Latest range maximization recommendations?

[shimmy limm]

Our R1T seems to get 5-10% better mileage per kWh in Conserve mode.

Almost all of that advantage, though, seems to be due to Front Wheel Drive operation. The Low ride height (which causes uneven tire wear) seems to be only a small fraction of the savings with Conserve mode.

To get the benefits of front wheel drive, without the tire wear problems of low ride height, here's what we do:

On both our R1's, unless we're in a low-ceiling parking garage, we switch ride height back to Standard whenever we notice it's in Low. Usually that's needed only once or twice a day.

Best to all!

This is exactly what I’ve noticed on our gen 1 R1T quad. For road trips I use conserve mode and put the suspension in standard to avoid abnormal tire wear and to get a smoother ride. Staying a knot or two above the 70mph speed limit usually nets a 7-10% efficiency increase over “all purpose” mode. YMMV.

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[Wiffle]

Wow - this is great info...apparently my subscribe to thread didn't work, so I thought no one had chimed in yet!

Sounds like the consensus is Conserve mode once at highway speed and maybe AS tires instead of the ATs I've been using. Need to figure out if my ATs are worth anything for resale, they've got 12k miles on them.

Is there a reason the Low or Lowest settings for ride height lead to abnormal tire wear?

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Wow - this is great info...apparently my subscribe to thread didn't work, so I thought no one had chimed in yet!

Sounds like the consensus is Conserve mode once at highway speed and maybe AS tires instead of the ATs I've been using. Need to figure out if my ATs are worth anything for resale, they've got 12k miles on them.

Is there a reason the Low or Lowest settings for ride height lead to abnormal tire wear?

Suspension geometry in relation to ride height. The lower it goes, the more splayed out the tires get as suspension arms pivot and swing up and out. The tires become less square to the ground and contact patch shifts more and more off center: uneven wear. Plus, Conserve is FWD, dragging well over 7k+ lbs of mass on acceleration and fighting/scrubbing against all that momentum during deceleration.

 

[Wiffle]

That makes a ton of sense, thanks for the detailed response!

 

[mkg3]

Is there a reason the Low or Lowest settings for ride height lead to abnormal tire wear?

Its over stated. My R1S w/22" AS tires now 44K miles. 95%+ in Low or Lowest in Intermediate and Firm suspension setting. Had to replace the OE tires at 17K due to sidewall blister - and one tire rotation, before replacement to the set of Michelin Defender LTX M/S2. Now 3 rotations on Michelins.

In all cases, even tire wear across the tread. With 26k miles on the current tires, still at roughly 50% of original tread (new ~11/32", now ~6/32"). Some people worry about inside of the tire wearing faster than other due to negative camber. It is so slightly negative that it is about neutral.

I am used to softer tires and replacing them at roughly 30k miles so for me, this is amazing tire life.

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