Sponsored

R1T spinning out on Donner pass

Lrak1973

Well-Known Member
First Name
Karl
Joined
Feb 1, 2023
Threads
1
Messages
95
Reaction score
113
Location
Arvada, Colorado
Vehicles
2005/6 Toyota Highlander Hybrid; Forest Green R1S
Occupation
Attorney
What's the best deal for a dedicated snow wheelset? Evsportline wheelset is basically $4600 with tax and shipping.
I went with Atomic Wheels A10s 20" plus Blizzaks. AW sometimes puts out a good sale price, so I think mine were somewhere around $2100-$2300 (right now $615 per), plus 4x400 for the tires.
Sponsored

 

bigsky

Well-Known Member
First Name
RNS
Joined
Jan 8, 2024
Threads
8
Messages
537
Reaction score
348
Location
NW
Vehicles
2024 Rivian R1S, 2020 Tesla Model S Performance, 2022 Tesla Model Y Performance
Occupation
RNS
Experiencing that now here in Denver, where we just got a few inches of snow that has now compacted and gotten icy in patches. I had Falken AT3W's on my old Toyota's, and they were perfectly fine in this stuff. Obviously no match for dedicated winters (which I have on my Tesla and feels like a damn cheat-code), but they never left me feeling uncomfortable. The Pirelli's are straight-up scary on ice, to the point where I'm shopping right now for replacements.
Can you share some more insight into your winter driving and winter tires experience?
I have Pirelli Sottozero 3 winters on my Tesla MYP. While I have not taken any long winter trips, at least locally, those tires seem to handle quite well in snow. Not good for ice?
What about studded tires, have you tried them? How do they handle in snow?
My old ICE SUV, which I use only in winter here, has Nokian, well, Nordman studded tires. It does very well in ICE. Seem fine in snow also. Looking at what winters there might be out there for my Rivian 21s. Thank you.
 

RP73

New Member
First Name
Richard
Joined
Dec 17, 2024
Threads
0
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
Location
seattle
Vehicles
R1S
I went with Atomic Wheels A10s 20" plus Blizzaks. AW sometimes puts out a good sale price, so I think mine were somewhere around $2100-$2300 (right now $615 per), plus 4x400 for the tires.
 

RP73

New Member
First Name
Richard
Joined
Dec 17, 2024
Threads
0
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
Location
seattle
Vehicles
R1S
Did you have to change sensors, or anything on the
Vehicle? What specifically is required if you change wheels and tires?
Currently I’m running 20 inch wheels, Pirelli Scorpion 225/60 R 18 on my 2024 R1S
I drive 2 different mountain passes.
I do carry snow socks.
 

Sponsored

bigsky

Well-Known Member
First Name
RNS
Joined
Jan 8, 2024
Threads
8
Messages
537
Reaction score
348
Location
NW
Vehicles
2024 Rivian R1S, 2020 Tesla Model S Performance, 2022 Tesla Model Y Performance
Occupation
RNS
Did you have to change sensors, or anything on the
Vehicle? What specifically is required if you change wheels and tires?
Currently I’m running 20 inch wheels, Pirelli Scorpion 225/60 R 18 on my 2024 R1S
I drive 2 different mountain passes.
I do carry snow socks.
Snow socks?
Mountain passes East and West in my neck of the woods, thou shalt have tire chains at the ready when travelling over passes or else. So says the long arm of the law!
 

Tahoeblue

Member
First Name
Ben
Joined
Jan 3, 2025
Threads
1
Messages
9
Reaction score
15
Location
Lake Tahoe, CA
Vehicles
R1S
Occupation
Trouble maker
I have a lot of experience on that pass - it can get hairy in an instant and there are some bends/curves/grades that make a meal out of less experienced or ill equipped drivers. I’ve seen guys in Camry’s and flip flops in a blizzard standing in the snow bank with a confused look on their face.

I installed Nokian R5 275/50/R22 on our R1S. They work great for me up in Tahoe.

All that said, I go back to advice my dad gave me many years ago about driving in Ice/snow conditions - pretend there is an egg behind your brake and accelerator. Granted, that was for an ICE rig, but the concept still applies…
 
Last edited:

Seano

Well-Known Member
First Name
Sean
Joined
Jun 19, 2020
Threads
6
Messages
128
Reaction score
133
Location
Nor Cal
Vehicles
Range Rover, Porsche Box, BMW Wagon, Jeep Wrangler
Clubs
 
I, too, drive that pass routinely and often in those conditions (but only with snows!) and love the advice Tahoeblue's dad gave him.

Also installed 275/60R20 Nokian Haka R5 SUV XL mounted to MSW wheels. Wheels, tires & TPMS (mounted & balanced). They were $2900 delivered from TireRack. Have the same tires for my ICE SUV, which I've used for years. Had previously had great success with Blizzaks, too - but like the Nokian's better on the SUVs.

