19" vs 20" Wheels

[NomNomNomiS]

Hello,
I recently bought a pre-owned Lucid Air GT 2023 with 20" wheels. I was considering swapping to 19" for a longer range, but was wondering if it's worth it given that the car is now 3 years old. When I got the car it was at 426 miles @ 100%. Would anyone happen to know how many more miles I'd get if I went with 19" wheels @ 100%? I know there's some battery degradation because it's 2023, but I'm curious if it's just better to stick with 20" vs 19" value wise if I'm not gaining much more miles. The plan would basically run out the 20", then either replace them with new 20" or bite the bullet and pay for the change to 19". I'm also thinking in the long run 19" could be cheaper replacements, but the upfront cost, not sure if that's justified if the miles increase is minimal.

 

[Need4Sleep]

If not focusing exclusively on range, you might also want to consider the ride comfort. 19" gives you more sidewall.

 

[BS8899]

Hello,
I recently bought a pre-owned Lucid Air GT 2023 with 20" wheels. I was considering swapping to 19" for a longer range, but was wondering if it's worth it given that the car is now 3 years old. When I got the car it was at 426 miles @ 100%. Would anyone happen to know how many more miles I'd get if I went with 19" wheels @ 100%? I know there's some battery degradation because it's 2023, but I'm curious if it's just better to stick with 20" vs 19" value wise if I'm not gaining much more miles. The plan would basically run out the 20", then either replace them with new 20" or bite the bullet and pay for the change to 19". I'm also thinking in the long run 19" could be cheaper replacements, but the upfront cost, not sure if that's justified if the miles increase is minimal.

When you say, "426 mile Range @ 100% SoC", was that what YOU experienced, or is it the so called "Rated mileage"?

When you say "Range", is that at highway speed (70-75mph), or are you just driving around town at 40mph or less?

 

[socktucker]

Hello,
I recently bought a pre-owned Lucid Air GT 2023 with 20" wheels. I was considering swapping to 19" for a longer range, but was wondering if it's worth it given that the car is now 3 years old. When I got the car it was at 426 miles @ 100%. Would anyone happen to know how many more miles I'd get if I went with 19" wheels @ 100%? I know there's some battery degradation because it's 2023, but I'm curious if it's just better to stick with 20" vs 19" value wise if I'm not gaining much more miles. The plan would basically run out the 20", then either replace them with new 20" or bite the bullet and pay for the change to 19". I'm also thinking in the long run 19" could be cheaper replacements, but the upfront cost, not sure if that's justified if the miles increase is minimal.

Rated mileage is not accurate, you will probably get more like 330. So on 19’s I’d think you’d get more like 350 with caps.

 

[Northpointe]

Hello,
I recently bought a pre-owned Lucid Air GT 2023 with 20" wheels. I was considering swapping to 19" for a longer range, but was wondering if it's worth it given that the car is now 3 years old. When I got the car it was at 426 miles @ 100%. Would anyone happen to know how many more miles I'd get if I went with 19" wheels @ 100%? I know there's some battery degradation because it's 2023, but I'm curious if it's just better to stick with 20" vs 19" value wise if I'm not gaining much more miles. The plan would basically run out the 20", then either replace them with new 20" or bite the bullet and pay for the change to 19". I'm also thinking in the long run 19" could be cheaper replacements, but the upfront cost, not sure if that's justified if the miles increase is minimal.

I’m getting up to 460 miles (4.1 m/kw) @ 100% on 19” wheels on my 2023 AGT. Obviously range will vary based on a number of factors with weather, speed, and elevation being the biggest. On that basis I average closer to 3.5 m/kw but it still puts me close to 400 miles in real world miles.

 

[Leftlane]

Wasn’t the GT on 19s rated for 516 when new?

 

[Northpointe]

Wasn’t the GT on 19s rated for 516 when new

Yes. And you could write a book on how realistic that number is and whether or not it’s achievable. The EPA test and conditions used to achieve that result are likely not achievable by most drivers in a real world setting. It imputes a m/kw of 4.5 which I’ve rarely seen. At the same time a few hyper-milers have reported exceeding that number. But most of us would find that driving style to be miserable.

When I bought my AGT I knew that I wouldn’t get the claimed 510 miles of range. But I also knew that I could go further than any other EV on the road and that’s what sold me. And I really can't complain about getting 400 miles on a 100% charge since I never drive that far without a break anyway.

 

[NomNomNomiS]

When you say, "426 mile Range @ 100% SoC", was that what YOU experienced, or is it the so called "Rated mileage"?

When you say "Range", is that at highway speed (70-75mph), or are you just driving around town at 40mph or less?

