Love my Gen2 R1S…BUT the ride quality at low speeds

[RsfRivian]

I’m extremely happy with many aspects of the car, but the ride quality at low speeds on local roads is absolutely terrible. My family is bouncing around in their seats on roads with only minor bumps. It seems to be fine on the highway at higher speeds albeit if we hit a big bump you really feel it. The ride modes. Don’t seem to make much difference when set to soft it just bounces more. Firm actually seems to be the best on these local roads. Anyone else know what I’m talking about?

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[PaythePiper]

What wheel/tire setup? I just swapped out my 20 inch All Terrains for Michelin Defenders and I’m astounded how much better it rides. I think 20 inch all seasons is the sweet spot for comfort and range

 

[timgradywy]

What ride height? Lowest is considerably rougher versus standard height.
Firm trades some impact harshness for less movement after the initial impact.

 

[electruck]

Just curious, what were you driving before the Rivian?

 

[Great Gatsby]

Standard ride height and soft should feel quite smooth nowadays. Also, feel free to recalibrate the suspension (drop to lowest right height for a few seconds, then highest for a few seconds, then back to standard). You can do that while driving around too and I always feel a difference when the ride starts to feel too bouncy for my taste. Low mode can still feel kind of rough. As others have mentioned as well, the tires size and brand matter.

 

[gsqrd]

tire pressure?

 

[KMWNAZ]

Agree ride is harsh. Pretty sure it's the stock tires for the most part. All good suggestions, though.

 

[ElGuapo]

It’s a truck on a truck chassis with limited wheelbase compared to the R1T. I have a Gen1 Quad R1S and yes, they’ve improved the ride with software and I am sure it’s better with G2, but it’s still a truck. My kids can’t stand it at low speeds or speed bumps. It’s become the “I don’t want to go in that car” car…bummer because so much of the car is amazing. But if you get a speed bumps or pothole, yuck! I have 21” all seasons…

 

[Seano]

If things are calibrated, there is quite a big difference between drive modes and also quite a bit of difference between Firm, Moderate and Soft settings (in all purpose). If you don’t have Sport, I’m not sure of your options.

I come from other high perf SUVs and cars and really love the Sport setting - but tend to like it in the higher ride height of the two settings, but Firm. This feels horrible over speed bumps - I (almost) always switch to All Purpose/Soft for those (which is why I wish those settings were quicker to access without the touchscreen).

Our normal week to week includes little highway driving and loads of around town & mountain roads that can be medium rough (nothing like back East, though). Sometimes I leave it on Sport and quite often I set it All Purpose/Moderate for the mtn roads.

Oh - 48psi on 22s / All Season Pirellis

 

[CANCERDOC]

Oddly I found the ride significant improved once the stock 22" tires were worn. This could also be due to progressive ride improvements Rivian updated via software over the past year.

As another poster above suggested, try cycling the suspension to highest, then lowest, and then back to standard. Sometimes the vehicle forgets and the ride becomes like a wooden wagon.

 

[RsfRivian]

All ride heights. It’s marginally better in standard, but not much. And the suspension is noisy as f&@k at all right heights.

What wheel/tire setup? I just swapped out my 20 inch All Terrains for Michelin Defenders and I’m astounded how much better it rides. I think 20 inch all seasons is the sweet spot for comfort and range

I’ve got the 22” Sport which Inchose because of the longer range…

Just curious, what were you driving before the Rivian?

Land Rover Discovery - which of course was smooth as silk - so probably not a fair comparison - but my daughters Kia Nironhas a smoother ride on local streets than the R1S

What wheel/tire setup? I just swapped out my 20 inch All Terrains for Michelin Defenders and I’m astounded how much better it rides. I think 20 inch all seasons is the sweet spot for comfort and range

What wheel/tire setup? I just swapped out my 20 inch All Terrains for Michelin Defenders and I’m astounded how much better it rides. I think 20 inch all seasons is the sweet spot for comfort and range

 

[RsfRivian]

I'm using the 22" sport - 45 psi

 

[RsfRivian]

If things are calibrated, there is quite a big difference between drive modes and also quite a bit of difference between Firm, Moderate and Soft settings (in all purpose). If you don’t have Sport, I’m not sure of your options.

I come from other high perf SUVs and cars and really love the Sport setting - but tend to like it in the higher ride height of the two settings, but Firm. This feels horrible over speed bumps - I (almost) always switch to All Purpose/Soft for those (which is why I wish those settings were quicker to access without the touchscreen).

Our normal week to week includes little highway driving and loads of around town & mountain roads that can be medium rough (nothing like back East, though). Sometimes I leave it on Sport and quite often I set it All Purpose/Moderate for the mtn roads.

Oh - 48psi on 22s / All Season Pirellis

Thanks - will try this.

 

[RsfRivian]

tire pressure?

45 psi

 

[carsly]

Yes, it's quite bouncy on 22's and the performance all seasons that come OEM.

I demo drove a R1S a couple years ago on 20's and all terrains over cobblestone streets and it rode better than my 2025 Gen 2 on 22's. When the time comes to replace these tires, may just swap the rims as well and go to 20's to let the tires do more of the shock absorption since the suspension isn't up to it around town. Seems fine on highways though - unless you hit successive bumps, then the whole vehicle gets jumpy.

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