20" Inch DO NOT BUY Pirelli Scorpion XTM Elect: Major Hydroplaning Issues After 2,600 Miles

[starbux]

As many of you know, I like to test different tires for the community and give feedback after 10,000 miles so we can figure out the best setup for our vehicles for both on and off road performance. Today I am here to tell you not to purchase these tires, mainly for your safety in rainy conditions.

Last month, while driving up the 405 during a couple days of rain, the road had more water on it than usual. That is when I experienced my first hydroplane at about 45 miles per hour. I was confused because I have been in similar conditions before on the OEM tires, Falkens, and Toyos without any issues. I assumed it was a fluke and maybe there was more oil on the road since it was our first rain after a long dry stretch in the PNW.

Fast forward to today. On several sections of Highway 16 and i5, the truck started hydroplaning again while I was going under the speed limit and not accelerating or braking. The Rivian tried to correct for it and I did as well, but at this point it has become a real safety concern. These are still new tires and they should not be behaving like this.

I contacted Discount Tire and even they said I should not be experiencing issues like this, especially with a vehicle as heavy as mine. They told me to bring the truck in, issued a refund, and swapped my other wheels and tires back on.

I went back on the highway afterward with my Toyos that already have 20,000 miles on them and I had no hydroplaning issues at all.

Could it be the lack of proper siping? A harder compound? The fact that they are LT? Would the SL version be better? I am not sure, but based on what I experienced, I cannot recommend these tires for your safety.

Sponsored

 

[FooF]

What pressure were you running the tires at?

 

[CrazyOne]

I think we can make it simpler and say: Don't buy Pirelli's for Rivian. I am even not sure the "for Rivian" qualifier is necessary.

 

[FooF]

What pressure were you running the tires at?

OP posted on reddit 50 psi. My LT Toyo Open Country RT Pro tires wander a lot on the road at that pressure.

 

[VSG]

I think we can make it simpler and say: Don't buy Pirelli's for Rivian.

My 20" OEM Pirellis with 35k miles on them (and still 7/32 left) were rock solid over the past two days, on exactly the same roads the OP was driving: 405, I-5, and 16.

 

[Time2Roll]

How do you know you were hydroplaning? Did the vehicle spin out?
I remember my old mustang with wide flat tires in the rear would start just spinning the rears and flip around if not carful to slow down. Would happen with a hard rain at about the same 45 mph.

Otherwise deep and uneven puddles can push a vehicle around quite a bit without hydroplaning.

Be careful out there.

 

[starbux]

My 20" OEM Pirellis with 35k miles on them (and still 7/32 left) were rock solid over the past two days, on exactly the same roads the OP was driving: 405, I-5, and 16.

I've never had problems with the OEM ones either.

 

[starbux]

How do you know you were hydroplaning? Did the vehicle spin out?
I remember my old mustang with wide flat tires in the rear would start just spinning the rears and flip around if not carful to slow down. Would happen with a hard rain at about the same 45 mph.

Otherwise deep and uneven puddles can push a vehicle around quite a bit without hydroplaning.

Be careful out there.

There is a difference between hitting a puddle of water vs starting to glide around where the steering becomes nearly unresponsive. Best way to describe it is like hitting ice.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

I think we can make it simpler and say: Don't buy Pirelli's for Rivian. I am even not sure the "for Rivian" qualifier is necessary.

That would be crazy

 

[CrazyOne]

My 20" OEM Pirellis with 35k miles on them (and still 7/32 left) were rock solid over the past two days, on exactly the same roads the OP was driving: 405, I-5, and 16.

I saw complaints about noise with 20" Pirellis. And that similar tires from other brands weren't as noisy.

 

[savethemanual]

I think we can make it simpler and say: Don't buy Pirelli's for Rivian. I am even not sure the "for Rivian" qualifier is necessary.

I've been running the Pirelli Cinturato P7 All Seasons on my vehicles for years, love them!

 

[Glembi2]

What was the original Pirelli tire on the 20” wheel? Was it the All Terrain Plus Electric?

 

[bigsky]

Could you perhaps have defective tires?
The 21" Pirelli Scorpions on my R1S have been outstanding; the Pirelli P Zero summers on my Tesla MYP have been excellent in every way as well. Absolutely nothing wrong with my MYP Pirelli Sottozero 3 winters also.
I swear by Pirellis.

 

[beeglowbot]

As many of you know, I like to test different tires for the community and give feedback after 10,000 miles so we can figure out the best setup for our vehicles for both on and off road performance. Today I am here to tell you not to purchase these tires, mainly for your safety in rainy conditions.

Last month, while driving up the 405 during a couple days of rain, the road had more water on it than usual. That is when I experienced my first hydroplane at about 45 miles per hour. I was confused because I have been in similar conditions before on the OEM tires, Falkens, and Toyos without any issues. I assumed it was a fluke and maybe there was more oil on the road since it was our first rain after a long dry stretch in the PNW.

Fast forward to today. On several sections of Highway 16 and i5, the truck started hydroplaning again while I was going under the speed limit and not accelerating or braking. The Rivian tried to correct for it and I did as well, but at this point it has become a real safety concern. These are still new tires and they should not be behaving like this.

I contacted Discount Tire and even they said I should not be experiencing issues like this, especially with a vehicle as heavy as mine. They told me to bring the truck in, issued a refund, and swapped my other wheels and tires back on.

I went back on the highway afterward with my Toyos that already have 20,000 miles on them and I had no hydroplaning issues at all.

Could it be the lack of proper siping? A harder compound? The fact that they are LT? Would the SL version be better? I am not sure, but based on what I experienced, I cannot recommend these tires for your safety.

did you or discount tired contact pirelli about this? wonder if there was a bad batch. I have them on my 22's and have driven in the rain but they're too new for this to happen.

keep us updated.

 

[starbux]

did you or discount tired contact pirelli about this? wonder if there was a bad batch. I have them on my 22's and have driven in the rain but they're too new for this to happen.

keep us updated.

Could you perhaps have defective tires?
The 21" Pirelli Scorpions on my R1S have been outstanding; the Pirelli P Zero summers on my Tesla MYP have been excellent in every way as well. Absolutely nothing wrong with my MYP Pirelli Sottozero 3 winters also.
I swear by Pirellis.

These are two different tires. I have never had problems with the OEM scorpions and water like I did these XTMs.

Sponsored