Black Rhino Voltaic Wheels with Mickey Thompson Baja Boss AT Tires on R1S

[Pouyafrankie]

I posted this in Reddit, but figured I'd post here too:

Christmas came a bit early. Got 20" Black Rhino Voltaics wheels in Bronze with Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/Ts in 285/65R20. I previously had the 22" Sport Brights with Michelin Defenders LTX M/S2.

Don't ask me about range. One, I don't really care enough about range to take detailed measurements (I work from home and I charge at home every night, so range is rarely an issue for me). And two, I just got these installed and its been cold and snowy, so there is a range hit either way.

I bought the tires premounted on the wheels from WheelHero. Shipping was fast and secure and everything was mounted nicely. The tires were supposedly pre-balanced, but I get a bit of wheel shake when driving above 45mph, so I'll get those rebalanced soon. New TPMS sensors are also not syncing, but I'm sure a tireshop can help fix that too.

There is also approximately a 1mph discrepancy between the oem wheels and these ones since I haven't had Rivian reprogram the wheel to the new size (just going to wait for the OTA update to let us do it ourselves).

Ride quality is pretty similar to the Defenders that I had on previously. New tires are definitely louder as well, but I don't mind. I do have more confidence with these tires in the snow than I did with the Defenders.

Overall I really like the look and feel. Definitely an upgrade for me.

Also, 285 is a pretty big wheel for this SUV. There is some rubbing if I'm in lowest if I go over bumps or turn the wheel all the way. I only noticed a bit of rubbing in Low mode when the wheels are turned all the way, but didn't notice any rubbing over bumps that way. I almost never ride in lowest or low, so won't be an issue for me (only go in those settings in low clearance parking garages). Anyway, here are some pics in Standard height. They honestly look much better in person than in the pics!

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[Mr. Ham]

Looks sick dude. I’m a fan.

 

[tps5352]

I posted this in Reddit, but figured I'd post here too:

...20" Black Rhino Voltaics wheels in Bronze...285/65R20...previously had...22" Sport Brights...Michelin Defenders LTX M/S2.
...
1mph discrepancy...haven't had Rivian reprogram
...
just going to wait for the
...
OTA update to let us do it ourselves).
...

Nice!

Gen 1 Quad, is that right? (Just trying to hone my Rivian ID skills.)

I have been pondering the Black Rhino Voltaic and the somewhat similar Atomic Wheels AW08 forged rims. I assume you did, also (and looked at other brand-models, too).

• Can you share with us why you finally selected the Voltaic rims?
  |
• Did the Voltaic's +35 Offset (slightly less than stock) concern you at all (especially with the slightly larger tires)?

I assume your previous tire size was the stock 275/50R22? If so, a handy tire calculator suggests a tire diameter increase of ~1¾ inches and a corresponding circumference increase of ~5½ inches. You also mentioned reprogramming the (speedometer, camera orientation, etc.) software...

I have no specific information about Rivian's plans for an over-the-air update. However, if it is anything like Tesla, the choices given the driver will be strictly limited to OEM wheel-sets (and possibly only those for a particular model). That is, the user will not be able to choose just any wheel and tire size (and possibly not even all Rivian Gen 1 and Gen 2 OEM sizes); perhaps only wheel & tires that originally came from the factory (and maybe just for that model and generation).

It would be nice if drivers had somewhat of a free reign to select from a reasonably (keyword = "reasonably") wide range of wheel and tire sizes. (And if that is the case, great!) But for reasons of software reprogramming effort and legal liability, I greatly suspect that choices will be limited only to the original OEM choices. (The ones that Rivian designer-engineers have approved as safe for use.) We'll see. (Hope I am wrong.)

Good job on the new wheel-sets (just keep an eye on the rubbing).

 

[tps5352]

...an over-the-air update...

What will an update to Rivian software look like that allows drivers to change wheel and tire sizes (and thereby ensure that speedometer, TPMS, camera, and other functions remain accurate)? I can only speculate. (As I have only seen a version of this in a Tesla.)

As an example, say a Rivian owner has a 2025 Gen 2 Dual Max R1S (delivered in 2024) with Sport Dark 22-inch wheel-rims. Here are three simplistic models (lacking any fancy graphics) for what information on the selection screen might look like:

Model 1 – By Named Wheel-Set Only​

Your current wheel-set is: Sport Dark

Please select your new wheel-set:

O (included, or not: 22”) Sport Bright (also included, or not: 275/50R22)​

​

O (22”) Sport Dark (275/50R22) ("grayed out" because it is the current wheel-set)​

​

O (22”) Range (275/50R22)​

​

O (20”) All-Terrain (275/65R20) <This size may change to 275/60R20 in 2025?>​

​

O (20”) All-Terrain Dark (275/65R20)​

There may or may not be any mention of wheel or tire sizes, 22" and 34" tire diameters, and reprogramming of the speedometer (or re-calibrating camera orientations or TPMS pressure measurements).

Regardless, the five selections above might be all a driver has to choose from. I think it likely that there will be no opportunity to select non-OEM wheel and tire sizes. (Sorry.)

Hopefully, at least wheel and tire sizes will be included to help alleviate confusion and errors. And if after-market replacement tires of an OEM size are installed, the OEM wheel-set selection closest in size may suffice to fix speedometer error.

(By the way, in a Tesla it takes a couple of minutes or more for a car to reprogram its software and re-boot after a wheel change.)

