R1S pulls hard to the right on acceleration. SC says this is normal...thoughts?

[higrob]

Picked up a 2026 R1s in September. The alignment was off initially with both the vehicle and steering wheel going to the left. Took it in to the service center who then aligned the vehicle. While the R1s was there they had a fire at the SC so while I was relieved that the truck wasn't involved in the fire, I was disappointed that it now pulls hard to the right upon acceleration. Took it directly back to the SC and talked to the tech who stated that that is normal when they have the alignment calibrated in the "green zone" on the alignment sheet. I explained to the tech that it did not previously pull to the right and my other R1S has never done that either. Fast forward after another week in the SC they are saying that pulling to the right on acceleration is normal and that I will need to pick it up while the general manager is there along with the lead tech so that we can discuss this being normal. My other R1S is a tri while this one is a dual motor so they are not exactly the same but they both still only have one motor for the front and to me it seems not only ridiculous that they would claim that this is normal, but it also seems like a safety hazard. It almost seems like the right side is receiving more power from the front motor than the left. Has anyone else had similar issues or been told that this is normal??

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[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

On level ground? Not normal.

 

[higrob]

Yes, on level ground.

 

[Vik]

Yes, my 2025 R1S Perf Dual Motor with 22" wheels had this issue on delivery and it has resurfaced recently when I did a tire rotation. There are several others with similar issues (most with 22" wheels and Pirelli's). Some say the OEM Pirelli Scorpion MS tires can be defective. In my case, Rivian is blaming the issue on the Pirelli tires and won't replace the tires under Rivian warranty. They are forcing me to go to Pirelli, who is making me jump through hoops.

 

[higrob]

Yes, my 2025 R1S Perf Dual Motor with 22" wheels had this issue on delivery and it has resurfaced recently when I did a tire rotation. There are several others with similar issues (most with 22" wheels and Pirelli's). Some say the OEM Pirelli Scorpion MS tires can be defective. In my case, Rivian is blaming the issue on the Pirelli tires and won't replace the tires under Rivian warranty. They are forcing me to go to Pirelli, who is making me jump through hoops.

They said they put new tires on the front at the first try at the alignment but they sure don't look like new tires. maybe their "new tires" could be the issue. Although it's only when accelerating. Once up to speed the car goes straight.

 

[Zoidz]

How hard of an acceleration? Full launch? Half pedal? Repeatable/predictable on different surfaces? All of these variables matter.

On a dual motor, Rivian uses a simple open differential and they have no direct control of power left vs. right. Under ideal circumstances, power is delivered equally to both tires. But if one tire has less traction than the other, the tire with less traction will receive more power leading to an imbalance. This is part of the reason that a defective tire could cause this problem. To counter wheel spin on a dual, they apply the brake to the low traction spinning wheel. A combination of these factors could be causing the pull to right.

Also, under hard acceleration, the suspension geometry could be changing (which should not be happening) which could appear as pulling to the right. RIvian has had issues with improperly torqued drive train bolts in the past.....

 

[Vik]

They said they put new tires on the front at the first try at the alignment but they sure don't look like new tires. maybe their "new tires" could be the issue. Although it's only when accelerating. Once up to speed the car goes straight.

Tires have DOT numbers which indicate date of manufacture. You can check these to see if they did change the tires.

Yes, my pulling occurs only under acceleration and deceleration only. You may need another alignment.

 

[shamoo]

What suspension height are you in when you are accelerating hard?

For me (2023 Quad R1S), if I'm in standard/all purpose, I will have to keep the steering wheel turned 20% for the vehicle to track straight if I'm accelerating hard.

In sport mode (lowest), it does not do this.

It has done this from the day I owned it and I attributed it to small variances in suspension and tire contact patch as the front lifts. This happens with my OEM 22" and Pirellis as well as my 20" KO2s and RAM 2363 wheels.

 

[higrob]

How hard of an acceleration? Full launch? Half pedal? Repeatable/predictable on different surfaces? All of these variables matter.

On a dual motor, Rivian uses a simple open differential and they have no direct control of power left vs. right. Under ideal circumstances, power is delivered equally to both tires. But if one tire has less traction than the other, the tire with less traction will receive more power leading to an imbalance. This is part of the reason that a defective tire could cause this problem. To counter wheel spin on a dual, they apply the brake to the low traction spinning wheel. A combination of these factors could be causing the pull to right.

Also, under hard acceleration, the suspension geometry could be changing (which should not be happening) which could appear as pulling to the right. RIvian has had issues with improperly torqued drive train bolts in the past.....

It happens at all levels of accelleration every time on every surface that I've tried it on which amounts to asphalt on 2 highways, concrete on another highway and several parking lots although I haven't tried a full launch or it would likely go into the ditch.

 

[higrob]

What suspension height are you in when you are accelerating hard?

For me (2023 Quad R1S), if I'm in standard/all purpose, I will have to keep the steering wheel turned 20% for the vehicle to track straight if I'm accelerating hard.

In sport mode (lowest), it does not do this.

It has done this from the day I owned it and I attributed it to small variances in suspension and tire contact patch as the front lifts. This happens with my OEM 22" and Pirellis as well as my 20" KO2s and RAM 2363 wheels.

I've only tried it in all purpose. I'll try the other modes when I go to pick it up at the SC. Thanks for the info.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Yes, my 2025 R1S Perf Dual Motor with 22" wheels had this issue on delivery and it has resurfaced recently when I did a tire rotation. There are several others with similar issues (most with 22" wheels and Pirelli's). Some say the OEM Pirelli Scorpion MS tires can be defective. In my case, Rivian is blaming the issue on the Pirelli tires and won't replace the tires under Rivian warranty. They are forcing me to go to Pirelli, who is making me jump through hoops.

It's not manufactured by Rivian, so it falls under Pirelli's warranty.

 

[iansriv]

That explanation doesn't make sense. How can it be normal to pull to the right under hard acceleration? There would be so many people driving off the roads. I've driven my R1S, my friend's R1S and a few loaner R1Ts and never had this issue. I've never had a car that did that in hard acceleration.

 

[Vik]

It's not manufactured by Rivian, so it falls under Pirelli's warranty.

Sure, but I didn't buy the tires. Rivian did.

 

[Zoidz]

That explanation doesn't make sense. How can it be normal to pull to the right under hard acceleration? There would be so many people driving off the roads. I've driven my R1S, my friend's R1S and a few loaner R1Ts and never had this issue. I've never had a car that did that in hard acceleration.

In the automotive world, it's a well known "phenomenon" that's called Torque Steer. You can feel it in some front wheel drive vehicles. I experienced driving a friend's Saab 9-3 convertible years ago. Whether it's normal or not is debatable because there were/are plenty of production cars that ship with "normal" torque steer (Link)

As far as Rivian goes, I've felt it slightly and randomly in my R1S on infrequent full launches. In my R1S I believe it is due to road and tire variables, not a vehicle fault.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Sure, but I didn't buy the tires. Rivian did.

Doesn't matter who bought it. "Manufacturer's Warranty". You are not the tire manufacturer, nor is Rivian. Pirelli is.

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