You will get efficient and thoughtful service from Nedong.
Share this content:
As you would expect a wheelchair tyre is critical to the performance of the device but it can sometimes be difficult to know which one will suit you and your wheelchair best.
There are 5 areas to consider when reviewing wheelchair tyre options:
Measurements
Type
Maintenance
Task
Environment
Wheelchair tyre size is relatively self-explanatory, if it&#;s the wrong size it won&#;t fit. The size is normally printed somewhere on the wheel itself so if looking for a replacement this should be simple enough to find. Remember that the wheel is measured in inches and includes the diameter of the whole unit (wheel and tyre) not just the wheel.
Depth of tread is added on the measurement as the second figure, for example 25&#; x 1.5&#; means tread of 1.5&#; depth.
Pneumatic or air-filled tyres are usually found on larger wheels on self-propelled or electric wheelchairs. They are very light which helps when being lifted into a car and helps the wheelchair user to maximize efficiency of movement. As they are air filled they provided a dampening effect compared with solid tyres over outdoor terrain.
This type of wheelchair tyre tends to have a deeper tread providing increased grip which is good for stability and makes the journey more comfortable.
The down side of a pneumatic wheelchair tyre is that it requires regular maintenance. As it is air filled it is more susceptible to puncture and/or general loss of pressure. This means that tyre pressure should be checked regularly and equal pressure maintained in all tyres to ensure a safe and smooth experience.
Solid wheelchair tyres are usually made from rubber but can also be different forms of plastic. As they lack air on a form of inner tube it makes them less flexible or able to adapt to altering terrain. This in turn makes the ride less smooth or comfortable.
However, the positive to a solid wheelchair tyre is that it cannot be punctured or deflate therefore requires significantly less maintenance and lasts a lot longer making the solid tyre more cost effective.
Made for exactly the same purpose as the standard pneumatic wheelchair tyre but with an inner tube manufactured from material such as Kevlar that is puncture resistant.
It can be slightly heavier than the standard pneumatic tyre but has less maintenance requirements.
The main difference is the cost. Due to its complex design and manufacture the puncture proof tyre is significantly more expensive than the alternatives.
Consider the main points:
Air filled wheelchair tyres need to be checked weekly.
How the tyre pressure affects the driving performance of your wheelchair:
Proper air pressure in a tyre helps to distribute the weight of wheelchair and user evenly across the tyres tread pattern, so the tyre (and the wheelchair) is at its most stable and agile. When a tyre is under-inflated or over-inflated, it loses rigidness, negatively affecting handling, cornering, and stopping. Eventually the tyre will also start to wear unevenly. Under-inflated tyres tend to show wear on the outside edges of the tread, while over-inflated tyres show wear down the middle of the tread. To know how much pressure you&#;ll have to give to your tyres, the pressure is normally printed somewhere on the wheel itself. With a Manometer you can ensure that you have the exactly same pressure in both of the tyres which affects also the driving performance, smoothness, maneuverability, speed and control of your wheelchair.
Although tyre pressure depends on type and configuration the chart below gives an indication of requirements:
Tire
Maximum pressure
Light wheel
7 bar
700 kPa
101 psi
Profile tyre
7 bar
700 kPa
101 psi
Schwalbe ® Marathon plus tyre
Want more information on 8.5 inch solid scooter tyres? Feel free to contact us.
10 bar
kPa
145 psi
Schwalbe ® One
10 bar
kPa
145 psi
Schwalbe ® Right turn, blue.
10 bar
kPa
145 psi
It is crucial that the tyre is attached to the wheel correctly or when used the rim will be damaged and debris can protrude any gaps and cause critical damage to the unit.
Always consider what tasks the wheelchair user is completing and how the tyre, whether type or size supports active and independent engagement. Will reducing weight mean that the user expends less energy and is then able to see the task through to its conclusion? Will deep tread with increased friction create too much resistance to support independent movement in the context of a task that requires regular adjustment of position?
Where will the tasks being participated in be completed? What is the surface and which tyre will suit that surface and the wheelchair user&#;s comfort the most in that situation? Is turning circle an issue with care needing to be taken regarding width and depth of tyre therefore?
Author: A. Ferry
It is important that you understand the kind of wheels you will need for your wheelchair. The options you have when selecting better wheelchair wheels will depend upon where you will use them, the terrain you will ride them on, as well as the activities you will be involved in, inside or outside the house. Therefore, determining the right wheelchair tires or casters is always dependent on certain factors.
