Tires are one of the most important things when it comes to an electric scooter, it is the only contact with the ground. There are three different types of electric scooter tires: pneumatic, solid, and honeycomb.
If you are buying an electric scooter, you should pay a lot of attention to choosing the tire type. If you want to find out exactly what would be best for your situation, continue with reading.
Navigation:
A pneumatic tire is usually made out of rubber and is filled with air, this way it provides more comfort riding an electric scooter, more stability, better suspension, better climbing, faster speeds, more traction, and better control, while at the same time having less rolling resistance than a solid or honeycomb tires. That’s why it is always better to use a pneumatic tire over others for driving an electric scooter.
It is important to which degree they are inflated, this will play an important part in how they will perform. When the tire on an electric scooter is more inflated, meaning having higher air pressure, it will be harder and its shape will not change easily.
Having high air pressure will also result in lower frictions against the road, meaning the electric scooter will be faster and climb hills better. Since the tires will be harder, shock absorption will be lower. The ride can get a little bit bumpier and shakier. But keep in mind lower friction also means that braking will take longer, tires can become more slippery. We suggest deflating tires a bit throughout the winter and wet periods.
Checking the air pressure of your tires should play an important role in the maintenance of your electric scooter.
Higher tire pressure will provide you with:
›› higher speed
›› fewer flats
›› better steering
›› less shaking
›› better suspension and a smoother riding experience
›› better range and performance overall (in most cases)
On the other hand, lower tire pressure will give you:
›› better traction
›› possibly better climbing abilities because of the improved traction
›› better performance on wet, slippery, or muddy terrain
Rider weight and tire pressure:
The lighter a rider is, the less pressure the tires should have, and the heavier a rider is, the more tire pressure is needed.
›› Riders weighing between 70-90 kg should use the recommended tire pressure.
›› Riders weighing less than < 70 kg should reduce the tire pressure by 3-5 PSI / 0.2-0.35 Bar or more.
›› Riders weighing more than > 90 kg should increase the tire pressure by 3-5 PSI / 0.2-0.35 Bar or more.
As the name shows, this pneumatic tire contains a tube within it. If you take it out it looks like a circular hose. This inner tube is the reason for an enjoyable ride with your electric scooter. Even if the outer tire gets punctured this will leave no major consequences.
The disadvantage is flat tires. If you have a flat tire, you will have to fix or replace the inner tube itself. The reasons for a flat tire can be a puncture, an unsuited tire fitting, or friction between the inner and outer tire.
These types of flats can easily be fixed with an old-fashioned bike tube repair kit or by replacing the tube altogether.
Tubeless tires are rare in electric scooters, they are often used on heavier vehicles and cars, but we know some extra heavy machines that are practicing pneumatic tires without inner tubes:
In tubeless tires, the air is contained only between the tire and the wheel itself. The tire is sealed to the wheel, which provides a vacuum between them. Getting a flat tire on a tubeless tire is therefore not an easy thing to fix. It is most likely that you will have to replace the entire tire and rim at the repair shop.
When a tubeless tire gets punctured, it releases air slowly and gets deflated. It will never explode like inner tube tires or loose all air instantly.
Tubeless tires require more attention if a flat tire occurs and the maintenance is more complex, but the possibility of flat tires is lower.
Fully solid tires are made entirely out of rubber or silicone; there is no air inside of them. It is usually the cheapest option, because of its low-tech type. It is also the hardest tire out of all of the tires, that is why it provides the least stable rides with an electric scooter compared to others tire types. They also tend to get worn out the fastest because of their hard design.
Solid tires are harder and heavier. You don’t need to worry about air pressure and there is no way of having a flat with solid tires, this is probably the only big advantage they have. They are often called zero-maintenance or maintenance-free, but the rubber can still wear off and they are a bit harder to take off the wheel and replace. Luckily they will last for years because there is no way for them to get punctured.
Riding an electric scooter with solid tires is not that stable, it is shakier and more vibrating. It is okay to drive on the flattest of roads.
Other disadvantages of solid tires on an electric scooter are the heavyweight and less traction with the road. Their solid and more robust form makes them bad at absorbing unevenness in the terrain, which gives a shaky ride. Because of hardness, less tire meets the road, this results in weaker tires grip against the road surface.
Honeycomb tires are rising on the market, even though big companies like Michelin are launching them for use in cars. The ones available for electric scooters are not that advanced and haven’t reached the point of optimal use.
Honeycomb tires are another clever approach for reducing the shakiness of solid tires.
They are usually made out of rubber or silicone as well, but they have little air pockets in them, which provide a greater level of shock absorption. They cannot be punctured and at the same time, they are able to provide that cushioning effect. They are similar to fully solid tires but the air pockets are left open and this makes them less stiff.
The production of honeycomb tires for use in electric scooters is in a very early stage, but we are sure they will be used widely in the future.
Advantages of honeycomb tires on an electric scooter are that the tire is puncture-proof, it gives that cushioning effect, and is more resilient. Honeycomb tires will provide you with the peace of mind that flats cannot occur. At the same time, they will give you a smoother ride than solid tires will and you don’t have to exchange them as often as a pneumatic tire.
Disadvantages are you cannot adjust them like pneumatic tires, and they tend to be more expensive because more material is needed for production.
Advantages of honeycomb tires on an electric scooter are that the tire is puncture-proof, it gives that cushioning effect, and is more resilient. Honeycomb tires will provide you with the peace of mind that flats cannot occur. At the same time, they will give you a smoother ride than solid tires will and you don’t have to exchange them as often as a pneumatic tire.
However, you need to evaluate the options for yourself and make sure that you are picking the right tire out of three for the rider and type of riding that will be done on the scooter.
We expect a rise in the evolution of the honeycomb tires over the coming years. They will definitely get used more widely.
But till then we always recommend pneumatic tires; 8 out of 10 times.
Please feel free to leave a comment below or send us an e-mail at info@liferacer.ch
Have a nice ride!
– Your LIFE RACER Team. –
Seulement around 40% of electric scooters are equipped with indices of resistance to water. Pour éviter que le mauvais temps ne vienne gâcher votre bonne humeur, vous devrez vous assurer qu’il est étanche. Tout d’abord, vous pouvez essayer d’imperméabiliser votre e-scooter.
Most people know that in order to have a faster electric scooter. a dual hub scooter is the answer. However, what are the points to consider before purchasing, and is dual hub really the answer to our woes?
Only around 40% of electric scooters are equipped with water-resistance ratings. To avoid bad weather spoiling your good mood, you’ll need to be sure it is waterproof. First things you can try to waterproof your e-scooter.
LifeRacer.ch (AG)
Landstrasse 122
CH – 5430 Wettingen
Tue-Fri 10am – 7pm
Sat 10am – 5pm
+41 76 277 44 59
LifeRacer.ch (BS)
Güterstrasse 126
CH – 4053 Basel
Tue, Wed, Fri 10am – 6.3pm
Sat 10am – 5pm
+41 77 426 75 62
Comments are closed.