6 replies to this topic

[jane]

Hi.

i know there is probably a topic about this, but i can't find one.

I ran over a drawing pin at work and got a puncture, so hubby tried to mend it, and now i have a slow puncture. So i sent hubby to get a new inner tube - but he says he can't find one the right size. does anyone know where i should go for one.

my wheels are the emotion power assist wheels.

thanks

jane

[Nichole]

jane, on Jan 30 2007, 06:16 AM, said:

Hi.

i know there is probably a topic about this, but i can't find one.

I ran over a drawing pin at work and got a puncture, so hubby tried to mend it, and now i have a slow puncture. So i sent hubby to get a new inner tube - but he says he can't find one the right size. does anyone know where i should go for one.

my wheels are the emotion power assist wheels.

thanks

jane

I just have regular wheels, but whenever i need new tires or tubes, i just go to the bicycle shop. They ususally have a great selection, and if they don't have the right kind they can usually order them. I've also noticed they are WAY cheaper than an actual wheelchair store, and they'll even put the tubes in for you. It's also a great place to go if your out and need air for your tires. Everyplace i've went let you use their pumps for free.

Edited by Nichole, 03 February 2007 - 04:06 PM.

[Lucydog]

Hi Jane

did you get the new inner tube sorted? If not let me know as i have some spares that might be suitable.
cheers
L

[jane]

Lucydog, on Feb 3 2007, 10:02 PM, said:

Hi Jane

did you get the new inner tube sorted? If not let me know as i have some spares that might be suitable.
cheers
L

Hi Lucy.

Yes I did thanks (I ordered 2 so I had a spare) and I took it to Halfords and they changed it for me.

Thanks.
Hope you are keeping ok.

jane

[Black Sox]

Guys,

Two words: solid tyres.

They're no harder than a pneumatic tyre at 100 p.s.i. and you never get a puncture, slow or fast.

BS

[AHolland]

Some people like solid tires, people like me hate them. It's all about cushion. If you go outside a lot then the pneumatic tires, either low pressure (45-70) or the higher pressure (100-120) may be what you like. The lower the pressure in the tires, the slower they may seem to bleed off pressure. The higher the pressure in the tire, the easier it may seem to roll. However, when the high pressure tires bleed off some pressure, you may find the brakes lose their hold.

High pressure tires should not need topping up for about 2 months.

Lower pressure tires should not need topping up for about 4 months.

If you are finding them going down faster than that, you may have either a slow leak or a leaking stem valve. Valve stems, where you put in the air, have little diaphrams that are screwed in and may build up dirt over time. Check that the valve stem is turned in all the way. Finger tight only. Tighter than that and you may bust the tiny screw. If the valve is dirty, the valve on the end may not seat properly and the valve will lose air like a slow leak. You can use a pair pf tiny needle nose pliers, or what is easier is a valve stem tool. These are often included in the valve stem cap on the tire. They can also be bought from your local bike store. Price should be 0.50 to 10.00 depending on the style you get.

What do I like? I like the high pressure tires with puncture fluid in them. That is a fluid which turns into rubber and seals a leak, when it comes into contact with air. You normally attach a can of the puncture seal to a partially inflated tire. It squirts in under pressure. You then top off the tire to the correct pressure. Once you start rolling around, the fluid coats the inside of the tireand stays that way until you get a leak. If the tire get punctured, the fluid pumps into the leak sealing it. Why does it not simply turn into a solid from the air in the tire? Beats me. Must be something in the can that stays in the tire until a 100% air hits it.

Solid tires have their place too. If you are staying primarily indoors then there is no bumps to soften out. Solid tires roll the best and cannot get a leak. They last longer and you probably never have to adjust your brakes. They also do not have much grip on wet or icy surfaces because they usually have little to no texture on the surface with which to grip. That also means they are easier to clean if you come inside from a dirty surface where tread tends to pick up dirt. Tires with a lot of tread not only carry in dirt, but they can play hell with longer carpet. The high tread grips and rips the longer carpet, particularily when spinning around in a fixed place. The higher pressure tires or solid tires would be best.

As a last note, you usually cannot get a proper inner tube from a bike shop. Most bikes use a much wider tire and the inner tubes cannot expand to the proper width of the wheelchair tire. Most medical supply shops will be the best place to get the inner tube. They will cost $10 - 15.00. If you find someone trying to get too much for the inner tube, the check the bike shops but be sure to discuss the width of the rim and try not to take just any generic tube. Manufacturers like Primo and Kenda make a wide assortment of tires and tubes. There are some 20 manufacturers of tires that would fit on different wheelchair rims. I use Bontrager (120 PSI) racing tires, not for any reason other than because the local bike shop sold them the cheapest.

And just because I thought of a final note to the final note (FN) above. Watch the color of your tires. The typical grey colors are because they mark the floors the least. Black tires, like mine, are really only suitable for outside or hard surfaces. Longer term use in carpeted houses will leave tracks in much the way that school kids are told to use unmarking shoes in the schools or gyms.

And now because I am in full tilt RN (above) rant. You may find problems if you decide to switch rim types (low pressure rims to high pressure rims). The lower the pressure, the wider the rims on average. You can often switch from solid rims to high pressure rims with just a brake adjustment. The solid tires having a lower profile. You may not be able to switch from the high pressure rims to the low pressure rims because of the rim width. When you switch you may need an additional spacer to bring the rim further out on the wheelchair. Failure to do so may result in the tire scrapping against the wheelchair. The quickest way to do this is to just borrow a friends rim and try it out (works on quick release rims where the axel is the same diameter.). Otherwise you will have to measure from the center of the tire to the outside of the widest part of the axel/hub, rim or inflated tire on both setups and see if the switch would work. If this is beyond you, check to see if the local medical shop would let you measure a wheelchair with the opposite setup as yours. Normally you will rub on either the brake assemblies or the widest part of the seating area. Finally for those who like to really offroad. As of last year there was not any good supplier of REALLY knobby tires out there. Kenda had one in the works. However, you can change to any offroad tire if you are willing to have the local bike shop relace your rims. What they do is take your hubs, and install a typical mountain bike rim on it. It means that they will have to install a totally new set of spokes to mate the two together. This can be expensive. In this case you are also almost guaranteed to have to use a spacer on the axel. That may be quite simple, or quite difficult depending on the wheelchair.

Geez and I started this as a quick reply to solid tires.... I have to get a grip on myself..

[russ1]

AHolland, on Feb 7 2007, 10:46 PM, said:

Finally for those who like to really offroad. As of last year there was not any good supplier of REALLY knobby tires out there. Kenda had one in the works. However, you can change to any offroad tire if you are willing to have the local bike shop relace your rims. What they do is take your hubs, and install a typical mountain bike rim on it. It means that they will have to install a totally new set of spokes to mate the two together. This can be expensive. In this case you are also almost guaranteed to have to use a spacer on the axel. That may be quite simple, or quite difficult depending on the wheelchair.

Geez and I started this as a quick reply to solid tires.... I have to get a grip on myself..

Above information is correct if you run 24" wheelchair wheels

25" wheelchair wheels will take any standard mountain bike tyre, they can be got down to 1.5" wide in proper knobbly (continental cross country).

And here's another vote against solid tyres - horrible things