The vehicle is designed to function off road with those wheels and brakes. Not to mention, good luck stopping a 7,000lb vehicle without a big brake system. By adding to, or taking away, you’re likely to decrease the capability more so than you would improve It.Considering many trucks have cameras and sensors with a ton of aftermarket support that Integrates with the functions probably eventually there will be aftermarket bumpers, brush guards,…. Although those things will greatly increase usage (and reduce range).
My biggest aftermarket wish is that someone does a brake swap to get rid of the (ridiculous) 20” rims and fits a more appropriate 17”.
I don’t know if you did the illustration but the wheel wells would have to be much larger to fit those tires. In the real world that truck would have almost no suspension travel and the tires would trash the body from major rubbing and it likely wouldn’t steer.
Mild off road with 20’s (as in what can be done in a crossover/Subaru) Anything more that that and you are high risk of a pinch flat.The vehicle is designed to function off road with those wheels and brakes. Not to mention, good luck stopping a 7,000lb vehicle without a big brake system. By adding to, or taking away, you’re likely to decrease the capability more so than you would improve It.
There’s no way you maintained a straight face while typing that.Rivians choice to go with 20’s on the “off road” package was purely for looks, 17’s would perform better in every metric: on road, off road, acceleration, braking, grip,… I’m disappointed that they are wrapped up in the (subjective) aesthetics and showboating, over what would be functionally better. Like 20’s, 21’s, 22’s and the camp kitchen…. (Should have called it the tailgate kitchen.
Why not? It’s true. The only place 20” rims perform better is the fast & furious movies and video games.There’s no way you maintained a straight face while typing that.
lol, no. Sidewall flex may be useful when rock crawling…. But it is not helpful for street performance/handling.Why not? It’s true. The only place 20” rims perform better is the fast & furious movies and video games.
You are wrong.lol, no. Sidewall flex may be useful when rock crawling…. But it is not helpful for street performance/handling.
All I’m saying is it could be much more capable. I see so many trucks on 20’s every summer with pinch flats from one rock on a mild trail. I wouldn’t feel comfortable with it anywhere that would requiring airing down (sand, mud, lose rock).The reality (based on the day to day usage for all trucks sold in the US) is that 95+% of the R1T's usage will not be rock crawling, so the decision by Rivian to go with a less-chunky but still capable AT was a good one in my view - particularly for an EV with a high mileage bar for each charge. There is no doubt that efficiency and "overall" performance is top of mind. The R1T (unmodified) is far more capable than any crossover or a Subaru when considering ground clearance, 4 motors, multiple drive modes, wading depth, underbody protection. Overall, it astounds me how capable this truck actually is straight off the assembly line with ZERO mods.
The R1T wil never be a rock crawler. Heck 1/2 ton trucks are never used as rock crawlers. In my LX I avoid rock crawling . Rock crawling is pretty much exclusive to SWB (as in 2 door) wranglers, ans some heavily modded older (with duel solid axles) 4 runner/Tacoma.I dunno. I've never experienced a pinch flat on sand or mild rock, and I think the driver's own experience and their understanding of the gear they are running (based on the terrain that they are on) likely has a lot to do with it too. Maybe I am just overly conservative in off-road conditions.
FWIW - I'm not disagreeing with you on your point that a 17" rim with beefy AT's and more sidewall would perform better while rock crawling!
Subaru is now the brand most commonly taken off road, ~1/3 of owners report off road use. And don’t forget They have dominated rally for decades.An R1 beats the pants off a Subaru offroad in difficult terrain. The 20" are fine. Not ideal, but good enough to support the considerable off-road capabilities of the vehicle to the extent that most people would use it.
Semantics, you know what I meant. I have no desire to take my R1T rock crawling ever, but will enjoy some off-road and backroad adventures with my 20 AT's. I think you need to understand that from a business perspective, Rivian was probably looking to strike a good balance between solid functionality for a broad range of applications with the 20's and AT's, plus efficiency, plus good looks too. It's what will allow them to sell more vehicles. Turning the needle in the other direction and providing a more niche, off road-oriented application would diminish the published specs the general public and prospective buyers would see, and I could see that creating a backlash (given that the R1T is electric). This is just a perspective (not right or wrong), but I'm sure it was a discussion point when they put together OEM wheel and tire options (and thought about revenue generation).The R1T wil never be a rock crawler. Heck 1/2 ton trucks are never used as rock crawlers. In my LX I avoid rock crawling . Rock crawling is pretty much exclusive to SWB (as in 2 door) wranglers, ans some heavily modded older (with duel solid axles) 4 runner/Tacoma.
Subaru's have no clearance; they may go off-road in a dirt road or field, but a few rocks are decent ascent, or decent forget it. Most states there not even popular; others are not. They have no clearance; few people put lift kits on Subarus, and they will never run circles around an R1T with four motors, a Jeep, or a new Bronco. Rivian has an engine on every single wheel. I have riven Hummer H1s in the military and H2s for years. Live in rural Colorado now. Rallys and off-roading are entirely different; even 911's dominate rallies, but I wouldn't drive them in 3 feet of water to cross a creek.Subaru is not the brand most commonly taken off road, ~1/3 of owners report off road use. And don't forget They have dominated rally for decades.
Up here they have taken over the light to moderate off road scene (mostly crosstreck). Just here in the last couple years Subarus are the most common vehicle I see at the difficult to get to trail heads. A lifted crosstreck on ATs will run circles around an R1T (and my heavily modded LX570) in most off road situations people get into: sand, fire roads, …. They have a short WB, are light weight, narrower, have one of the best AWD systems out there. Only place they struggle is if they get a wheel off the ground.
I’m in rural Alaska and Subaru is the #1 vehicle brand up here. Looks like Subaru Outback is #3 in Colorado.Subaru's have no clearance, that may go off-road in a direct road or field, but a few rocks are rapid ascent or decent forget it. Most states there not even popular; others are not. They have no clearance; few people lift Suburus and will never run circles around an R1T with four motors, one on each wheel. Driven Hummer H1s in the military and H2s for years. Live in rural Colorado now.