26 replies to this topic

[gsp23]

I have seen polls for caster options, rear wheel sizes, but nothing yet for tire types. So, what is everyone using on their everyday chairs?

[Joed]

I'm not voting because I use an electric w/c, and I doubt you'd want to know anything about my ugly little grey tires.

But I did want to mention that if you spelled 'tyre' in your search here, you will probably get some added results on the topic.

[gsp23]

I forgot about those Europeans that spell tire (tyre) differently.... sorry.

Also, I guess I should have left an option in the poll for electric chair users... again sorry. I dont see a way to edit the poll and add additional options though.

[Joed]

Well, I don't feel left out at all...I don't think there's as much interest in the electric w/c tires options anyway. Not even sure that there are options, really....just ugly little grey things.

[RYAN68]

I'm working on setting up my powerchair with some knobby or garden tiller tires. I've gotten stuck way to many times. Once i can find the rims I need, I'll pretty much have it. by the way... there is no options for powerchair tires anywhere that I have looked, just the gray ones... My powerchair is a Invacare TDX5

[MargaretWilson]

I've never seen any options on electric wheel chair tires either. I think that there is only one thing available: the ugly grey tires that you already mentioned LOL

[gsp23]

MargaretWilson, on Oct 19 2006, 04:24 PM, said:

I've never seen any options on electric wheel chair tires either. I think that there is only one thing available: the ugly grey tires that you already mentioned LOL

Yeah when I said that I should have put an option for electric chair users, I mean that I should have had the list instead read:

Knobby Tread
All-Terrain
Streat Tread
Racing or Court Tread
Smooth
Electric Chair
Other

[SethBove]

Hi all,

I'm a T4 para, and believe it or not I just had some BMX mountain bike tires put on my X-Core wheels. I had been using primo racers for years and years, but they just wore down so quickly. I made sure that the BMX tires were NOT all tready and knobby to spare damage on my hands. They are pretty smooth, and black!

I roll smoother, sit higher, and have much less punctures now. I think it's sad that there are so few options for us in chairs because the research in technology is just not happening. Anyway, if you want to try something fun go down to your local bike shop and see if your wheels fit any of the fancy bike stuff. Bike tires are always being researched and revamped because there's so much more money in the field of Biking than for wheelchairs...

Take care,
-Seth

[gsp23]

SethBove, on Oct 21 2006, 12:15 AM, said:

Hi all,

I'm a T4 para, and believe it or not I just had some BMX mountain bike tires put on my X-Core wheels. I had been using primo racers for years and years, but they just wore down so quickly. I made sure that the BMX tires were NOT all tready and knobby to spare damage on my hands. They are pretty smooth, and black!

I roll smoother, sit higher, and have much less punctures now. I think it's sad that there are so few options for us in chairs because the research in technology is just not happening. Anyway, if you want to try something fun go down to your local bike shop and see if your wheels fit any of the fancy bike stuff. Bike tires are always being researched and revamped because there's so much more money in the field of Biking than for wheelchairs...

Take care,
-Seth

Thats awsome... My rigid chair had primo racers and my folding had primo street tread. I actually just put the primo racers on the folding chair and was thinking of going knobby on the rigid. I see Kenda makes some knobby tires now and since they make some great bicycle tires I was wondering how their wheelchair tires are in comparison to the Primos.

[RacingAxe]

I currently have a rental chair. It has smooth tires on it and let me tell you they slip on wet leaves on the ramp into the house. I am hoping my new chair, Kuschall Air Lite Pro, will have similar tires to the one that I tried as an inpatient. It had a tread but the wheel/tire combo (26" diameter) we ordered did not include a description of the tread. I hope I don't regret going with the 26" diameter.

[gsp23]

26" wow those are some big tires. I got 24" on one and 25" on the other. I really like the 25's much better than the 24's, they seem to be much easier to push.

[gsp23]

Just ordered up some Kenda Wide Knobbys... Figure they will help with some of the off-roading and also with winter comming, will hopefully make snow travels through parking lots, my driveway, etc easier.

[MargaretWilson]

Oh well. I don't think that any pole could ever be totally perfect. We can still pipe in and tell you we're motorized. As for the mountain bike tires... I'd never thought about doing that but it would be really cool I think.

[silone74]

Hi i have just built up some 24" mountain bike wheels using sun wheelchair hubs no push rims and smooth 2.5" tyre's used for my chair that the hand bike fits to great soft smooth ride and i still have the choice to swop back to standard wheels depending on what terrain i am going on my everyday chair has 24" racing 1" wide smooth tyre i find them great for pushing on all day les friction with the less contact of the tyre to the ground.


Silone74

[john S.]

I prefer my tires to be round

[Bulky]

Kenda Iron caps on one pair of day wheels & both pairs of rugby wheels.
Schwable Marathons on power assist wheels.

