Denver to Durango through snow in new R1T with stock 21” Scorpion tires (maiden delivery voyage)

[JamuJoe]

I picked up my new Dual Motor Max Pack Performance R1T with 21” road wheels at the Denver Service Center yesterday. I also picked up a barely used 21” spare from an owner near Denver.

I had worried a bit about the Scorpion tires in ice and snow, and am happy to say that the truck and tires performed flawlessly throughout the 360 mile trip home to Durango (actually Hesperus) over icy and snowy passes with temps in the mid teens.

With my destination entered, the R1T programmed a charging stop at the RAN station in Salida, conveniently alongside a Safeway for restroom and coffee. The truck initiated battery pre-conditioning about 30 miles out and the DC Fast Charger at RAN Salida was a simple process (although no longer free). My only suggested improvement there would be an overhead canopy - this is CO in winter, and the Safeway apparently doesn’t clear snow from the charging slots.

Onward through intermittent windy snow showers and Wolf Creek Pass that needing plowing into Pagosa Springs, where the truck programmed a short stop at the Charge Point L3 Chargers at the riverside park. The truck didn’t really need it for the home stretch, but my bladder was appreciative. This will be a fine charging stop once Pagosa paves the muddy potholed approach street and parking lot.

The real test of the tires was my steep 100 yard driveway with a foot of day old snow. I’ve towed a number of winter visitors up my driveway. The truck and Scorpions plowed right up the driveway without a bit of slip.

Quite a satisfactory maiden voyage for the R1T!

Sponsored

 

[COdogman]

That trip in winter is no joke for any vehicle/ tires. Glad to hear it handled it well!

 

[_hchc]

Can you share your mi/kwh average under these condition? Would be making similar trip during xmas!

 

[Ngkgb]

Did you need chains for any of the trip?

 

[JamuJoe]

I did not use chains, and did not pay much attention to consumption data on this trip. Honestly, after a barely 30 min. orientation (I suspect the young lady was cold, standing outside in the wind. Surely Rivian should do this orientation in an enclosed space during winter in Denver!), I was primarily concerned with driving a new and different vehicle safely. Although my truck delivery was delayed by over a week for replacement of the factory damaged front fascia (spotted by the Service Center during delivery prep), they hadn’t even installed the software update. Overall, an unimpressive delivery experience, but a fine truck.

 

[HJP1]

Glad to hear the 21" performed well for you, I opted for the 21" over the 20"AT as I was planning to do some off roading in Arizona but 90% of my driving would be on road. These tires have performed well off road (not heavy rock crawling) and excellent on road.

 

[ThumprMN]

Good to know… I will be taking a road trip out west and going through parts of Colorado in a week in my R1T with 21” scorpions. This gives me some confidence.

 

[BCondrey]

That was a hell of a first drive in the truck. I've wondered about driving in those temps. Good to know the 21" tires performed well.

 

[BrentInCO]

Can you share your mi/kwh average under these condition? Would be making similar trip during xmas!

I drove across Colorado through a winter storm Friday night, like the OP, temperatures in the teens, snow packed roads at times, headwinds. 20” wheels with new Blizzak winter tires. 2 miles / kWh Denver to Salida RAN, used 73 kWh and 2.2 miles / kWh Salida to Montrose RAN, used 62 kWh. I post this data and more details on my PlugShare check ins at each charger.

 

[cgaiii]

Quite a satisfactory maiden voyage for the R1T!

Great report. I am glad to hear it. We will be getting an R1S with the 21's dual performance Max Pack in the near future, and I have been wondering about winter driving on those tires. I have driven that route in the winter, so I know it is a pretty good test. Thanks for posting

 

[Rivian312]

Good to hear. I see a lot of discussion on this forum about snow tires and it surprised me. I also went with the 21" over the ATs for my quad because most of my driving is city/highway but also need to deal with Chicago winters. Although the Chicago winters are more about extreme cold than snow so maybe I should be more focused on battery performance.

Curious though about others thoughts on tires for the winter.

 

[SeaGeo]

Curious though about others thoughts on tires for the winter.

Get proper winter tires. The performance is significantly better.

 

[R.I.P.]

I am still on the 21s as well, waiting for the new 20x9 wheels to be delivered. I have zero complaints with the 21s in snow with the DM drivetrain.

Hoping the 20s will get here before the end of the year...

 

[Throwdown]

I picked up my new Dual Motor Max Pack Performance R1T with 21” road wheels at the Denver Service Center yesterday. I also picked up a barely used 21” spare from an owner near Denver.

I had worried a bit about the Scorpion tires in ice and snow, and am happy to say that the truck and tires performed flawlessly throughout the 360 mile trip home to Durango (actually Hesperus) over icy and snowy passes with temps in the mid teens.

With my destination entered, the R1T programmed a charging stop at the RAN station in Salida, conveniently alongside a Safeway for restroom and coffee. The truck initiated battery pre-conditioning about 30 miles out and the DC Fast Charger at RAN Salida was a simple process (although no longer free). My only suggested improvement there would be an overhead canopy - this is CO in winter, and the Safeway apparently doesn’t clear snow from the charging slots.

Onward through intermittent windy snow showers and Wolf Creek Pass that needing plowing into Pagosa Springs, where the truck programmed a short stop at the Charge Point L3 Chargers at the riverside park. The truck didn’t really need it for the home stretch, but my bladder was appreciative. This will be a fine charging stop once Pagosa paves the muddy potholed approach street and parking lot.

The real test of the tires was my steep 100 yard driveway with a foot of day old snow. I’ve towed a number of winter visitors up my driveway. The truck and Scorpions plowed right up the driveway without a bit of slip.

Quite a satisfactory maiden voyage for the R1T!

Nice how much battery did you use from denver to salida?

 

[JamuJoe]

Get proper winter tires. The performance is significantly better.

No argument, I’ll buy Michelin Defenders when they cme a

Nice how much battery did you use from denver to salida?

Good to hear. I see a lot of discussion on this forum about snow tires and it surprised me. I also went with the 21" over the ATs for my quad because most of my driving is city/highway but also need to deal with Chicago winters. Although the Chicago winters are more about extreme cold than snow so maybe I should be more focused on battery performance.

Curious though about others thoughts on tires for the winter.

I do prefer winter tires for our area of CO. Our Polestar 2 wears Michelin Ice X during winter, which are superb. I run Michelin Defender M&S on my RAM 2500 Cummins, which do quite well in winter and stay on year round. I look forward to Michelin Defenders becoming available for the 21” Road Wheels. I’m not keen on taking the efficiency hit for AT’s on a second set of wheels.

Sponsored