Tire Advice for 2023 Rivian R1S – Stuck Between XTM, KO3, and Toyo A/T III

[JalenHurtsBirds]

Thanks.

What do you ride on?

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[JalenHurtsBirds]

I provided recommendations already. And the smaller 275/60 size has virtually the same diameter as the 275/55R21 your R1 originally had. And only 1.2” smaller than 275/65R20. Visually not that noticeable. https://tiresize.com/comparison/

And if your R1 is up-to-date on vehicle software you should be able to go into vehicle settings to change your wheel and tire configuration. This feature was introduced with 2025.06 in March.

Thanks for the video.

Also, just to clarify you mentioned 275/55R21 my car originally had.

Currentlyon 20" rims with Scorpion 275/65r20 116h m+s. I'm assuming these are not the LT versions but I'm confused because the preview center had them filled to 51.

Just look on whatever's closest to what I'm currently having now. The Toyo SL's look nice

 

[MwayVT]

I’m currently running Michelin LTX Platinum 20” tires and have really been impressed with their efficiency and performance. I think their sidewalls look pretty good as well.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Thanks for the video.

Also, just to clarify you mentioned 275/55R21 my car originally had.

Currentlyon 20" rims with Scorpion 275/65r20 116h m+s. I'm assuming these are not the LT versions but I'm confused because the preview center had them filled to 51.

Just look on whatever's closest to what I'm currently having now. The Toyo SL's look nice

48 psi is what it should be, cold, with factory tires. See owner guide/manual.

If you bought vehicle used, it probably had 21” originally. If you bought new from Rivian then the mobile app and/or data it is pulling from is in error. Contact Support.

The Defender Platinum all season tire in LT275/65R20 is just shy of 60 lbs each, more than 12 lbs heavier than the factory Pirelli AT of same size, standing still. Rotational mass increases exponentially with increasing speed. Rules of physics do not bend to personal bias. There are significant trade offs.

 

[Judd]

The factory Pirelli AT’s are such trash there is no way I’d even consider replacing mine with another Pirelli. I’m at 17k and getting to the point of can’t wait to be rid of them. Noisy would be a nice adjective to use and they aren’t near aggressive enough to be this noisy.

 

[JalenHurtsBirds]

The factory Pirelli AT’s are such trash there is no way I’d even consider replacing mine with another Pirelli. I’m at 17k and getting to the point of can’t wait to be rid of them. Noisy would be a nice adjective to use and they aren’t near aggressive enough to be this noisy.

Yeah that's what I see the general consensus at.

Leaning towards the SL Toyo Open Country III which seems to be getting good reviews.

The only thing we really get bad down south is rain some days so wet rating is a good thing.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Yeah that's what I see the general consensus at.

Leaning towards the SL Toyo Open Country III which seems to be getting good reviews.

The only thing we really get bad down south is rain some days so wet rating is a good thing.

Unless tread pattern design and rubber compound is completely garbage, no AT should have trouble evacuating standing water. That said, any tire, no matter how good, can and will still hydroplane if speed is faster than the tire's ability to displace water.

 

[risingphoenix]

I have experience with the OEM Pirelli 20" and the Toyo LT you mentioned. I now have 6,000 miles on the Toyo. Despite being a heavier tire, efficiency is slightly BETTER than the OEM Pirelli. While I haven't had the KO3 on my Rivian, I am sure that the efficiency of the Toyo LT is significantly better than the KO3, given my experience with the KO3 on my previous vehicle (Jeep Rubicon). I have no doubt the Toyo LT is louder than an AS rated tire but for my purposes, it was an excellent choice. Interestingly, the SL version of the Toyo does NOT appear to have improved efficiency compared to the LT, despite being 0.5" narrower and lighter. Admittedly my use case is significantly different than yours, given that I spend a lot of time off road in the Rocky Mountains.

ANYTHING is better than the POS Pirelli OEM tires.

 

[JalenHurtsBirds]

Unless tread pattern design and rubber compound is completely garbage, no AT should have trouble evacuating standing water. That said, any tire, no matter how good, can and will still hydroplane if speed is faster than the tire's ability to displace water.

I have experience with the OEM Pirelli 20" and the Toyo LT you mentioned. I now have 6,000 miles on the Toyo. Despite being a heavier tire, efficiency is slightly BETTER than the OEM Pirelli. While I haven't had the KO3 on my Rivian, I am sure that the efficiency of the Toyo LT is significantly better than the KO3, given my experience with the KO3 on my previous vehicle (Jeep Rubicon). I have no doubt the Toyo LT is louder than an AS rated tire but for my purposes, it was an excellent choice. Interestingly, the SL version of the Toyo does NOT appear to have improved efficiency compared to the LT, despite being 0.5" narrower and lighter. Admittedly my use case is significantly different than yours, given that I spend a lot of time off road in the Rocky Mountains.

ANYTHING is better than the POS Pirelli OEM tires.

Thanks. I've read the same between the SL and the TL.

Here's my current at about 29k. Fronts are worse than the backs with one of the most balding towards the outside.

