If you&#;re new to the world of electric scooters, &#;solid tires&#; might sound like a contradiction in terms.
After all, when we think of tires, we think of the circular, black rubber three-quarter-hollow tubes mounted on wheels and filled with air. Everything from airplanes to cars roll on air filled tires.
Whether we're on a motorcycle, bike, or e bike, almost all the tires on two-wheeled vehicles are pneumatic. E scooters are, for the moment, one of the few two-wheeled vehicles for adults to offer the choice between pneumatic and solid tires.
So, why would riders choose a solid tire over a pneumatic tire? Well, there are good reasons, and we&#;ll look at them below.
But first &#; pop quiz, what&#;s the first word that comes to mind when you hear &#;tire&#;? If you said &#;flat,&#; you passed. Because, yes, that&#;s the biggest problem with pneumatic tires and the biggest advantage of solid tires. They never go flat....
Some solid tires are just crude plastic circles, the kind of thing you find on children's toys. Fully solid tires provide an unforgiving ride.
Fully solid tires are found only on cheap scooters made for kids and generally offer nothing in the way of shock absorption or damping. They are also more prone to developing flat spots, which can't be fixed and require a full tire replacement.
Premium solid tires use durable, high-grade materials that maintain their shape. They also tend to use a honeycomb or vented structure, with hollow areas to provide cushioning and absorb vibration.
You'll find solid rubber air pocket tires on high quality electric scooters for adults like the Unagi Model One.
The biggest advantage of solid tires comes from the fact that they require no maintenance, in contrast to the routine air pressure checks, tube and tire repairs, and flat tire anxiety pneumatic tires tend to provoke.
In fact, if you ride an electric scooter as a lightweight urban commuter vehicle on mostly well-paved roads, you might want to ride nothing but a solid tire scooter because of their ultimate ease of use.
Solid tires can be replaced. But they only occasionally need replacing if they develop flat spots or sustain damage that puts them out of round. Such events are rare compared to the frequency of pinch flats and punctures with air filled tires.
While it's a good idea to carry a small multitool with you when riding any small vehicle, a solid tire electric scooter eliminates the need to carry a full toolkit. You won't need to pack a repair kit, tire lever, extra tube, air pump, or any of the essentials needed for proper roadside pneumatic tire care.
Solid tires do not provide as smooth a ride as pneumatic tires. They can be more jarring and uncomfortable on bumpy terrain. Pneumatic tires offer better shock absorption than their solid counterparts.
Solid tires have less traction than pneumatic tires, which can be a problem in wet or slippery conditions.
If you regularly ride or drive a vehicle with pneumatic tires, it's generally recommended that you check the tire pressure once a week.
While checking air pressure weekly can be burdensome and unnecessary with cars, when it comes to the smaller, low-volume tires on bikes and especially electric scooters, this routine become much more important.
That's because most air-filled tires on small vehicles contain an inner tube, the part of the tire that actually holds the air, and inner tubes require a minimum pressure to stay inflated.
So-called tubeless tires (which, you guessed it, lack an inner tube), are standard on cars, motorcycles, and even high-end bikes. And they are becoming increasingly common as premium electric scooter tires.
Inner tube tires offer the benefit of holding the air inside the tube rather than the tire, which means that the outer tire can take a beating and the tire can stay inflated. But once the tube is punctured, it must be repaired or replaced.
Inner tubes, however, are relatively inexpensive compared to new tires, and most riders can learn to fix a flat tire themselves.
Tubed tires must be kept at the minimum recommended tire pressure because they are subject to what are called "pinch flats," the most common type of flat tire.
A pinch flat happens when the inner tube is literally pinched between the tire and the wheel rim, resulting in two tears that look like a snakebite on the inner tube.
Pinch flats happen without warning (if you don't top off your tires), no sharp objects required.
Next to pinch flats, punctures are the next most common cause of flat tires. All tires are subject to punctures from objects in the road, including broken glass, nails and screws, and other kinds of debris that can slice through the rubber and cloth of a tire.
Punctures in the tread areas of a tire can usually be repaired, sometimes while on the road. But if the sidewall is punctured, the tire will have to be replaced.
Many tubeless pneumatic tires are puncture resistant and even have "self-healing" properties, but no tire is 100% flat proof.
