One question that we get asked often is: &#;which scooter wheel size should I get&#;, or &#;what's the difference between this wheel and that wheel&#;?
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It&#;s an important part of your scooter to get right. Buy the wrong size and they won&#;t be compatible with your setup, but get the right size and you&#;ll have a smooth, safe and fun riding experience.
Here at Rideminded, we want to help you make the best choices for your scooter. After reading this guide, you&#;ll understand the ins and outs of the scooter wheel. This way, you can make a more informed decision when putting together your setup, and be better prepared to avoid any common pitfalls when it comes to scooter wheel sizes.
You&#;ll also discover the best scooter wheels for beginner and advanced riders, and find answers to some frequently asked questions.
Scooter wheels can be broken down into five elements:
Learn what they all mean and what you need to be aware of below:
Diameter is the overall size of the wheel. As the diameter increases, the slower you will get to speed, but the maximum speed you can reach is higher.
There are five main diameters when it comes to scooter wheels:
These small wheels are a remnant from the days in which companies adapted inline skate wheels for use with scooters.
100mm wheels tend to feature plastic cores and basic bearings, although you can find the odd 100mm with a metal core (we will get to core material later). You will most often find these wheels as stock items on low-end or beginner complete scooters, or those that have been intended as &#;scooter-to-school&#; completes.
These wheels are fine if you are a very young rider just starting out, but for older or more experienced riders, these wheels are best swapped for one of the bigger options.
This wheel size is the scooter rider&#;s staple and most standard wheel on the market. 110mms are the go-to wheels for the majority of riders out there, as they fill a solid middle ground in terms of speed, durability, weight, cost and style.
There are 110mm wheels that cater to both park and street riders, making them by far the most versatile and well catered for wheel size.
These wheels also fit on 99% of all complete and aftermarket forks and decks, so you really can&#;t go wrong!
Alternatively, if you&#;re looking for some very specific advantages that suit your riding style however, some of the bigger wheels may suit you better.
At Rideminded, we stock 110mm wheels in a range of colours and designs, like this fun Juicy watermelon option!
115mm wheels are a little less common than the other wheel sizes, but have recently grown in popularity among riders with hybrid street or park styles.
Whilst they&#;re a little more weighty than 110mm wheels, 115mm provide a slight increase to speed and control when making sharp turns and executing technical tricks.
If that&#;s your style, check out these Oath Binary black and blue wheels.
Fast and functional. Originally designed for bigger, older riders with flow styles, 120mm wheels provide a solid amount of speed and are great if you want to go charging around the skate park at full speed!
The biggest drawback to 120mm wheels has historically been the weight. Bigger wheels are heavier, and having a lightweight setup is a key component to throwing down many high-level tricks at the skate park.
That being said, 120mm wheels have recently been taken back to the drawing board, undergoing a renaissance of sorts with select brands pushing them back into the spotlight by heavily reducing the weight of the cores.
With ramps in skate parks getting bigger and riders constantly pushing themselves to achieve greater air time, it only makes sense that bigger wheels will most certainly play their part in years to come.
If you&#;re interested in buying 120mm wheels, these Oath Bermuda anodised satin black wheels may be ideal for you.
As with 120mm wheels, these wheels are built for speed, and we really do mean it! 125mm size scooter wheels are essentially an extreme version of 120mm wheels and come with all the same pros and cons, just amplified.
125mm wheels are best suited to high-level riders that know they want them. These are also one of the only wheels types that are not, yet, progressing toward universal compatibility with aftermarket forks and decks.
This can make them difficult to fit onto a given setup and, unless you&#;re willing to go out and buy new parts specifically to facilitate these giants, it&#;s better to wait unless you&#;re willing to commit to a full setup change.
However, they are the fastest scooter wheels you can get your hands on. and If you are you&#;re willing to accommodate the extra weight, they&#;ll have you absolutely blasting around the skate park!
Why not take a look at our urbanArtt civic 125mm black wheels?
When choosing the material that makes up the inner core of your wheel, stick with metal cores&#; just take our word for it.
