Best tire / wheel combo for deep snow.

[Pherdnut]

I don't think you'll ever miss snow-tires if you get the ATs.

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[Whmorken]

I don't think you'll ever miss snow-tires if you get the ATs.

Will check with my tire guy and by driving in cold and snow with the AT’s , hopefully by April. Be great if the AT’s were also all weather.

 

[kylealden]

Quick note here - the 20" ATs should be good (maybe even great) for deep snow. For ice, however, you'll want a proper winter tire with a soft compound and siping. Seattleites, I'm looking at you as you slide down Queen Anne wondering why your knobbies aren't helping.

The R1T in general should have good winter fundamentals with great traction, evenly distributed weight (not like most pickups), four-motor-drive, etc. And the ATs should be good. But deep snow is more like mud than it is like ice. If you're in a place that gets freezing rain or plow-freeze-plow-freeze style shit like we get in the PNW, be careful; nothing beats real, soft-compound tires. (Except staying home, which should always be high on your list of options.)

(But please god don't drive around Seattle for November-March with studded tires. You know who you are.)

 

[Whmorken]

Quick note here - the 20" ATs should be good (maybe even great) for deep snow. For ice, however, you'll want a proper winter tire with a soft compound and siping. Seattleites, I'm looking at you as you slide down Queen Anne wondering why your knobbies aren't helping.

The R1T in general should have good winter fundamentals with great traction, evenly distributed weight (not like most pickups), four-motor-drive, etc. And the ATs should be good. But deep snow is more like mud than it is like ice. If you're in a place that gets freezing rain or plow-freeze-plow-freeze style shit like we get in the PNW, be careful; nothing beats real, soft-compound tires. (Except staying home, which should always be high on your list of options.)

(But please god don't drive around Seattle for November-March with studded tires. You know who you are.)

I am sure you are right about ice conditions needing true winter tires with softer rubber and even studs. Thanks!





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[like2short]

I will be using my R1T in Northern Ontario, Canada where 200+" of snow arrive every winter. I wonder what Rivian considers the best tire and wheel package for this weather. Sometimes the roads have a foot of snow a few hours after being plowed, and I have places to go! I spec'd mine with 20" wheel and AT tires, but is it possible that the 21" standard wheel could perform better with dedicated snow tires? I bet Rivian has the answer.

The 21” size is unique to the Rivian. There is only 1 supplier with pirelli. The 20” size is very common and the 22” size is used on current generation gm pickups and suvs.

 

[Whmorken]

The 21” size is unique to the Rivian. There is only 1 supplier with pirelli. The 20” size is very common and the 22” size is used on current generation gm pickups and suvs.

Facts that matter! Thanks.

 

[like2short]

Facts that matter! Thanks.

You are welcome! I am choosing the 22s, because I drive on street mostly and having alternate suppliers matters if you have an emergency.

I highly recommend either the 20 or 22 just for the sake of alternate tire suppliers. The 20 would be the most versatile with the most alternate tire choices.

 

[Whmorken]

You are welcome! I am choosing the 22s, because I drive on street mostly and having alternate suppliers matters if you have an emergency.

I highly recommend either the 20 or 22 just for the sake of alternate tire suppliers. The 20 would be the most versatile with the most alternate tire choices.

like2short: For true winter tires, studded, best tires on ice, would you pick the 20 or 22? For summer rocks, ruts, and pot holes I have ordered the 20s but I am ready to get the sets of both 20 and 22 wheels, the latter for winter, since I will already have the 20s for summer. If the 20 size is best for both all terrain and winter then I may skip getting 22 wheels, however, there is an advantage to getting two sets of wheels with two seasonal sets of tires even if they are the same size. Such minutia…..

 

[like2short]

like2short: For true winter tires, studded, best tires on ice, would you pick the 20 or 22? For summer rocks, ruts, and pot holes I have ordered the 20s but I am ready to get the sets of both 20 and 22 wheels, the latter for winter, since I will already have the 20s for summer. If the 20 size is best for both all terrain and winter then I may skip getting 22 wheels, however, there is an advantage to getting two sets of wheels with two seasonal sets of tires even if they are the same size. Such minutia…..

For studs 20” all the way. More choices ! I don’t know if you can get studded tires in the 22” size currently. Yes I agree and multiple tires for different use cases.

 

[Laurent]

For true winter tires, studded, best tires on ice, would you pick the 20 or 22?

For winter, I'd go with the smaller 20" wheels and wrap them with Nokian Hakkapeliitta tires: 275/65R20 LT3 , 275/60R20 10 SUV, or studless 275/60R20 R3 SUV.

 

[Whmorken]

For winter, I'd go with the smaller 20" wheels and wrap them with Nokian Hakkapeliitta tires: 275/65R20 LT3 , 275/60R20 10 SUV, or studless 275/60R20 R3 SUV.

Yes, Hakka’s. Will check out the two studded models you suggest. Thanks.

 

[like2short]

Yep! Nokian tires are amazing for winter! It make sense buying from a company based in a very snowy part of the world!

 

[Laurent]

For Nokian fans out there, the new Hakkapeliitta R5 studless winter tire is out.

https://www.nokiantyres.com/winter-tires/nokian-tyres-hakkapeliitta-r5-suv/

The R5 SUV tire is available in 275/60R20 115R.

 

[the long way downunder]

Nokian has a 21 inch studded snow tire meant specifically for EVs.

https://www.nokiantires.com/snow-winter-tires/nokian-hakkapeliitta-10-ev/

 

[the long way downunder]

fwiw. I had BFG K02s on an F-150 Hybrid during a heavy storm cycle (18 feet in December) with a ski cabin on a 16 degree road, the driveway is 20 degrees and there was fresh snow on a packed base covering asphalt and concrete with snow up the bumper of the Ford.

I usually go to chains when the snow is above the middle of the tire. I had four chains but didn't need them. I think it was "favorable" snow (sticky and dry … the squeaky kind … I'm sure Eskimos, Alaskans, Scandinavians all have a specific word ave a specific word for it.)

I normally drive a Tesla Model X P100DL with Hakkapelittas (not studded) and that vehicle is fine, but has no "snow" mode, so it's traction systems can be annoying.

I plan on trying the Hakkapelitta 10 EV on the Rivian (hopefully in the next few weeks!)

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