Changing a Tire on a Rivian
In this article I'll explain how to change a tire on a Rivian R1T, which is also applicable to their R1S model.
I'll cover using the tire service kit provided by Rivian, and using third-party tools including the?Pro Eagle 3 Ton Off Road Jack,?EV Sportline 1EV jack pad pucks,?eTORK torque wrench, and?TITAN 1/2-Inch Drive x 22mm Non-marring Long Socket.
?? I'll also emphasize safety precautions along the way.
But first, a disclaimer...
DISCLAIMER: This post is for informational purposes only. Use this information at your own risk. Always refer to vendor instructions before using their equipment. I disclaim any liability for damage or injury arising directly or indirectly from any use of this information.
Ok, with that out of the way, let's get started!
First and foremost, when you need to change a tire, find as level and flat a surface as possible. This is especially important if you're using the tire service kit provided by Rivian. The Pro Eagle jack is designed to be used in off-road environments, but still, the more level and flat the surface, the better.
Second, do yourself a favor and buy a good torque wrench and socket for your Rivian vehicle. I recommend the?eTORK torque wrench?and the?TITAN socket.
The eTORK torque wrench is easy to set and use:
?? Rivian advises to torque the lug nuts to 190 nm, which is 140 ft-lbs. Be sure to consult the Rivian owner's guide to confirm this torque value in case it changed since this post was published.
?? eTORK advises to reset the torque value to zero before storing the wrench.
Using the Rivian Tire Service Kit
1. Select?Off-Road?drive mode in the?Highest?Ride Height?setting:
2. Put the vehicle in?Tire change?mode, which is located in?Settings > Vehicle > Service:
When you select?Tire change?mode, a prompt verifies you want to enable it and informs you that ride height adjustment is disabled while Tire change mode is enabled:
Verify Tire change mode is enabled before moving on:
3. Chock the tire diagonally opposite to the tire you're changing: I bought the?MaxxHaul solid rubber heavy duty?chocks:
?? Chocking the diagonally opposite tire is really important—especially if you're changing a rear wheel—because the?parking brake is only on the rear wheels.
?? Be sure to center your chocks on the tire to maximize stability:
?? If you have crossbars installed on the bed, you'll need to remove the rear crossbar to open the spare tire compartment all the way:
4. Open the spare tire compartment all the way:
5. Remove the spare tire wing nut and tire service kit:
6. Remove the tire service kit retention rod to prevent damage to the wheel while removing or replacing it:
7. Remove the spare tire and place it nearby but out of the way:
8. Remove and inspect all tire service components from the storage disk:
?? Ensure all components appear to be in good working condition before proceeding.
9. Loosen the lug nuts:
?? NOTE: I found the lug wrench included with the tire service kit does not have a long enough handle to get good leverage on the lug nuts.
10. Assemble the jack handle using only the hooked segment and the segment without snapping ball so it will fit into the hole of the lug wrench component:
11. Remove the jack point cover by pressing on an edge to pop it out or you may need to use a flathead screwdriver to gently pry it open:
12. Insert the jack adapter in the jack point; you may need to gently bump it with your fist or a rubber mallet:
13. Place the jack in the jack rise base and then position it under the jack adapter and turn the jack handle clockwise to raise the jack:
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14. Raise the jack until the wheel has visibly cleared the ground:
?? Don't place any part of your body under the vehicle while it's lifted.
?? Ensure the jack is properly aligned and is squarely positioned in the jack riser base and into the jack adapter:
15. Finish loosening and remove the lug nuts, then remove the wheel:
16. Lift the new wheel into place on the wheel studs (I'm just replacing the same wheel here because it's not damaged):
?? I found it's easier to lift it onto the studs and then sit on the ground and use your feet to help guide the wheel into position:
17. Reinstall the lug nuts and hand-tighten them; I used the socket by itself to get a better hold on each lug nut because the opening is pretty tight:
18. Lower the jack until the wheel barely touches the ground and doesn't carry the full weight of the vehicle:
19. Tighten the lug nuts in an alternating star pattern using a torque wrench; tighten to 140 ft-lbs (190 nm):
The eTORK torque wrench makes a click sound when the preset torque is reached:
20. Lower the jack and remove it:
21. Reinstall the jack point cover, aligning the clips:
22. Place the removed wheel in the spare compartment:
23. Reinstall the tire service kit retention rod and tire service kit, then hand-tighten the spare tire wing nut.
?? I intentionally placed the tire service kit upside down—or if you ask me, right side up—so that I can more easily access the jack in a situation when I might need the jack for someone else's use but I don't need to change a tire on my vehicle.
24. Close the spare tire compartment, reinstall the crossbar if you removed one to open the compartment, remove the chocks, disable?Tire change?mode, and adjust drive mode as necessary. You may find one of the chocks is too wedged in to remove by hand; if so, you can drive the vehicle in the opposition direction of the chock only an inch or so and that should let remove it.
Using the Pro Eagle Off Road Jack and 1EV Jack Pad Puck
In these steps I'll use the?Pro Eagle 3 Ton Off Road Jack?and the?EV Sportline 1EV jack pad pucks?instead of the Rivian tire service kit:
These steps replace using the Rivian tire service kit, after opening the jack point cover in step 11 above:
1. Insert the 1EV jack puck in the jack point; you may need to gently bump it with your fist or a rubber mallet:
2. Assemble the Pro Eagle jack, ensuring the extension keys line up under the tabs in the jack:
3. Adjust the extension height according to your terrain conditions and place the rubber jack pad at the top of the extension; on a flat level surface I needed to lower it to the lowest setting for it to fit under the puck:
4. Rotate the Pro Eagle jack handle counter-clockwise and pump the jack 10-12 times; this will pressurize the system and pump out any trapped air. Then rotate the handle clockwise to tighten it:
5. Position the jack beneath the jack pad puck at an angle:
?? The Pro Eagle jack travels in an arc as you raise the jack. The jack needs to be able to move under the load while lifting, so position it at approximately a 45° angle to the vehicle.
6. Raise the jack until the wheel has visibly cleared the ground:
Continue with the steps in?Using the Rivian Tire Change Kit.
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