There are many good reasons to ride on pneumatic tubeless tires: with no risk of pinch flats, they can be run at lower pressures for more comfort, and they have superior puncture resistance.
At lower pressures, they also provide more surface area for contact with the road, leading to greater wet and dry traction (sometimes at the cost of more rolling resistance, i.e. slower speeds).
Tubeless tires are filled with sealant which keeps the air in at the rim, or "bead," where the tire meets the wheel. This sealant also rushes into a puncture and seals it up before much air is lost, leading to the description of tubeless tires as "self healing."
All tubeless tires have this healing property to some degree. Some use a layer of self-sealing compound inside the tire to provide additional protection.
Tubeless pneumatic tires have several benefits for the serious rider (no pro cyclist rides without them these days). They can also require a pro level of maintenance.
While the average rider can learn to change an inner tube on their scooter, mounting, sealing, and filling tubeless tires with tire sealant can be a herculean effort that is best left to mechanics.
Maintenance can be a pro or con, depending on how much you enjoy working with your hands. The advantages of pneumatic tires are many, but they require some level of routine care and special equipment (tire levers, spare tubes, pump, tire pressure gauge, roadside repair kit, tire sealant, etc.).
If you don't properly maintain air filled tires, the risk of flats goes up significantly. And if you don't want to end up walking your scooter home, you'll have to learn to fix a flat tire on the road.
The drawbacks of solid tires are improving, with foam filled tires that offer more cushioning and traction without the maintenance.
But the fact is that there are different types of electric scooter tires for a reason, and not all tires are suitable for all types of electric scooter or every kind of riding.
If you plan to ride off road, you should buy a scooter with knobby off road tires.
If you're commuting longer distances at speeds over 20 mph, and you routinely encounter bumpy roads and bad weather, you might be best off with pneumatic road tires.
And if you're primarily an urban commuter who travels a few miles a day at lower speeds on city streets and sidewalks, and who doesn't want to bother fixing flats, then solid tires can be the best choice for you as the only maintenance free option.
Overall, the choice between solid and pneumatic tires will depend on the specific needs and preferences of the rider. If a smoother ride and bad weather traction are top priorities, then pneumatic tires may be the way to go. However, if durability and low maintenance are more important, then solid tires may be the better choice.
With competitive price and timely delivery, nedong sincerely hope to be your supplier and partner.
April 18,
Rider Guide&#;s Editor-in-Chief is a seasoned expert in the electric scooter industry. With a wide-ranging background that includes managing scooter warehouses, selling thousands of motorcycles, and restoring high value (+1M) European sports cars, his expertise is unmatched. Having personally tested more than 100 electric scooters, he offers invaluable insights and recommendations to our readers. We are fortunate to have him as part of our team, as his diverse skill set and extensive experience ensure top-notch reviews.
read full bio
Tires connect your electric scooter with the ground. They are an important part of safety, durability, and ride quality. This guide covers the ins and outs of electric scooter tires. You&#;ll learn the advantages and disadvantages of pneumatic (air-filled) and solid (airless) tires.
There are two commonly used types of electric scooter tires:
Overall, pneumatic tires are better performing than solid tires. Pneumatic or air-filled tires are more efficient, and provide better cushioning and traction. For this reason, we always recommend them. Solid tires are zero maintenance because they don&#;t get flats but won&#;t necessarily last longer than pneumatic ones.
Both types of tires will wear out over time.
Pneumatic tires, also called air-filled tires, are made of supple rubber and use air pressure to maintain their structure. They have a valve stem that protrudes either from the side or into the center of the wheel, which you use to fill or empty air from the tire and also check the air pressure. Most tires that you see on other vehicles &#; cars, bicycles, motorcycles &#; are pneumatic. Pneumatic tires come in two flavors: tubeless and inner tube.
Tubeless tires are common on automobiles, consisting of only the tire that forms an air-tight seal around the tire rim. The tire rim houses the valve stem. Tubeless tires tend to be more heavy duty, puncture resistant, and higher performance. For that reason, you&#;ll generally only find these more expensive tires on premium and performance scooters. However, if you do get a flat or need to change the tire, it can be a real pain. On some electric scooters you will actually have to take the whole wheel to a tire shop and have them use their tire removal machine to get it off.
