Ridiculous Spare Tire Policy

[NCBob]

I'm not a social media or forum kind of person. However, Rivian's ridiculous policy regarding purchase of a full sized spare tire goes beyond anything sensible and prompted this post. After getting a sidewall blown out last summer, I tried to buy a full-sized spare for my wife's R1S. I was told that they couldn't sell us one because the full sized spare doesn't fit in the tire well. I didn't want the compact and spent several hours to convince the sales staff to sell me one. Then they wanted to send out a service tech to "modify" the wheel well to accommodate the tire. I have a very sturdy hitch-mount tire carrier and finally got Rivian to just deliver a tire. Fast forward to 2026, I'm buying an R1T and wanted to include a full sized spare. This time I was told I can't order the spare until I take delivery of the vehicle. I contacted the service center where I'll be picking-up the truck. My response, have the tire and jack kit installed when I pick-up the vehicle or I'll cancel the sale. 5 minutes later a service center person told me it would get done. Considering you can walk into any car dealership or tire store, buy a wheel and have it balanced regardless of what you own makes Rivian's policy even more absurd. Hopefully my discontent is percolating up to the companies decision makers and this stupidity will get changed.

So what happens to the wheels and tires when a Rivian gets wrecked? You would think surely somebody must be salvaging them for resale.

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[Dasoss]

I'm not a social media or forum kind of person. However, Rivian's ridiculous policy regarding purchase of a full sized spare tire goes beyond anything sensible and prompted this post. After getting a sidewall blown out last summer, I tried to buy a full-sized spare for my wife's R1S. I was told that they couldn't sell us one because the full sized spare doesn't fit in the tire well. I didn't want the compact and spent several hours to convince the sales staff to sell me one. Then they wanted to send out a service tech to "modify" the wheel well to accommodate the tire. I have a very sturdy hitch-mount tire carrier and finally got Rivian to just deliver a tire. Fast forward to 2026, I'm buying an R1T and wanted to include a full sized spare. This time I was told I can't order the spare until I take delivery of the vehicle. I contacted the service center where I'll be picking-up the truck. My response, have the tire and jack kit installed when I pick-up the vehicle or I'll cancel the sale. 5 minutes later a service center person told me it would get done. Considering you can walk into any car dealership or tire store, buy a wheel and have it balanced regardless of what you own makes Rivian's policy even more absurd. Hopefully my discontent is percolating up to the companies decision makers and this stupidity will get changed.

Its getting less common to need a spare tire. I drove a MINI Cooper for 22 years. Duting that time, I never used rhe spare. It had run flats. Of course, I never drove it off road. BTW all early MINI Cooper S models had no spare because the battery was in the boot where the spare would be.
I bought an R1S Gen 2 Quad Launch Edition. I texted my delivery specialist saying that I wanted to buy a spare. They set one aside to make sure there would be one in stock. After the purchase was complete, they wrote the work order for the spare and whisked my new car into the shop. 15 minutes later, I had a spare. It seems that their system can only accept service orders from owners. Ther charge service to your default credit card.

 

[NY_Rob]

Do junkyards even exist anymore?

They have renamed themselves "Automotive Recycling Centers". It kind of gives off that "green" vibe right? That's of course till you get on the other side of that fence where it's that "grease" vibe

 

[SwampNut]

surely somebody must be salvaging them for resale.

 

[CrazyOne]

Rivian is behaving like Apple, but they are not Apple. Not even close. Won't sell a wheel, won't sell a 12v battery. While I am keeping mine for the long-term, after getting Rivian Care, I am extremely unlikely to buy another one. Other manufacturers will catch up in few years.

 

[SwampNut]

Rivian is behaving like Apple

Making it easy to buy parts and get service manuals? Surely that’s what you meant, and not showing your ignorance of both.

 

[Robot Overlord]

Glad you got the full sized spare. I’ve had my unfair share of non-repairable tire damage on several long family trips in different vehicles. sometimes it’s just plain ole bad luck.

Facebook marketplace for the win x5+++.

I got a fifth 20” wheel set (rim and brand new tire) for $500

New version jack set for $190

Spare tire lift harness for $70

Four 21” wheels for $750 total (one of them had an amazing 1 pound of road force when I had the balance checked. The other three were at 8, 9, and 15 pounds of road force when up to 30 is OK)

Fifth 21” wheel for $125

It just takes a little time and effort, sometimes shipping too. And the list of FBMP purchases goes on.

 

[Gdyear78]

The insanity of wanting to pay Rivian $2k or whatever for this when they are all over eBay and Craig's list for $600, or even just on this forum where I got mine, tells us something.

So true, it's worth it to go on CL or FB marketplace to find one I just sold my R1T spare to a super nice guy locally. Win/win for both of us.

Now I am in the process of adding the spare for my R2, it should be this week but still silly pricing. They want to charge $250 to "install" it, told them I would just come to the service center if that saves the $. Placing the spare tire under the cargo cover for $250 - I can do that.

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