Electric Scooter Tires

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Paul Somerville

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.

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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.

Tire Type Comparison

Types of Tires

There are two commonly used types of electric scooter tires:

• Pneumatic (air-filled) tires
• Solid (airless) 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 (Air-filled) Tires

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

The EMOVE Cruiser

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 tires

The Hover 1 Journey Max has front and rear pneumatic inner tube tires.

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.

Advantages of Pneumatic Tires

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.

Disadvantages of Pneumatic Tires

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

TheUScooters Booster V

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.

Honeycomb / Air Pocket Tires

The 

Unagi Model One Voyager

 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 (Solid) Tires

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.

Advantages of Solid Tires

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.

Disadvantages of Solid Tires

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. 

Tires Size and Surface

The 

GOTRAX GX3

 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. 

Common Tire Configurations

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. 

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.

Tire Maintenance

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.

Summary

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!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I replace pneumatic tires? Is it worth it?

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.

Can I replace solid tires? Is it worth it?

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.

Can I swap out solid tires for pneumatic tires?

Without major modifications of the scooter, you generally cannot convert a solid tire scooter into pneumatic.

Can I swap out pneumatic tires for solid tires?

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.

Do some solid tire types perform better than others?

Honeycomb or air-pocket tires tend to provide slightly better suspension than solid tires. However, this depends a lot on the brand.

Do tires on electric scooters need adjustment? Is that something I should do, if I&#;m not a professional?

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.

Can I replace my tires with off-brand/generic tires?

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.

Do all scooter models come with tires for regular riding vs. off-roading?

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.

As an e-scooter owner, you know that the tires are crucial for performance, safety, and comfort. With various tire types available, it's essential to understand the differences to make an informed decision. In this blog, we'll explore the four main types of e-scooter tires&#;solid, tube-type, tubeless, and gel&#;along with the pros and cons of each.

 

Table of Contents

 

Solid E-Scooter Tires (Airless Tires)

Solid tires, also known as airless tires, are made from solid rubber or polyurethane.

These tires are designed to eliminate the need for air.

Pros:

• Puncture-Proof: One of the biggest advantages is that they are completely puncture-proof, which means you&#;ll never have to deal with flats.

• Low Maintenance: There's no need to check or maintain air pressure, making them convenient for daily use.

• Durability: Solid tires are incredibly durable and have a long lifespan, making them cost-effective in the long run.

Cons:

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.

• Comfort: They offer less shock absorption, resulting in a less comfortable ride compared to tube-type tires.

• Traction: Solid tires generally provide poorer traction, especially on wet or uneven surfaces.

• Weight: They are heavier than air-filled tires, which can impact the overall performance of your e-scooter.

Tube-Type E-Scooter Tires (Air-Filled Tires)

As the name suggests tube-type tires come with a tube which is filled with air, similar to those found on bicycles.

Pros:

• Comfort: These tires provide superior shock absorption, ensuring a smoother and more comfortable ride.

• Traction and Handling: They offer better traction and handling, which is particularly useful on rough terrain.

• Lightweight: Tube-type tires are lighter than solid tires, which can enhance your scooter&#;s performance.

Cons:

• Maintenance: Tube-type tires are prone to punctures and flats, requiring more frequent maintenance.

• Air Pressure: They need regular air pressure checks and adjustments to maintain optimal performance.

• Lifespan: Generally, tube-type tires have a shorter lifespan compared to solid tires.

Tubeless E-Scooter Tires

Tubeless tires are a variant of tube-type tires but without an inner tube. Instead, the air is held directly between the tire and the rim.

Pros:

• Reduced Flats: The absence of an inner tube reduces the risk of flats.

• Air Pressure Maintenance: They tend to maintain air pressure longer than traditional Tube-type tires.

• Heat Dissipation: Tubeless tires offer better heat dissipation, which can enhance their durability.

Cons:

• Installation and Repair: They can be more challenging to install and repair compared to tubed pneumatic tires.

• Sealing Requirement: A perfect seal between the tire and rim is necessary to hold air, which can be difficult to achieve.

• Cost: Tubeless tires can be more expensive than other types.

Gel-Filled E-Scooter Tires

Gel-filled tires are a hybrid between solid and pneumatic tires, containing a gel inside that provides cushioning while maintaining puncture resistance.

Pros:

• Puncture-Resistant: The gel filling offers excellent puncture resistance, similar to solid tires.

• Comfort: They provide a smoother ride compared to traditional solid tires, thanks to the gel&#;s cushioning effect.

• Low Maintenance: These tires require minimal maintenance as they do not need air pressure checks or adjustments.

Cons:

• Messy Installation: When gel tires go flat the gel gets messy and hard to remove when replacing them.

• Availability and Cost: They are less commonly available and can be more expensive compared to other types.
  

Conclusion

Choosing the right type of tire for your e-scooter is crucial for ensuring a safe, comfortable, and enjoyable ride. Solid tires are great for those who prioritize durability and low maintenance, while tube-type tires offer the best in comfort and handling. Tubeless tires strike a balance with reduced flats and better durability, whereas gel tires offer a compromise between solid and tube-tire tires with puncture-proofing and improved comfort.

Still, need help choosing the right tire for your e-scooter?

Get in touch with one of our e-scooter technicians and they'll be able to assist you with all your e-scooter-related questions!

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