On most new cars, spending more money on wheels usually gets you bigger rims. For example, it costs at least $1800 to opt for 24-inch wheels over the base 22-inch wheels on a 2027 Cadillac Escalade. For an Audi Q5, it is $800 to go from the base 18-inch wheels to 19-inch ones or $1600 to get 20-inch wheels. This is not the case with the Rivian R2. The optional $1,000 wheels are 20-inch, instead of the standard free 21-inch wheels. However, here’s why you might be better off spending more upfront for the smaller wheels.
Does Upgrading Wheels Get You More Range?
You might be thinking about range. For many EVs, the larger wheel yields a significant reduction in range. [Ed Note: Resident suspension engineer Huibert Mees wrote an excellent deep dive on this very subject! – MS] The Lexus RZ 450e, for example, loses between 7 and 36 miles of range when sizing up from its base 18-inch to its two 20-inch wheel options. It is a similar story for the Tesla Model Y Standard RWD, which loses 18 miles of range going from 18-inch to 19-inch wheels. Impressively, the BMW iX xDrive60 is available with wheels ranging from 20-inch to 23-inch, at every integer in between. The smallest 20-inch wheels deliver an impressive 364 miles of range, while the largest 23-inch wheels only manage 318 miles of range. The 21-inch and 22-inch options perform as expected and provide less range as size increases.
Counterintuitively, the smaller Rivian R2 wheels aren’t more expensive because of range; in fact, the all-terrain tires that come on the smaller wheels deliver 23 miles less range, per the EPA. [Ed Note: That translates to 330 miles of range with 21-inch wheels and all-season tires, but 307 miles of range with 20-inch wheels and all-terrain tires. -MS]
[Ed note: Everyone welcome Benton Kalani, a new freelancer and EV nut who will be writing about the electric car world. -DT]
As explained by BMW, here’s how wheel sizes typically work in relation to range:
Bigger Wheels Mean Lower Range:
- Larger diameter wheels require more energy to accelerate and maintain speed.
- Bigger wheels also have a greater rolling resistance, which means the electric motor has to work harder to overcome the resistance and move the vehicle forward.
- Larger wheels and tires are typically heavier, which increases the overall vehicle weight. This additional weight requires more energy consumption to move the vehicle.
Smaller Wheels Mean Higher Range:
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Smaller diameter wheels require less energy to accelerate and maintain speed.
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Smaller wheels and tires generally have lower rolling resistance, reducing the energy required to move the vehicle.
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Lighter wheels and tires also contribute to a lower overall vehicle weight, improving energy efficiency and increasing the vehicle’s range.
Why Would Anyone Pay More For Smaller Wheels That Are Less Efficient?
Besides the obvious advantage the all-terrain tires would have when traversing different terrains? Replacement cost. Currently, there is only one tire available in the 255/55R21 XL size that fits R2’s 21-inch wheels. The Original Equipment (OE) Pirelli Scorpion MS tire (below) is what Rivian specs from the factory. And, at least for now, those tires are rather pricey.
Compare that to the OE 255/60R20 XL BFGoodrich Trail-Terrain T/A+ tires (below) on the 20-inch wheels, and the larger tires are over $650 more for a set of four (not taking into account any promotional pricing).
If that price delta persists, the more expensive tire/wheel option could pay for itself after two sets of tire changes. Furthermore, the 20-inch size shows at least twelve other tires to choose from, including highway all-seasons, off-road all-terrain, and proper snow tires. With the smaller tire, there is at least the option to tailor the tire choice to one’s driving needs. Here are more options:
This issue is so significant that Jason Fenske of Engineering Explained calls out wheel choice and tire options as his top two concerns with the Rivian R2 in his video review.
One user over on Rivian Forums chose the 20-inch wheels to preserve optionality in tire choice:
“I went with the 20″ AT, despite the reduced range. Having only a single option, poorly reviewed tire with no M+S designation was a nonstarter for Colorado winters.”
What Are The Downsides To The Upgraded Wheels?
Besides range, there could be concern that the knobbier tread pattern of the smaller all-terrain tires might have other sacrifices in on-road performance. However, in Car and Driver’s instrumented testing, the 20-inch all-terrains surprised by outbraking, outaccelerating, and outgripping (on the skidpad) the stock 21-inch all-seasons. Subjectively, Car and Driver even found the smaller “magic tires” to ride better too, which makes sense given the taller sidewall. Motor Trend also tested the R2 on both sets of tires and had similar results. They explain the all-terrains’ unexpectedly strong on-road performance to its softer tread compound.
Additionally, I live in the Northeast, where we have this annual event called winter. While the 20-inch BFGoodrich tires are not three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) rated, other non-Rivian spec replacement versions of the Trail-Terrain T/A+ tire do carry the 3PMSF label. So there is some basis to believe the all-terrain tire option will perform better in the snow. The Rivian-specific tires have a lower starting tread depth and higher speed rating, among potentially other differences in rubber formulation.
It may seem counterintuitive to spend an extra $1000 for smaller wheels that deliver worse range, but for future R2 owners who plan on driving their car for a while, they may come out ahead in the long run. Buyers who choose to save their cash and stick with the stock 21-inch should not be too verklempt, though. Motor Trend reports that the larger tires deliver more responsive steering feel and less road noise. The added range and efficiency may be nice on road trips where those attributes translate to potentially fewer and faster charging stops, too.
Top Graphic Image: Rivian
Is there a different brand’s wheel with the same bolt pattern that can be swapped over? Go find out for us.
1) buy smaller wheel.
2) buy set of all seasons that are available on that size.
3) sell OEM tires to recoup cost.
4) enjoy increased range, more comfortable ride and better future replacement.
I’m not sure larger and smaller as descriptives help here.
So you have two objects both more or less toroidal ie doughnut shaped.
They have the same outer diameter, the same width, and the only substantial difference is that one has a larger void in the center and probably weighs less.
How is the one with the bigger hole but less actual dough or tire considered to be “larger”?
If someone were selling doughnuts saying “new and improved- now with bigger holes!” They would have a lot of nerve. Or chutzpah if they were bagels.
Aside from that, I’m kind of puzzled about the price difference. The only thing I can think of is that somebody decided that the customers wouldn’t believe that smaller rims and bigger side walls were better unless they charge more money for them because it’s obvious that the rims themselves cost less to source and tires cost less as well.
I like big sidewalls and I cannot lie !
I’m looking at this exact scenario on my EV6 GT. The factory 21″ wheels don’t ride terribly, but the tire choices are limited and very expensive. I’m looking at going to 19″ wheels (the smallest that will clear the big brake calipers) when it comes time to replace the tires again.