Two or four tires?

Whenever I buy new tires, I get four, on the recommendation of the tire guy I always use. My daughter will be buying new tires for her car and she’s getting two next month and the other two, four months later, when she’s paid off the credit card. I told her that approach worries me and got the eye roll. She said I have to buy four because my SUV is a four-wheel drive, but she doesn’t have a four-wheel drive, so she doesn’t have to. Is that right?

You have appropriately been doing the all-wheels-at-once change out for your four-wheeldrive SUV.

She doesn't necessarily have to do four at once (though I hope there's decent tread on the two she's going to keep riding on for a few additional weeks). The important thing is that the new tires go on the rear. To do otherwise increases the chances of hydroplaning and spinning out.

My son told me he heard about a new truck called the Rivian that’s expensive and electric.

I’ve tried to find a Rivian dealership but without luck. Do you have any information?

Rivian hasn't made this truck available yet, but you're correct that it will be a new entry into the electric vehicle arena.

The plan is for there to be a pickup, called the R1T, which will start at about $70,000, and an SUV called the R1S that will start at about $72,000. The promise is for a range of 230 to 400 miles, depending on the vehicle and the battery size chosen.

The company hasn't stated which vehicle it will launch first, but one is supposed to be available late this year (though I honestly wouldn't count on it quite that soon, given how these things have historically gone) and the other one somewhat later.

The startup company's vehicle is being brought to market as the result of a partnership with Ford, which invested $500 million.

You can stay on top of new developments at www.rivian.com. Oh, and preorders are being accepted.

Correction:

In a recent item on recalls, I had a one-letter error in a web address to which I directed folks to check for vehicle recalls. The correct address is safercar.gov. My apologies.