Growing efficiency Gap: R2 w/ 21" vs. 20" tire sets

[ksurfier]

Doesn’t matter. The 20” tire focused crowd only wants more options. They don’t specify eco-friendly only tire options. And a lot of Rivian R1 owners tend to jump on Michelin Defenders. I’m hoping Hankook offers a 21” tire by the time I need some replacements

At this point you have to ask who cares about 21” tires, since they aren’t the claimed improved efficiency? Three strikes and 21” tires are out!

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[Eric9610]

At this point you have to ask who cares about 21” tires, since they aren’t the claimed improved efficiency? Three strikes and 21” tires are out!

So, the calculation for costing is I would have to be on my 3rd set of tires to recoup the initial cost of the 20's. If the replacement 21's are $1600 and replacement 20s are $1,100, Current pricing. I have no doubt that more options on the 21's will exist.

I was also sold on getting the 20's until I did a back-to-back test drive and at highway speed the 20's produced an audible hum in the car I could not live with. I also found the ride on rougher pavement smoother with the 21's. Shocked to find this.

 

[ksurfier]

So, the calculation for costing is I would have to be on my 3rd set of tires to recoup the initial cost of the 20's. If the replacement 21's are $1600 and replacement 20s are $1,100, Current pricing. I have no doubt that more options on the 21's will exist.

I was also sold on getting the 20's until I did a back-to-back test drive and at highway speed the 20's produced an audible hum in the car I could not live with. I also found the ride on rougher pavement smoother with the 21's. Shocked to find this.

Interesting, I hadn’t heard this, anyone else have same/similar experience with 20” vs 21” test drive?

 

[savethemanual]

At this point you have to ask who cares about 21” tires, since they aren’t the claimed improved efficiency? Three strikes and 21” tires are out!

I'm going with the 21"...it's not always about data/numbers for me. I simply like the look of them and am confident there will be more tire options when it comes time to replace.

 

[Budman]

So, the calculation for costing is I would have to be on my 3rd set of tires to recoup the initial cost of the 20's. If the replacement 21's are $1600 and replacement 20s are $1,100, Current pricing. I have no doubt that more options on the 21's will exist.

I was also sold on getting the 20's until I did a back-to-back test drive and at highway speed the 20's produced an audible hum in the car I could not live with. I also found the ride on rougher pavement smoother with the 21's. Shocked to find this.

This was my reasoning also. Went with the 21”

 

[DaveA]

Could there be a discrepancy between manufactured R2s that could make some capable of only 2.7 and some capable of 3.3? Could it be tire discrepancies?

They are Pirellis. Anything is possible.

 

[tivoboy]

Interesting, I hadn’t heard this, anyone else have same/similar experience with 20” vs 21” test drive?

20” was definitely louder and produced a harmonic in the cabin that the 21“ didn’t but that is pretty much to be expected.

 

[windshieldfarmer]

20” was definitely louder and produced a harmonic in the cabin that the 21“ didn’t but that is pretty much to be expected.

I just picked up an R2 on 20”. Slightly less quiet than the 21”s we test drove but certainly not very noticeable at this point. After 10,000 miles it might be a far different story as AT tires can sometimes get noisy. That said, until last week I owned a Jeep Wrangler with KO2s. Even after 15,000 miles they remained fairly quiet. Hoping for the same with these ATs.

 

[FlyingPilot2012]

So, the calculation for costing is I would have to be on my 3rd set of tires to recoup the initial cost of the 20's. If the replacement 21's are $1600 and replacement 20s are $1,100, Current pricing. I have no doubt that more options on the 21's will exist.

This was my reasoning also. Went with the 21”

I try to factor in the estimated life of each tire over a number of years.

The 20" tires (BF Goodrich) have a tread life warranty of 65,000 miles. The 21" Pirelli's don't have a listed mile warranty, but from what I've read online they'd likely last around 30,000 miles.

TireRack has the 21" Pirellis closer to $1750 for a set of four, $1,100 for the 20" BF Goodrich AT.

So after 90,000 miles (approx. 6 years at 15,000/yr) of driving an R2, I'd still be on my first replacement set of 20" ($1,100) or just getting my third replacement set of the 21" Pirelli's ($5,000+).

Of course, this doesn't include the higher initial price the 20", which would close the gap a little.