Inner tube pneumatic tires are common on bicycles and electric scooters; they have a heavy outer tire &#;shell,&#; which has treads and makes contact with the road. Inside the outer tire is a separate inner tube that holds the air and has the valve stem. If the outer tire is punctured, only the inner tube needs to be patched or replaced.
Pneumatic tires have three major benefits compared to solid tires: lower rolling friction, better ride cushioning, and better traction.
Lower rolling coefficient of friction means that these tires lose less energy as they roll along the ground. You will get better mileage and higher top speed with pneumatic tires.
Better ride cushioning is afforded by the air pressure in the tire. Pneumatic tires are better able to absorb bumps in the road than solid ones. On some scooters, they are the only form of suspension.
Pneumatic tires are made of supple rubber and have a better static coefficient of friction, which means they are less likely to slip as they roll along the ground. They will allow you to stop more quickly without sliding. Additionally, they provide better traction even in wet conditions.
There are two disadvantages to pneumatic tires: susceptibility to flats and tire pressure maintenance. One of the most common complaints from scooter riders is the necessity to replace or refill pneumatic tires. With solid tires, you won&#;t get flats or have to monitor the tire pressure, but pneumatic tires (inner tube or tubeless) still perform better overall.
Pro Tip: Reduce your chances of getting a flat with a few simple tire tips. If you&#;re shopping for a pneumatic tire scooter, try to get one with split rims. Split rims are rims bolted together that can be separated, allowing for much easier tire changes.
Solid tires use a rubber or solid polyurethane foam filling material to provide structural integrity, rather than air pressure. They are completely immune to punctures and will never go flat like a pneumatic tire. This is their major (and only) benefit. In every other way, solid tires are inferior to pneumatic tires.
One thing to note is that solid tires can be much more difficult to change. For example, the Segway Ninebot ES2 electric scooters are notorious for having a solid front tire that is impossible to change, requiring the entire wheel (and motor) to be exchanged. Keep this in mind when exploring electric scooter options that have solid tires.
Solid tires are not necessarily more durable than pneumatic tires. They will never go flat from being punctured. However, they are often made of hard plastics that will wear down more quickly due to their higher rolling friction.
Solid tires have two basic forms: honeycomb and filled.
Unagi Model One
has air pocket tires that provide some cushion but are immune to flats.Some solid tires have a &#;honeycomb&#; or &#;air pocket&#; construction. Honeycomb tires are made from the same rubber as other solid tires and have an internal honeycomb or ribbed construction designed to provide structural integrity and keep the weight down. Because there are air pockets within the tire, they provide more cushion than their filled solid counterparts. With less rubber than filled rubber tires, honeycomb tends to be lighter weight but not as light as pneumatic tires. These are the least common type of tires among air-filled and solid types.
Filled tires contain a rubber, foam, or other solid yet flexible polymer filling. Filled solid tires are heavier and stiffer in construction. These types of materials tend to be very durable, but can get damaged and wear down over time. Wear and tear ordinarily does not render filled tires inoperable, but happens more quickly than with pneumatic tires. Again, filled tires can be difficult to replace.
The main benefit of solid tires is that you will never have a flat or need to deal with air pressure. Any punctures to solid tires will not make them inoperable or less effective, as with pneumatic tires. In general, solid tires are less expensive than pneumatic tires not only in upkeep but in general cost.
There are a number of downsides to having solid tires on your electric scooter, including being heavier than air-filled tires, worse traction, and worse ride quality. Not only will solid tires affect the quality of your ride, some are almost impossible to replace. Also, solid tires will have worse traction than air-filled tires, particularly in wet conditions.
Qiewa QPower
is fitted with knobby tires that perform well off-road and provide traction on loose soil.Along with tire type, the diameter, width, and tread pattern also affects its safety, traction, and rider comfort.
Larger diameter tires give a safer, more comfortable ride. As the tire diameter increases, it&#;s easier to roll over obstacles in the road. This means you will feel less of a jolt when you encounter bumps or potholes. You are also less likely to get the wheel caught in a pothole, which could throw you off the scooter, making it safer.