Edited by Bulky, 12 October 2007 - 05:04 AM.

[gsp23]

Well I have had a year now of exeperience and many different conditions living in a rural area where there are muddy roads (actually clay which is worse when wet), offroads for hunting, in the cities, through snow & ice and just normal everyday stuff and have gone through quite a few tires already trying to figure things out and wearing out some as well. Here is what I current am using:

Rigid Everyday Chair
- 25" (559) Wheels - Primo Silver Bullet
- 24" (540) Wheels - Primo Knobby
** The 24" wheels are only used in the winter when there are slushy conditions or some new fallen snow where I need the extra grip. Having High Pressure Clinchers normally on my chair in 559 and knobby on the 540s I can still use the brakes for the most part regardless of the wheels I am using.

Folding Hunting Chair
- 26" (590) Wheels - Kenda Cross
** These are bicycle tires and are very similar to the pattern used on the kenda knobby wheelchair tire, except they are lower pressure and softer rubber which helps with most of the offroading that I do.

[Big Valley]

I have been using 26" rims for many years. Will never so back to little 24". The larger rims give me more pushing power with less effort and get the tires up higher where I feel it is more comfortable. they also sub as arm rests when I am not moving.



Anyway for any rim I recommend getting the size of rim that allows you you use standard bike tires. For my 26" rims it is the 25-590 size. You then have a huge selection of tire choices at much lower prices than "wheelchair" tires.



I have a very aggressive knobby set for snow and off-road times but they don't get used that often. My daily use is a set of very fat cruiser style flame tires. I like the ride, they don't sink into the grass, and feel comfortable in my hand. Unfortunately they don't make them anymore and I can't find them on eBay any longer either. So I have one more set in the garage and after that I guess I need to find something different.

[knowthill]

Living in northern I have considered putting studs on mine. I decided on all terrain type with a solid core instead of tire tube. The ride is rougher but I don’t have to worry about a flat tire.

[sits2much]

I think it really depends on a persons, location and terrain...

I use racing/court tires cause I can get a better deal if I buy bulk in these then if I choose different ones, since I use my everyday chair and play basketball. They wear out quick both on and off the court and stink in any weather that is wet..

[Texaswheelz]

I used to always use some sort of Knobby tires, but since I've moved to Dallas and roll the streets and sidewalks instead of dirt roads I've switched and it has made a huge difference. Currently I have Kenda Koncept on my every day chair and Kenda Kaliente on my basketball and tennis wheels, all 23-559's. It does suck when I go to visit my family or in-laws, both of whom live in the middle of nowhere in Oklahoma, I pretty much have to do a wheelie every where I go outside there to keep the back tires from spinning.

[twisted_ophelia]

Just started using the big knobby tread wheels a few weeks ago (26" but am going to switch to 24"). They are AWESOME. What a difference in the snow. I originally put them on to help me out in the deep snow in and around the ski resorts as I'm just getting into sit skiing but I'm finding they make general day-to-day city life much easier as well. They get filthy though.

Edited by twisted_ophelia, 30 January 2009 - 01:24 AM.

[longhaul]

Anyone in snow country ever thought of using "chains", a cable could be wound around the tyre for snow and removed for clear sailing. I live in the woods pretty rough country, I tried the nobbys but they tear the hell out of my hands and gloves so I went to a smooth Metro 24X2.00. I was afraid that they would have no traction but unless I get in deep pine needle they do great.



Hey John S. where do you get round tires?

[gsp23]

I live in snow country and couldnt even imagine using chains or cables as once you go indoor that would just eat up the floors. I do have studded tires on my PowerTrike though but that snaps off before going indoors.

That being said... I have wide knobby tires that I use for winters and for beaches. The big thing with knobby tires is that you need to look at the wall height of the tires. If there is a short wall height, the tread lines up with your hands when on the handrims. I know the Kenda knobby wheelchair tires are like that and are horrible. The ones that I am using now that have very good clearance are Schwalbe Space tires. There is a very tall wall height so that tread is quite a bit above your hands and your hands actually normally make contact with the smooth walls. Unfortunatly for anyone in the US, Schwalbe doesnt sell the 559s of that tire in the US so you would have to go through a European supplier. I found them from a UK seller on eBay and while shipping was high due to the price, they are well worth it.

[wheelywendy]

i use schwalbe marathon plus with smart guard, these have been great, before i used primo v track for years, but was always getting punctures, i've had the schwalbe for 2 yrs now and had no punctures, they roll well and last ages .

[longhaul]

By chains I didn't mean real tire chains just something like roap or zip ties that could be removed easily when they weren't needed. Real chains would be interesting though.

[wheeliebear75]

I have semi-pneumatic airless inserts (I never have to worry about flat tires) & there is tread on it but not quite "mountain" tread.