When buying an electric scooter, the first things that people look for are how fast it can go and how many hours you can ride before it needs to be recharged.
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However, tires are also an important factor when it comes to buying an electric scooter because they determine the safety, durability and quality of your ride. Do you want to make your commute as comfortable as possible? Check the quality of an electric scooter’s tires before you buy it.
Imagine driving a car with poorly made or worn-down tires. Driving in wet weather can put yourself and others on the road in danger because your tires may not be able to grip the road as well. It’s the same for electric scooters.
In this guide, we’re going to answer all your questions on tires including:
- What types of electric scooter tires are there?
- What tires do Raine One electric scooters use?
- Does tire size make any difference?
- How do you pump an electric scooter tire?
- How do you fix a flat tire on an electric scooter?
- Can you ride an electric scooter with a flat tire?
- How long do electric scooter tires last?
- What does PSI, kPa or bar mean?
- What pressure should my electric scooter tires be?
- How do I change the tires on my electric scooter?
- How do tires affect the weight that an electric scooter can carry?
Keep reading to find out everything about electric scooter tires.
There are two types of tires used for electric scooters:
- Pneumatic tires
- Solid tires
Pneumatic tires, also commonly referred to as air-filled tires, are (as the name suggests) filled with air. These tires are made of supple rubber and can be identified by a valve stem on the side or into the center of the wheel. This can be used to check air pressure and fill or empty air from the tire. Pneumatic tires are also used for bicycles and cars.
Pneumatic tires absorb shock very well, so they make for a more comfortable ride. If you plan on riding your electric scooter off-road or on rough surfaces, pneumatic tires will make your ride less bumpy.
Pneumatic tires for electric scooters usually have an inner tube which is where the air is held. It also means that if the tire is punctured, only the inner tube needs to be replaced or fixed.
Advantages of pneumatic tires:
- Absorbs shock
- Smoother ride
- Better traction (even in wet conditions)
Disadvantages of pneumatic tires:
- More prone to punctures
- Have to maintain air pressure
Solid tires, also called ‘airless’ tires are made of hard rubber or hard rubber on the outside with a foamy inside. Compared to pneumatic, solid tires are a lot heavier. This means that they are much harder to puncture, but the ride won’t be as smooth.
While not getting a flat tire means less maintenance, the tires themselves can still wear down over time and can sometimes be hard to replace. Some electric scooter models require the whole wheel and motor to be exchanged, which can be quite expensive. Fortunately, these tires often last for years.
Riding off-road is possible with solid tires but it’ll be very bumpy.
Advantages of solid tires:
- No flat tires
- No maintenance required
Disadvantages of solid tires:
- Heavier electric scooter
- Less comfortable ride
- The tire shape may affect handling
- Difficult to replace
- Less traction
The Raine One electric scooter uses pneumatic tires because we wanted to provide our customers with a smoother ride. When we were deciding on the type of tires to use for our electric scooter, we wanted to use pneumatic tires because they are lighter and have better traction, but there was the issue of getting flat tires. We came up with pneumatic tires that have a self-healing gel to help combat punctures. This meant we didn’t have to compromize on comfort or have riders worrying about getting flat tires.
Not only does the Raine One have high-quality tires, but it also has great suspension. Some electric scooter models have good tires but no suspension. However, it’s important to have excellent tires and suspension, not one without the other. The Raine One has front and rear poly-shock suspension, giving the rider a smoother and more enjoyable experience.
Pneumatic tires tend to be bigger diameter than solid tires. The bigger the tire, for example 10 inch or 8.5 inch instead of 6 inch, the more comfortable your ride will be because the larger diameter makes it easier to go over bumps in the road. Smaller tires mean your wheel is more likely to get caught in a pothole or step, which can either unbalance you or throw you off your scooter.
Bigger tires can also handle faster speeds more comfortably and also provide better safety and traction.
The pneumatic tires on the Raine One are a diameter of 10 inches, which gives it extra stability and is safer on different surfaces.
You can use a standard bicycle pump or an electric pump with a gauge to check tire pressure. It’s recommended that if you’re regularly riding your electric scooter to check once a fortnight. If the pressure is low, use the pump to bring the pressure back up. The most likely cause of getting a flat tire is due to having insufficient pressure.
Fully inflated tires also mean your electric scooter can go faster and less surface area is in contact with the ground, which reduces drag.
For heavier electric scooter riders, it’s a good idea to keep the tire pressure on the higher side to avoid slowing the scooter down.
It depends on how much damage has been done to the tire. If you need something replaced, such as the inner tube for a pneumatic tire, then you probably need to get someone else to replace it. Your local bicycle shop may have parts available, but otherwise, a moped repair shop will be able to help you.
If you are familiar with changing car parts or other vehicles, then you can fix the tire yourself, but we recommend you get a professional to do it if you’re unsure.
A tube sealant is great for preventing pneumatic tires from going flat. Best of all, it’s inexpensive, easy to use and quick to apply.
The sealant is pumped into the inner tube of the tire through the same valve used to inflate it. The liquid churns around inside the tube while the wheel is spinning and when a hole appears, the fluid leaks into the hole and quickly dries, preventing any further damage. It’s definitely worth using tube sealant to save the hassle of getting a flat tire later down the track. It’s particularly useful for people who are riding their electric scooters every day and are more prone to punctures.
It’s not ideal to drive or ride any vehicle with a flat tire, as you’ll only cause more damage to it and it could even explode. If you do get a tire puncture, it’s best to get off your electric scooter and find an alternative way home.
This depends on a number of factors including the type of terrain you normally ride on, how hard you use the brakes and how often you ride your electric scooter. The average tires on an electric scooter will need to be changed every 2,000-3,000 miles (3,200-4,800 kilometers).
However, if the tread on the tires is low, then the tires need to be changed. You can buy a tire tread depth gauge tool if you’re unsure about the tread. They only cost about $10 and make it easy to check.
This is the unit of measurement for air pressure in tires and PSI stands for pounds per square inch. It’s important to check your electric scooter’s pressure regularly because if it’s not in the recommended pressure range, it can affect safety and the scooter’s performance. Depending on what country you are in, kPa or bar may be the unit of pressure often used, and an online PSI/kPa/bar converter will help you out.
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It depends on what type of electric scooter you have, but most models recommend that it’s between 40 to 55 PSI. The manual that comes with your electric scooter should tell you what PSI your tires should be, and sometimes they are even written on the tire itself.
Bigger tires can carry more weight, so electric scooters designed for heavier adults will usually have tires with a larger diameter to accommodate more weight. Both pneumatic and solid tires can be used for heavy-duty electric scooters but pneumatic is more common because they allow for a smoother ride.
April 18, 2023
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.
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 ($2500 to $4000) 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.
Are you interested in learning more about e-scooter tires manufacturer? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!