Generally, the wider the tire, the more stable (and, in turn, comfort) you will feel. Wider tires are less likely to get caught in cracks in the road, where you almost feel like you&#;re being guided down a track, and safer.
Some e-scooters have tires with knobby off-road tread while others have smooth tread suited for paved roads. Similarly to bicycle tires and those designed for urban roads vs. rural terrain, you will find scooter tire treads also come in varieties.
Most commuter scooters will come with smooth on-road tires, whereas many premium and extreme performance scooters are available with on- or off-road tires.
In general, manufacturers design electric scooters with pneumatic tires but some use a mix of both air-filled and solid tires. In mixed configurations, the front tire is often air-filled while the rear tire is solid. Rear tires bear more of the rider&#;s weight and tend to be more susceptible to flats than the front tire. According to our own study, rear tires get flats about 10X more than front tires. By using this mixed configuration, one can gain some of the benefits of pneumatic tires while dramatically reducing your odds of getting a flat.
A majority of the scooters that we&#;ve reviewed with mixed tire types are in the $800 price range, with only a couple in the $300 range including the Swagtron Swagger 5.
Oftentimes, brands use solid tires on lower-priced scooters. About 40% of budget electric scooters (under $300) have solid tires, 47% come with air-filled tires, and 13% have a combination of solid and air-filled tires.
When looking at electric scooters across all price ranges, pneumatic tires are more common in general, and scooters in the premium and performance ($ to $) price range all have pneumatic tires (and disc brakes).
Pro Tip: Use the &#;Tires&#; column in our scooter comparison database to research scooters by tire type.
As mentioned, solid tires are much more difficult to replace than air-filled tires; however, they require no maintenance. With some configurations, you have to remove the tire from the scooter in order to replace it. For solid tires, this is common and can even require professional assistance. For pneumatic tires, the design can make replacing them simpler or more difficult.
For example, some electric scooters, especially those in the higher price ranges, come with split-rim tire designs. With a split-rim tire, you can easily remove half of the tire to replace the inner tube without taking the tire off of the scooter.
Pro Tip: If the tires on your electric scooter need replacing, check the terms of your warranty as some distributors provide replacement of component parts.
Pneumatic (tube filled and tubeless) tires are the best tires for your electric scooter. Air-filled tires will give you a more comfortable ride and keep you glued to the ground better than solid tires.
When shopping for an electric scooter, be sure to take a look at the types of tires. Along with brakes and any suspension, your tires greatly affect your ride quality.
Check out our current ESG Editor&#;s pick of the best electric scooters on the market!
Yes, you can replace pneumatic tires, but depending on the style of tire and enclosure, it may be more or less difficult. If the scooter has split rims, then the rim can be taken apart, allowing for easier tire change. If the scooter doesn&#;t have a split rim, then you will have to forcefully pry the tire off the rim and stretch it back on when replacing it.
For inner tube tires, you typically only need to replace the tube. However, if the tire itself is badly damaged, you will also need to replace that.
If you have a flat, we recommended trying tire sealant first before trying to replace either the inner tube or tire.
Yes, you can replace solid tires but it&#;s generally a difficult endeavor. On some budget electric scooters, the entire wheel (including the motor) must be replaced together. This is generally prohibitively expensive.
On more premium scooters, like the UScooters line, tires can be replaced, but with some difficulty.
Without major modifications of the scooter, you generally cannot convert a solid tire scooter into pneumatic.
Yes, and this seems to be most popular for the Xiaomi M365. Solid replacement tires are widely available on Amazon. However the procedure is quite difficult and involves using a long lever arm and requires A LOT of muscle.
Honeycomb or air-pocket tires tend to provide slightly better suspension than solid tires. However, this depends a lot on the brand.
The only necessary maintenance is checking the pressure and adding air to pneumatic tires. Eventually, all tires will need to be replaced after the tread wears down or if they become damaged.
Yes, electric scooter tires and inner tubes come in standard diameters and widths. So long as you find an appropriate-sized replacement, it should work.
Yes, most premium and extreme performance scooters have optional off-road tires. These tires have a more aggressive, deeper, and knobbier tread pattern that provides better traction off-road.
The company is the world’s best e-scooter tires manufacturer supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.