If performance is relatively the same, maybe I'll get the TL just to give me that added advantage if I did go off-road. Do you have them on 20-in rims? Any rubbing?

 

[risingphoenix]

Thanks. I've read the same between the SL and the TL.

Here's my current at about 29k. Fronts are worse than the backs with one of the most balding towards the outside.

If performance is relatively the same, maybe I'll get the TL just to give me that added advantage if I did go off-road. Do you have them on 20-in rims? Any rubbing?

Zero rubbing and there should not be in the LT version as the dimensions are exactly the same (including width) as the OEM 20" Pirellis (I put the Toyo on the Rivian 20" rims that it came with).

 

[Mark_AZR1T]

The OP loves the looks of true A/T tires, which is fine. I have had Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT tires (34") 20's and they have 50,000 miles on them, still have another 5K left. Not noisy, look great, perform great and because they have a load range E, you run them at 60-65psi and get the same efficiency as OE Scorpion A/T's.

I have K02's on my RHD turbo diesel Land Cruiser. Great tire, but those and the K02's are not going to last 50K miles, if that means anything to you.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Just some of the more frequently discussed 275/65R20 (34.1") alternatives:

• BFGOODRICH All-Terrain T/A KO3 LT275/65R20/E 126/123S—63 lbs each
• Michelin Defender LTX Platinum (all season) LT275/65R20/E 126/123S—59 lbs each*
• Michelin Defender LTX M/S 2 (all season) 275/65R20/XL 116H—43 lbs
• Nokian Outpost nAT LT275/65R20/E 126/123S—58 lbs each
• Micky Thompson Baja Boss AT LT275/65R20/E 126/123S—67 lbs each
• Falken Wildpeak AT4W LT275/65R20/E 126/123S—66 lbs each
• General Grabber ATX LT275/65R20/E 126/123S—60 lbs each
• Cooper Discoverer Stronghold AT LT275/65R20/E 126/123S—59 lbs each
• Firestone Destination XT LT275/65R20/E 126/123S—52 lbs each
• Nitto Terra Grappler G3 LT275/65R20/E 126/123S—54 lbs each
• Nitto Terra Grappler G3 275/65R20/SL 116T—47 lbs each, but 44 psi max.
• Nitto Recon Grappler 275/65R20/SL 116T—47 lbs each, but 44 psi max.
• Pirelli XTM AT LT275/65R20/E 126/123S—56 lbs each
• Pirelli XTM AT 275/65R20/SL 116T—34 lbs each, but only 36 psi max.
• Toyo OC AT3 EV LT275/65R20/E 126/123S—55 lbs each
• Toyo OC AT3 EV 275/65R20/SL 116H—42 lbs each

Compare to factory "all terrain":

• Pirelli Scorpion AT Plus Elect 275/65R20/SL 116H—48 lbs each (51 psi max, R1 software likes to see around 48 psi or greater)

Compare to gen2 factory "all season", which is smaller at 32.9":

• Goodyear Territory AT RIV 275/60R20/XL 116H—42 lbs each (51 psi max)

If you do mostly level highway cruising—steady speed—weight of tire won't impact efficiency as much. Because there is more momentum. And it doesn't take much energy to maintain that momentum. But you will compromise steering feel, steering response and the suspension's ability to smooth out bumps and undulations... because added weight means more forces for steering and suspension to overcome. And, theoretically, you're also putting more strain on all of those components. Does it induce premature wear? That is something that can't be answered in the short-term.

If you do mostly local non-highway driving, which has wide range of speeds and frequent turning, you will most definitely feel all of the above PLUS impact on efficiency. Because it takes more energy to spin up each wheel. And slowing from the same speed, regen braking only, it will take longer distance to come to a stop (because of the greater momentum to overcome). I've seen people claim heavier tires mean more energy recovered through regen. Maybe? Marginally? Even so, you'll never recover enough to completely offset energy spent to spin them. No existing EV drivetrain is that efficient.

*Inevitably someone will say their MIchelin Platinum is more efficient than the Pirelli AT, despite being much heavier. That may be so, pending the way they drive and where, but it's also not shockingly impressive. AS tires generally have less rolling resistance than AT. The other trade-offs of weight remain. Laws of physics remain. And rotational mass still increase exponentially, over static mass, with increasing speed.

Balding on the outboard side of tire can be caused by incorrect alignment (toe). But, since this is a variable height suspension, it can also be caused by too much driving in heights other than standard.

 

[HaveBlue]

xtm

 

[Pouyafrankie]

Just here to pitch the Mickey Thompson Baja Boss ATs. Super aggressive look, road noise not too bad compared to other ATs, and a very comfortable ride IMO. It's also got the 3peak snow rating, so not too bad in the winter if you drive through snow. If you're going for looks vs optimal range (which is a perfectly fine reason, don't let anyone tell you otherwise), might want to give these a look! https://www.discounttire.com/buy-tires/mickey-thompson-baja-boss-a-t/p/100912

 

[HaveBlue]

Wow those are basically Mud Terrain tires. They look good

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