20" Inch Michelin Defender LTX MS/2 all-season tire replacements for 20" ATs - considerable range improvement impact

[mikehmb]

Did you consider the Defender LTX Platinum version that has been discussed? I have the original Defender version on my Kia EV6 GT-L that has been awesome. The SCREAMER Pirelli's on my R1S have to go.

I chose not to go with the Platinums due to the range loss. They look good and reports are that they are very quiet, but efficiency is similar to the OE ATs from what has been posted here.

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[AllInev]

Thanks for posting and sharing all this info. Please, please keep us updated. I would only consider switching from the OEM 21" wheels and tires if I was confident I could get something as efficient and quiet.

I spent slightly more than a month with a loaner R1T with 20" OEM wheels and tires and was very unhappy with the noise and inefficiency.

 

[racekarl]

I chose not to go with the Platinums due to the range loss. They look good and reports are that they are very quiet, but efficiency is similar to the OE ATs from what has been posted here.

Other posts here also indicate they aren't great in slippery conditions.

 

[COdogman]

I just read through this entire thread and there wasn’t a single pic of these unicorn tires

 

[KeithPleas]

Did you consider the Defender LTX Platinum version that has been discussed? I have the original Defender version on my Kia EV6 GT-L that has been awesome. The SCREAMER Pirelli's on my R1S have to go.

I've been waiting for this tire for almost a year - love the original Defender on my GX470 - and recall there was an issue with with the tire shops not having this option for a Rivian. How are folks getting these tires installed?

I just checked the Costco configurator and they have no option for 275/60R20 - and even if I select the 275/65R20 they show "no tires".

Likewise with the Tire Rack configurator:

I also note that there are THREE 277/60R20 Michelins - the Platinum (which I am not particularly interested in), the LTX M/S2 - and the apparently identical XLT A/S2 - Costco does have both tires with a $5 difference in price (though neither are configurable for a Rivian):

 

[Mathme]

@KeithPleas - On the Tire Rack site, search by tire size, not by vehicle...you'll see many many more tires listed there. There's about 75 tires in that size and you can sort by many factors (I usually start with load rating)...

 

[KeithPleas]

@KeithPleas - On the Tire Rack site, search by tire size, not by vehicle...you'll see many many more tires listed there. There's about 75 tires in that size and you can sort by many factors (I usually start with load rating)...

Right - but I recall that Costco / Tire Rack will refuse to install these on a Rivian. How are folks getting around this?

 

[jeeden]

It's important that everyone here understands exactly what tire they are talking about at any given time. There are the Michelin Platinums, the original Michelin Defenders that are technically not the correct load/speed (115) rating for the Rivian and then there are the newer Michelin Defender MS/2 with the technically correct load/speed rating (116) there is a dedicated thread about each of these in nearly every size.

 

[mikehmb]

Right - but I recall that Costco / Tire Rack will refuse to install these on a Rivian. How are folks getting around this?

I went with Discount Tire / Americas Tire (here in CA). will let you select them and attest that you know the risks, THEN the store will verify that it's the correct load range.

Costco makes you select the "I know what I'm doing" box but also states that it's ultimately up to the service manager.

Discount Tire matched Costco pricing, btw. And I could get them done same day vs. waiting a month for an appt @ Costco.

 

[Bullwinkle]

Does Michelin make 21s?

Yes

 

[mikehmb]

@COdogman made me take these, so here you all go ...

Not chunky, but in sport mode, esp lowest, has a great look to it. In regular mode, it's just A Rivian. IMO the 22s frame the vehicle better with road tires.

 

[COdogman]

@COdogman made me take these, so here you all go ...

Not chunky, but in sport mode, esp lowest, has a great look to it. In regular mode, it's just A Rivian. IMO the 22s frame the vehicle better with road tires.

I made you go outside for 5 minutes. You're welcome Bonus points if you take Long Dog for a walk while you're out there!

 

[Aardvark]

I'm going to go this route when it's time to replace the stock 20" ATs.
The ATs did well in last year's Colorado winter, but met their match in 18" of wet, unplowed snow. That was when I got to try out my week-old traction boards to get out the ditch I slid into sideways.
I now also have Snow Socks.
Traction in moderate snow is a big deal for me also. I have been impressed with Michelin AS on other cars.
I appreciate all the info on this thread.

 

[Treebeard]

Some info for those on the fence about going to all-seasons ...

I want to preface this by saying it's very much too early to draw long-term conclusions, but as expected, the Michelins are providing considerably better efficiency than the AT OE tires.

This is not a surprise at all. What -is- surprising is that I kinda like how they look, despite being a long-term AT tire person on all my other trucks.

I was seeing 2.23mi/kWh lifetime on the OE tires. Seeing over 2.9 now, over around 30 miles, though that will reduce considerably over time for sure.

15-min gauge has visibly improved as well. The data shown there doesn't match what's in the net usage stats on trip meter. IMO the graph is more feel-good than reliable.

My guess is that I'm going to land on around 2.5 in mixed driving, and back to 2.75+ on road trips like I had with the OE 21s before I swapped to the 20s. I would consistently see >350 miles in conserve on the highway with the 21s, if the winds weren't crazy.

I just put in the 21” version. Hoping for the same.

 

[R1TCntrlMaIzzy]

The 22s look very nice on Izzy.

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