Plastic core wheels are a remnant of the inline era of scooter wheels. These are often cheaper to produce and are sometimes found as stock parts on low-end complete scooters.
These wheels were designed more for &#;scooter-to-school&#; audiences, although they can be used by riders just starting out on their scootering journey.
You should look at upgrading to metal cores as soon as you start any kind of ramp or trick riding. These wheel cores are a lot weaker than their metal core counterparts and are not up to scratch when it comes to trick riding.
Metal Core
Metal cores are the go-to wheel core for scooter riders. Almost all complete stunt scooters come fitted with these and, if you&#;re looking for an upgrade, metal cores are usually your best bet!
The thickness of a wheel&#;s core determines the forks and decks with which your wheels are compatible.
Because thickness is directly related to fork size, you need to know that the two most common fork sizes on the market are that cater to 24mm and 30mm wheels.
The scale that tells you how soft or hard the rubber of the wheel is.
Scooter wheels come in various levels of PU, starting from 85A and working up to 91A with 88A being the standard.
The lower the number on the PU scale, the softer the wheel. A softer wheel provides more grip, so you'll slide out less, but you won&#;t be able to generate as much speed.
Street style riders tackling rough terrain favour softer wheels due to their greater grip, whereas park riders who are riding smoother terrain in general, will often opt for a wheel in the middle of the scale as it provides both solid grip and ample amounts of speed. 88A is the most commonly used hardness.
The thicker the PU, the more rubber will be in contact with the ground, therefore the more grip you will have. This comes at the cost of a heavier wheel.
There are four major thicknesses on the market right now: 24mm, 26mm, 28mm and 30mm.
The thinner the wheel the more streamlined they will be, allowing for greater speed, but with less control or grip while turning. Thinner wheels are favoured by park riders who are looking to reduce the overall weight of their scooter in order to perform tricks where speed is a necessity.
Thicker wheels on the other hand, are ideal for those who want to carve through tight transitions and ride fast in both the park and streets.
The bearing is an element set within the wheel core that helps provide a smooth motion and reduces friction between moving parts.
Bearings come with an ABEC rating, although this is currently the established way of determining the speed provided, it is a controversial system that many do not think is overly accurate. The ABEC rating is determined by measuring the amount of noise created by a bearing. The idea is that a noisier bearing is slightly rougher while a quieter bearing is smoother and therefore &#;better&#;.
The ABEC rating for scooter bearings runs from 3 up to the supposed 11, although the legitimacy of 11s is up for debate.
The most common bearings you will find are ABEC 5, ABEC 7 and ABEC 9.
The scale runs with the rule, the higher the number, the faster the bearing, but the weaker and more prone to breaking.
Some brands like Oath Components and urbanArtt do not use ABEC rated bearings and have instead developed their own bearings specifically for scootering. Oath wheels come with Oath Fidelity bearings and urbanArtt wheels come with Lateral bearings.
For most people, these are the specifications for a standard scooter wheel:
However, other riders may require a slightly different setup:
If you&#;re just starting out, or buying a scooter for a young person just getting into scootering, then choose a small wheel. Usually, beginners have smaller decks, and smaller wheels make it easier to flick the deck round and do tricks.
Medium and large sized wheels are appropriate for advanced riders, as a larger deck means you&#;ll need a larger wheel. They also mean you can ride a lot faster, and are suitable if you&#;ve got a few years of experience under your belt.
These days, most scooters are compatible with both 110mm and 100mm wheels. However, you can&#;t put larger wheels than this on some decks. Be sure to check before you buy, or contact us if you need more help.
Scooter wheels will rarely break and become unusable, but they will wear down over time, meaning it&#;s advisable to replace them. For example, some parts of the wheel may have become flat, or they may slightly crack in some areas. If this is affecting your ride, it may be time to look for a replacement.
Hopefully, this guide has helped you to learn a bit more about the range of scooter wheels and sizes that exist out there, and has put you in good stead to make an informed choice about which wheels you'll be shredding next.
Find My Next Stunt Scooter Wheels at Rideminded
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.
nedong contains other products and information you need, so please check it out.
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.
Are you interested in learning more about electric scooter tires manufacturer? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!