Model 2 - By OEM Tire Set​

Your current tire-set is: Pirelli Scorpion Zero

Please select your new tire set:

O Pirelli Scorpion Zero (with or without wheel and tire sizes, and rim colors)​

​

O Pirelli Scorpion MS​

​

O Pirelli Scorpion AT Plus​

Note that there are even fewer choices here (because bright and dark rims use the same tires). I don't think Rivian will choose this model, because tire specifications and models (like any contracted accessory) can change without notice. If Rivian does limit choices simply to OEM tires, hopefully it will include wheel and tire sizes and wheel-rim colors also. But it may choose not too.

Tesla mentions OEM wheel-rim colors because reprogramming not only re-calibrates based on wheel/tire sizes, but also changes graphically the appearance of wheels on the car and phone app screens.

Model 3 - By Tire Size Only (minimalist approach)​

Your current tire size is: 275/50R22

Please select your new tire size:

O 275/50R22

O 275/65R20

Only two choices, so easiest for Rivian to code. There is something to be said for this model. (It at least provides both wheel and tire sizes.)

These are only three possibilities. There are more. Other vehicle generations and models would have somewhat different choices. Could Rivian include something more comprehensive; more like an online tire calculator? Possible, I suppose, but unlikely (in my mind).

If, as I suspect, Rivian allows selection only among OEM wheel-sets, my choice might be something like Model 1, provided both wheel and tire sizes are included. Otherwise, Model 3 looks like a possible winner.

Again, this is all (holiday period) speculation.

 

[Pouyafrankie]

Nice!

Gen 1 Quad, is that right? (Just trying to hone my Rivian ID skills.)

I have been pondering the Black Rhino Voltaic and the somewhat similar Atomic Wheels AW08 forged rims. I assume you did, also (and looked at other brand-models, too).

• Can you share with us why you finally selected the Voltaic rims?
  |
• Did the Voltaic's +35 Offset (slightly less than stock) concern you at all (especially with the slightly larger tires)?

I assume your previous tire size was the stock 275/50R22? If so, a handy tire calculator suggests a tire diameter increase of ~1¾ inches and a corresponding circumference increase of ~5½ inches. You also mentioned reprogramming the (speedometer, camera orientation, etc.) software...

I have no specific information about Rivian's plans for an over-the-air update. However, if it is anything like Tesla, the choices given the driver will be strictly limited to OEM wheel-sets (and possibly only those for a particular model). That is, the user will not be able to choose just any wheel and tire size (and possibly not even all Rivian Gen 1 and Gen 2 OEM sizes); perhaps only wheel & tires that originally came from the factory (and maybe just for that model and generation).

It would be nice if drivers had somewhat of a free reign to select from a reasonably (keyword = "reasonable") wide range of wheel and tire sizes. (And if that is the case, great!) But for reasons of software reprogramming effort and legal liability, I greatly suspect that choices will be limited only to the original OEM choices. (The ones that Rivian designer-engineers have approved as safe for use.) We'll see. (Hope I am wrong.)

Good job on the new wheel-sets (just keep an eye on the rubbing).

This was a thoughtful reply. Thanks!

1. To answer your questions, I went with Black Rhino for two reasons: I'm familiar with the brand, and they had the bronze in stock and ready to ship. The similar color wheel from Atomic was on preorder status at the time of my purchase.

2. No, the offset didn't concern me. I did talk to the tire shop about it too, and Wheel Hero even has this combination as a standard compatible offering for Rivian. The guy at discount tire said their system does it show it as compatible, but he would
Be comfortable installing it for me if I purchased from them (they ended up not having the 285 available to order at all).

And regarding the OTA I mention, to clarify, I only meant that I would set the Rivian to think it has the stock 20" Pirelli ATs. The difference between the stock 275/65R20 and my 285/65R20s is negligible to me. That handy tire calculator shows only a ~1.57" tire circumference change ~0.5 tire height, and ~0.39 section width increase. I can live with those numbers just fine and they aren't as dramatic as a change from the 22s I had previously.

Oh and yes, Gen 1 Launch Edition ?

 

[R1Tom]

Love those wheels and tires!

 

[grass man]

I posted this in Reddit, but figured I'd post here too:

Christmas came a bit early. Got 20" Black Rhino Voltaics wheels in Bronze with Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/Ts in 285/65R20. I previously had the 22" Sport Brights with Michelin Defenders LTX M/S2.

Don't ask me about range. One, I don't really care enough about range to take detailed measurements (I work from home and I charge at home every night, so range is rarely an issue for me). And two, I just got these installed and its been cold and snowy, so there is a range hit either way.

I bought the tires premounted on the wheels from WheelHero. Shipping was fast and secure and everything was mounted nicely. The tires were supposedly pre-balanced, but I get a bit of wheel shake when driving above 45mph, so I'll get those rebalanced soon. New TPMS sensors are also not syncing, but I'm sure a tireshop can help fix that too.

There is also approximately a 1mph discrepancy between the oem wheels and these ones since I haven't had Rivian reprogram the wheel to the new size (just going to wait for the OTA update to let us do it ourselves).

Ride quality is pretty similar to the Defenders that I had on previously. New tires are definitely louder as well, but I don't mind. I do have more confidence with these tires in the snow than I did with the Defenders.

Overall I really like the look and feel. Definitely an upgrade for me.

Also, 285 is a pretty big wheel for this SUV. There is some rubbing if I'm in lowest if I go over bumps or turn the wheel all the way. I only noticed a bit of rubbing in Low mode when the wheels are turned all the way, but didn't notice any rubbing over bumps that way. I almost never ride in lowest or low, so won't be an issue for me (only go in those settings in low clearance parking garages). Anyway, here are some pics in Standard height. They honestly look much better in person than in the pics!

Looks great.

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