Keep in mind that people who suffer from spinal injuries or motor neuron disorders should restrain from being in situations where their spines receive excessive vibrations. We will discuss a couple of critical points about wheelchair wheels and some factors that will assist you in decision making. We hope this short manual will guide you in making the right choice about your wheelchair wheels.
Things like how smooth a ride is, or the speed you&#;re cruising at, are all dependent on the type of wheelchair wheels, tires, and casters you choose. This is why choosing them are not as easy a task as it might appear to be. It is always smart to approach an expert or do a bit of research before selecting your ideal wheels. Affordability and performance are also crucial factors, and this mini user manual will function as a healthcare assistant in helping you make an informed decision about the right wheelchair wheels.
Manual or standard wheelchair wheels have two pairs of wheels. These are:
Electric wheelchairs come with three pairs depending on the technology involved.
The back wheels of a wheelchair are made up of a hub, spokes, a rim and tires. The hub, which is the center of rotation, is connected to the rim with spokes or mags, with the tire mounted to the rim. On standard wheelchairs hand rims are used to push the wheelchair.
Wheels with spokes, also called spoke wheels, are like bicycle wheels with metal spokes. The spokes are either radial or crossed and are either 24 or 36 in total. Mag wheels have no more than ten spokes and are made of synthetic material.
The back wheels of standard wheelchairs have quick release axles to make handling easier when transporting. They also have extra caster wheels, which are mounted onto the chair.
Something to consider when selecting your wheels is their weight and the area where you will use them. Spoke wheels are much lighter than mag wheels but are generally more expensive to maintain. They are also not very suitable for moist environments. Whereas on the other hand mag wheels require little to no maintenance but could be subject to extreme temperatures.
Wheelchair wheels come in different sizes:
The diameter of the wheel and the tire affects how comfortable your ride will be and also affects the effort you need to put in to move the wheelchair. Thus, you want to choose a wheel that allows for the best output on these options.
Electric wheelchairs on the other hand, have a smaller wheel made out of thicker and stronger material. In order to enjoy the benefits that standard wheelchairs offer in regard to thicker wheels, electric wheelchairs are adorned with an extra set of wheels.
The alignment of the wheelchair wheels is vital, as it affect its stability, how it rides, how difficult it is to propel and how quickly the tyres can wear out. When aligning you must consider the following:
Camber &#; camber of the back wheels occurs when the wheels tilt inward or outward on their vertical plane. With camber the wheelchair propels easier as the hands are positioned nearer to the body. This applies more to people who propel self and has superior lateral stability. It also helps protect the fingers when passing doors.
Toe-in and toe-out &#; this is a critical alignment issue and has to do with the fact that the rear wheels do not run in parallel anymore. Avoiding toe-in and toe-out is important as it increases rolling resistance, and inadvertently leads to wear on the tires.
Truing &#; aligning the wheels is necessary, especially when it is wobbly as it spins on its axis. Mag wheels are the easiest when it comes to truing, as they are trued at manufacturing and remain that way unless they are exposed to harsh conditions. Spoke wheels are less stable, as different factors can distort the spokes.
Wheelchair tires come in different sizes. Some are pneumatic, meaning that they are filled with air, while others are solid, making them flat free. The flat free type are filled with rubber or foam. Depending on where they will be used, they are made with a different profile. Some have a deeper profile, like those used on Mountain bikes, while others have a flatter profile.
What you need to know is that a particular type of tire affects how a wheelchair will roll over a certain surface. Harder tires are easy to propel, whereas softer tires are not.
We hope you liked our article on tips to choose better wheelchair wheels, and that it was helpful. Please let us know if you have any questions or if you would like to see more of these types of articles to our site.
We also have a special offer for you. Enter coupon code EW6 at checkout and it will apply a 6% discount. This offer won't be around long, so act soon! See product pages for details and if you have any questions feel free to give us a call at 800-682-. One of our agents will be happy to assist you. We are open every day from 8AM - 8PM est!
If you are more interested and looking for other related articles, our staff compiled a great list of articles like Top 5 Mobility Scooter Issues And How to Fix Them and our Top 9 Best Mobility Scooter for Outdoors and have had some great feedback on those articles as well.
Feel free to write me anytime at if you have any questions or comments. At Electric Wheelchairs USA, we truly love helping our customers make the best choice for their needs whether it is a power chair, mobility scooter, or lift chair.