I plan to keep the car for a longer time, so I'm OK waiting for the payoff. Though I doubt I'd get the BF Goodrich A/T tires again, probably switch to a good A/S after they wear out.

Rivian OEM 21" Pirelli
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Pirelli&tireModel=Scorpion+MS&partnum=555VR1SCRMSXL&vehicleSearch=true&fromCompare1=yes&autoMake=Rivian&autoYear=2027&autoModel=R2 Performance&autoModClar=255/55-21

Rivian OEM 20" BF Goodrich
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=BFGoodrich&tireModel=Trail-Terrain+T/A+&partnum=56VR0TTTAPXL&vehicleSearch=true&fromCompare1=yes&autoMake=Rivian&autoYear=2027&autoModel=R2 Performance&autoModClar=255/60-20

 

[Tony S]

I try to factor in the estimated life of each tire over a number of years.

The 20" tires (BF Goodrich) have a tread life warranty of 65,000 miles. The 21" Pirelli's don't have a listed mile warranty, but from what I've read online they'd likely last around 30,000 miles.

TireRack has the 21" Pirellis closer to $1750 for a set of four, $1,100 for the 20" BF Goodrich AT.

So after 90,000 miles (approx. 6 years at 15,000/yr) of driving an R2, I'd still be on my first replacement set of 20" ($1,100) or just getting my third replacement set of the 21" Pirelli's ($5,000+).

Of course, this doesn't include the higher initial price the 20", which would close the gap a little.

I plan to keep the car for a longer time, so I'm OK waiting for the payoff. Though I doubt I'd get the BF Goodrich A/T tires again, probably switch to a good A/S after they wear out.

Rivian OEM 21" Pirelli
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Pirelli&tireModel=Scorpion+MS&partnum=555VR1SCRMSXL&vehicleSearch=true&fromCompare1=yes&autoMake=Rivian&autoYear=2027&autoModel=R2 Performance&autoModClar=255/55-21

Rivian OEM 20" BF Goodrich
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=BFGoodrich&tireModel=Trail-Terrain+T/A+&partnum=56VR0TTTAPXL&vehicleSearch=true&fromCompare1=yes&autoMake=Rivian&autoYear=2027&autoModel=R2 Performance&autoModClar=255/60-20

Meanwhile, you‘d be driving on these crappy, sloppy, noisy AT tires on asphalt for the duration. For some people quantity IS quality.

 

[FlyingPilot2012]

Meanwhile, you‘d driving on these crappy, sloppy, noisy AT tires on asphalt for the duration. For some people quantity IS quality.

I can't say I noticed much of a noise difference between the two, which seems to be the case for most from what I've read here.

Seems the 20" AT tire is much closer to an All Season design vs a true All Terrain.

This seems even more true based on the real world data showing it's has very similar efficiency compared to the 21" Pirellis.

But to each their own!

 

[windblowlc]

Meanwhile, you‘d driving on these crappy, sloppy, noisy AT tires on asphalt for the duration. For some people quantity IS quality.

All I can say politely is go test drive the 20" AT on the R2.

 

[savethemanual]

I try to factor in the estimated life of each tire over a number of years.

The 20" tires (BF Goodrich) have a tread life warranty of 65,000 miles. The 21" Pirelli's don't have a listed mile warranty, but from what I've read online they'd likely last around 30,000 miles.

The link you provided for the 20" A/T's, warranty is 50k miles not 65k. I remember reading somewhere the tread isn't quite as deep for the Rivian spec version. I would expect at least 36k miles from the Pirelli's, remember the R2 is 2k lbs lighter than R1 which have these tires also.

 

[windshieldfarmer]

Meanwhile, you‘d be driving on these crappy, sloppy, noisy AT tires on asphalt for the duration. For some people quantity IS quality.

Perhaps, perhaps not. The 20” rim
Is forged, the 21” rim is cast. Would much rather have the durability of a forged rim (and the more durable tire). Can always replace with AS if the ATs get too noisy; though they are surprisingly quiet when new.

 

[Bullwinkle]

Perhaps, perhaps not. The 20” rim
Is forged, the 21” rim is cast. Would much rather have the durability of a forged rim (and the more durable tire). Can always replace with AS if the ATs get too noisy; though they are surprisingly quiet when new.

Forged metal is basically smashed/compressed until all air bubbles and imperfections are removed. It is desirable from a strength/functional point of view. The esthetic may be slightly reduced.

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