair kit with me for basic repairs. I will probably avoid doing much off roading though until I can get that spare.

 

[electruck4x4]

Rivian’s roadside assistance should cover anything AAA does. There is no real advantage to having both.

 

[electruck]

AAA covers any vehicle you may be riding in (ie, with friends, in a rental, etc). Does Rivian also cover these situations?

 

[BillyBob]

AAA also hands out free maps.
Wait, what's a map???

 

[NY_Rob]

Many people already have roadside assistance included with their insurance, check your policy. If you don't have it.. it may be offered for less than AAA and in all likelihood your carrier would call the same towing operators that AAA would use.

Of course keep your plan to get a spare tire for your Rivian as it probably takes 20min to swap tires yourself vs. waiting for roadside assistance. Yesterday, I was watching a video by Out of Spec Kyle where he was helping someone who ran out of juice in an ID.4. It took 3+ hrs with multiple phone calls to AAA for a flatbed to arrive to transport them 1 mile down the highway to the closest CCS charger.

 

[mkg3]

The primary benefit of AAA for us is:

- Being able to handle registration matters without having to goto DMV
- AAA rates and discount at various places, especially hotels
- Knowing that our kids have an emergency roadside assistance

Other than that, if all I cared about is tow/flat, then probably wouldn't have it.

 

[dilmorecg]

I have AAA and am keeping it with our EV's.

 

[NY_Rob]

The primary benefit of AAA for us is:

- Being able to handle registration matters without having to go to DMV
- AAA rates and discount at various places, especially hotels
- Knowing that our kids have an emergency roadside assistance

Other than that, if all I cared about is tow/flat, then probably wouldn't have it.

Unfortunately, Rivian left a lot of us in the uncomfortable position of not having a spare even though we had it selected as a build option. Because of this, we (and I mean the ppl who had it removed from their config and can not purchase one from the Gear Shop) have three options...
- Subscribe to someone's Roadside Assistance service.
- "Build" our own spare using Ram wheels (only for 20" wheels) and purchasing a tire then getting it mounted, plus sourcing our own jack, puck and lug wrench. Or find someone selling a proper Rivian wheel/tire from a takeoff, or a 4-tire set Gear Shop purchase break-up.
- Do nothing and take our chances till Rivian offers their own OEM spare in the Gear shop (s00n).

The first two options at least give you a way out of a bad situation if you have a R1T, for an R1S,... forget about getting that very specialized spare from anywhere other than Rivian. Choice #3 could prove to be a disaster if the flat or worse a sidewall blowout happens in an unfamiliar area miles from home and or at night when tire shops are closed (not that anyone other than a Rivian SC would carry a Rivian specific tire anyway but they might be persuaded to plug a simple puncture).

 

[brancky3]

- "Build" our own spare using Ram wheels (only for 20" wheels) and purchasing a tire then getting it mounted, plus sourcing our own jack, puck and lug wrench. Or find someone selling a proper Rivian wheel/tire from a takeoff, or a 4-tire set Gear Shop purchase break-up.

Why would this be for 20" wheels only? Anybody with 21" wheels could buy the Ram wheel and mount a 275/60R20 on it to have the same diameter as their factory wheels.

 

[R1Sky Business]

So I’m taking delivery soon of my R1S after 4 years waiting (LE, RB, 22 Dark, Undershield) and I don’t know what to do about roadside assistance. Historically I’ve never needed it but seeing as how they have removed my spare and I’ll have to wait a bit to get it, and it’s winter, I’m wondering if I need to use AAA or goodsam? Or will Rivians roadside assistance be sufficient along with my farmers roadside assistance. The biggest problem I see needing help with is a blown tire. I’d like to see what you all think and how you approach this. For me I’d like the peace of mind if one of these would bring me a tire to get me on my way or can I only expect them to tow me and leave me at a garage? I’ve never needed in past because all my vehicles have spares and I’m pretty capable. Reality is I’ve only had a few flat tires my whole life and it’s always been the case where found it flat in morning at my house. Never blown one while traveling.
So do I buy AAA or something else or not? Am I over thinking this? Looking for some insights.

‘Thanks.

Rivian likely using same AAA contractors around your area... don't need both.

 

[R1Sky Business]

AAA also hands out free maps.
Wait, what's a map???

And free tote bags to hold the maps as well.....

 

[NY_Rob]

Why would this be for 20" wheels only? Anybody with 21" wheels could buy the Ram wheel and mount a 275/60R20 on it to have the same diameter as their factory wheels.

I was only considering using the OEM 20" Perilli tires on the 20" Ram wheels. But, yeah if a 275/60R20 has the same dia. as the factory 21's then that great for those with 21's!

 

[R1Sky Business]

Many people already have roadside assistance included with their insurance, check your policy. If you don't have it.. it may be offered for less than AAA and in all likelihood your carrier would call the same towing operators that AAA would use.

Of course keep your plan to get a spare tire for your Rivian as it probably takes 20min to swap tires yourself vs. waiting for roadside assistance. Yesterday, I was watching a video by Out of Spec Kyle where he was helping someone who ran out of juice in an ID.4. It took 3+ hrs with multiple phone calls to AAA for a flatbed to arrive to transport them 1 mile down the highway to the closest CCS charger.

Waiting 3 hrs for aaa at 1am is just part of the adventure

 

[NY_Rob]

Waiting 3 hrs for AAA at 1am is just part of the adventure

Yeah... good times for sure at 3:18AM !!

OT for this thread, but as Kyle told the ID.4 owner she pretty much did everything wrong contributing to cutting down her range. Even just turning the heat off for the last few miles could have given her the 1 extra mile range needed to make the CCS charger at the VW dealership. I'm sure the car gave her all kinds of warnings as the battery approached 0% capacity.

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