You can definitely get snow tires to break loose (of course). There are great comparo videos everywhere on the 'net so you can see the difference between all seasons, AT (even 3Peak AT's) and winter tires. There is a real difference that can make a big difference when driving. I have Nokian Outpost AT tires mounted to a Jeep - they are officially 3Peak Mtn Snowflake tires, but don't hold a candle to the Hakas in the snow.
 

ndmiller

Well-Known Member
First Name
Noah
Joined
Nov 19, 2023
Threads
9
Messages
905
Reaction score
1,067
Location
Atlanta
Vehicles
23 R1T Silver (The AG)
Occupation
Retailler
Clubs
 
Unprepared for the conditions with poor snow driving abilities.
 

Singletracker

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 10, 2022
Threads
32
Messages
929
Reaction score
870
Location
Nevada
Vehicles
2023 R1T quad motor w/AT 20”
What's the best deal for a dedicated snow wheelset? Evsportline wheelset is basically $4600 with tax and shipping.
I’m mounting my Blizzaks on a set of MSW Type 52’s this next week. They were about $275/wheel, at Discount Tire/Tire Rack.
 

Sponsored

R1S "Chips"

New Member
First Name
Jeff
Joined
Jan 9, 2025
Threads
0
Messages
4
Reaction score
2
Vehicles
2023 R1S
Occupation
Physician
Snow socks?
Mountain passes East and West in my neck of the woods, thou shalt have tire chains at the ready when travelling over passes or else. So says the long arm of the law!
Snow socks are approved by Caltrans. I've heard that traction is comparable to chains, but I have no experience nor have I really looked into it. I've been driving over the pass into Tahoe for years. I've used chains on occasion with different vehicles. In my personal experience using dedicated snow tires, I've not found any additional benefit using chains. This is my second season going to Tahoe with my R1S with 20AT wheels. Traction is okay but considerably worse than with my 2008 Volvo XC90 with snow tires. I was hoping to avoid getting a second set of wheels, but after sliding on some black ice after Christmas, I will probably end up getting snows.

https://dot.ca.gov/-/media/dot-media/documents/chainrequire-a11y.pdf
 

tcole

Well-Known Member
First Name
Travis
Joined
May 30, 2023
Threads
8
Messages
156
Reaction score
137
Location
Carnelian Bay, CA
Vehicles
2023 Rivian R1T, 2022 Ford Bronco, 2022 Zero FXE
This R1T was probably driving too fast, and likely the stock ATs, which I doubt are great in the snow.


Everyone wants to think their vehicle capabilities make all the difference in the snow. That way you can brag about your vehicle being better than someone else's.



But it really comes down to tires and not driving too fast for conditions.



After winter tires and driving slow then you have AWD/4X4 and ground clearance.


Around Tahoe I do see a lot of low clearance vehicles stuck in a Safeway parking lot in town.

In front of my house I have a slight hill, and I see all kinds of things not make it up that hill. 4x4 F350s, Cars, SUVs, whatever. The common denominator is the wrong tires for the conditions and then driving too fast. (Though the UPS driver is pretty good at getting up by getting a running start, so speed can help going uphill, as long as you don't have to turn!)



I was late putting my winter ties on my R1T this year, and had to drive to the tire shop on the stock 22" Pirelli all-seasons and they only had about 5/32nds left on them. There was a bit of snow on the ground and I couldn't get up that same hill in front of my house. It's never been an issue in any amount of snow with my winter tires on (Nokian Hakka R5).


We also have a Bronco and just keep that with the stick AT tires, it slide about a foot when I backed out of the driveway yesterday. I certainly have to take it a lot easier with the Bronco because of those tires. They are OK, but not great at all.
 
Last edited:

bigsky

Well-Known Member
First Name
RNS
Joined
Jan 8, 2024
Threads
8
Messages
537
Reaction score
348
Location
NW
Vehicles
2024 Rivian R1S, 2020 Tesla Model S Performance, 2022 Tesla Model Y Performance
Occupation
RNS
Snow socks are approved by Caltrans. I've heard that traction is comparable to chains, but I have no experience nor have I really looked into it. I've been driving over the pass into Tahoe for years. I've used chains on occasion with different vehicles. In my personal experience using dedicated snow tires, I've not found any additional benefit using chains. This is my second season going to Tahoe with my R1S with 20AT wheels. Traction is okay but considerably worse than with my 2008 Volvo XC90 with snow tires. I was hoping to avoid getting a second set of wheels, but after sliding on some black ice after Christmas, I will probably end up getting snows.

https://dot.ca.gov/-/media/dot-media/documents/chainrequire-a11y.pdf
Very useful info. Thank you.
 

Mathme

Well-Known Member
First Name
Matt
Joined
Jul 25, 2022
Threads
3
Messages
1,067
Reaction score
1,348
Location
Los Altos, CA
Vehicles
R1T: El Cap, OC, 20AT, Off road package
Occupation
High Tech
The software in these trucks can help them compensate for a variety of situations however, they can NOT compensate for the laws of physics with a 7400lb vehicle and an IDIOT w/AWD who feels entitled on icy roads. Dedicated winter tires only help the truck compensate. I've driven for lots of years in the Sierra's at 7000+ feet and the road conditions can and do change quickly. The best defense is to slow down as if you have too much speed going into that corner and those 7400lbs start to slide...whelp...physics takes over.

CHP/CalTrans does have chain controls on these roads however, I've seen them flag through Escalades with 22" summer tires on them...so it's hit or miss.
Sponsored

 
 





Top