426 is what the car had when it was fully charged when I picked it up. In terms of driving yea I'm around 70-80 mph usually.

I’m getting up to 460 miles (4.1 m/kw) @ 100% on 19” wheels on my 2023 AGT. Obviously range will vary based on a number of factors with weather, speed, and elevation being the biggest. On that basis I average closer to 3.5 m/kw but it still puts me close to 400 miles in real world miles.

I guess what I'm curious is if with my consistent driving, would it be like I earn "~30 more miles" if I swapped to 19"?

If not focusing exclusively on range, you might also want to consider the ride comfort. 19" gives you more sidewall.

I have heard of this being more comfortable, but whether or not that alone justifies the ~$5k amount to change it with Lucid.

 

[socktucker]

426 is what the car had when it was fully charged when I picked it up. In terms of driving yea I'm around 70-80 mph usually.

I guess what I'm curious is if with my consistent driving, would it be like I earn "~30 more miles" if I swapped to 19"?

I have heard of this being more comfortable, but whether or not that alone justifies the ~$5k amount to change it with Lucid.

The 20s on my air are the most comfortable 20s I’ve had on a car including Maserati, and they feel like smaller than they are. They’re great. It’s very smooth.

Think of it more like a percentage. You might get roughly 10% more with smaller wheels.

 

[NomNomNomiS]

The 20s on my air are the most comfortable 20s I’ve had on a car including Maserati, and they feel like smaller than they are. They’re great. It’s very smooth.

Think of it more like a percentage. You might get roughly 10% more with smaller wheels.

Would you or other people think that extra 10% is worth the price?

 

[illopp00]

I would just keep the 20s until they are worn then change them later, although they are also summer tires, so the 19s are all-season if you have some bad weather.

 

[Mr.Quindazzi]

19s basically do everything better, but whether it's worth the bucks is up to you

 

[martinjlm]

Wasn’t the GT on 19s rated for 516 when new?

Under ideal (translation...not repeatable) circumstances. Some people may at some point exceed the stated range. Most will fall short. EPA ratings are best used as a comparator, not an expectation.

I would just keep the 20s until they are worn then change them later, although they are also summer tires, so the 19s are all-season if you have some bad weather.

Or keep the 20s and when the tires are done for, replace the tires with 20" all-season tires. There are a lot of options.

19s basically do everything better, but whether it's worth the bucks is up to you

That's the real issue. How much are you willing to pay for 10 - 30 more miles per charge? And are these miles that you will actually use often? What I mean is, my AGT is on 19s and was rated at 512 or 516 depending on who you ask when. I might charge to 100% and drive that entire range four or five times a year. I'll probably see 430 - 440 miles. If it had 20s it would have been rated at 468 I think. And maybe I would get 390 - 410 miles under similar conditions. Four or five times a year. How much would that be worth to me? $0.00. It's literally a few more minutes at a DCFC. Four or five times a year. Others may place a different value on that.

 

[OutrightPace]

19s basically do everything better, but whether it's worth the bucks is up to you

Except look better! I personally think the 19"s make the car look cheap, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

I expect it would take quite a few miles to recoup the cost of the new wheels and tires with whatever efficiency gains you achieve with them.

 

[socktucker]

Would you or other people think that extra 10% is worth the price?

No Way

 

[FooFighter]

Except look better! I personally think the 19"s make the car look cheap, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

I agree the base 19” do make the car look cheap. The new 19” Aeronaut has a much better aesthetic. I’d have gone with those if I’m getting a new Air now.

If I were OP, I would just stick with the 20”. They still ride nicely and to me personally, the range hit is negligible. I don’t take long trips.

 

[illopp00]

Except look better! I personally think the 19"s make the car look cheap, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

I expect it would take quite a few miles to recoup the cost of the new wheels and tires with whatever efficiency gains you achieve with them.

There are the new 19s design as well as an option to change...

 

[Mr.Quindazzi]

Except look better! I personally think the 19"s make the car look cheap, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Fair point

 

[NomNomNomiS]

Thanks for the suggestions, I also was considering which would be cheaper in the long run in case of replacing tires.

So far it seems for 19s I'm getting the impression smoother ride, slightly more distance, possibly cheaper future replacements. But the downside, expensive upfront replacement, just slightly more distance.

 

[Northpointe]

Thanks for the suggestions, I also was considering which would be cheaper in the long run in case of replacing tires.

So far it seems for 19s I'm getting the impression smoother ride, slightly more distance, possibly cheaper future replacements. But the downside, expensive upfront replacement, just slightly more distance.

The rated difference between the 19” and 20” is 47 miles per 100% charge. Real world could be slightly different but probably not materially. So based on your driving you could do the math to determine the break even point.