I've never bought tires for a wheelchair before I always Kept the ones that came on it for the last 6 years
I've never bought tires for a wheelchair before I always Kept the ones that came on it for the last 6 years.
Burgerman wrote:I've never bought tires for a wheelchair before I always Kept the ones that came on it for the last 6 years
Rear tyres for a powerchair are almost universally 14 inch. And the correct terminology varies. But 300 x 8, 3.00 x 8, 14 - 300 - 8, and all sorts of variations are used. Same with casters.
The important info is this for drive wheels:
Rim = 8 inches diameter.
Tyre is 300 or 3.00 (THREE INCHES) wide, and fits an 8 inch rim.
As for wheels, people normally change these for reasons of fitting either wider, tubeless, different profile, etc. Why are you wanting to change them? There's no point if you are fitting NON tubeless, stock sized foam, air filled, tyres? You will find it hard to find plug and play "alternative" wheel rims in any case.
Burgerman wrote:I've never bought tires for a wheelchair before I always Kept the ones that came on it for the last 6 years.
This is amazing to me.
I get through at LEAST four and usually 5 sets of bigger 10 inch caster tyres a year, totally worn away to the canvas and in danger of failing.
And stock grey 14 inch powerchair tyres were worn to the same level after about 5 to 8 months depending on type.
How on earth do you get 6 years? Are you a full time user (all day)? Do you just stay at home all day?
Same with batteries. I used to throw away a set of 70Ah batteries every 8 to 10 months. Because range, and or Torque (power), just fell away to the point where it stopped me doing what I do...
Recent fast charging, better chargers, multiple daily top ups, has extended this to around 3 years though now. The only way batteries can last longer is if you barely discharge them.
And motors. Swapped around every 18 months to 2 years (4 pole) and the original (early) 2 pole ones were replaced about every 9 months when they were completely worn out.
flagman1776 wrote:Munky,
You have not filled in your signature or location so we have no idea sources to suggest. In the USA, I'd look at MonsterScooterParts.com I got good service from MSP on a pair of SLA batteries for my Pride Wrangler. If you or your caregivers are handy, I'd suggest Ebay. The key is in knowing what you are looking for as it's far cheaper if you can source from a non-medical outlet.
Seajays wrote:Yes always nice to know peoples location.
I know the rims are 14" x 3" and the caster wheels are 6".
Burgerman wrote:I know the rims are 14" x 3" and the caster wheels are 6".
No. The rims on the drive wheels are anything between 1.75 and 2.25 wide, and 8 inches in diameter depending on chair. And the CORRECT sized tyre is a 14 inch (incorrect description used by powerchair manufacturers) x 3. The actual size you look for or 300 x 8 or 3.00 x 8.
That said you will be hard pushed to find off road style tyres in that size. As you have found out.
But... A 350 (3.50) x 8 tyre WILL fit, and these are available in off road style. But:
a) they are oversized for the rim. So will be pulled in at the bead slightly, but still work OK. And:
b) they are 1/4 inch taller (no prob) and go inboard and outboard by 1/4 too. See if you have enough clearance. If not remove wheel and add spacers (washers) and replace. For these search for 350 x 8 or 3.50 x 8 like here: http://www.shirebikes.co.uk/collections/tyres-tubes
Specifically here: http://www.shirebikes.co.uk/collections ... obbly-tyre
And if you want wheels (will not fit straight on but can easily be made to fit) http://www.shirebikes.co.uk/collections/wheels
And this allows greater tyre options too.
As for casters you do NOT want off road style casters. A caster is not meant to grip. It goes wherever its pushed. An off road style tread pattern hinders this and messes up the steering...
LROBBINS wrote:14" is NOT the rim diameter. That is the outside diameter of the tire. The rim is 8" diameter with a 3" tire, so 8" + (2 X 3") = 14". As John already said, the tires are listed in various ways: 300 x 8, 3.00 x 8 or 14 - 300 - 8 and probably some others. One dealer's web site shows an example as: 14"x3" (3.00-8) Foam-Filled Mobility Tire.
Ciao,
Lenny
Burgerman wrote:And I have to add, if width isn't an issue, pride offer some wider (very slightly) tyres and smaller diameter rims, 400 (or 4 inches) wide as a stock stupidly expensive part. But in grey.
Or you could fit some of these tyres http://www.wheelchairdriver.com/images- ... hair-7.jpg
On these rims: http://www.wheelchairdriver.com/images- ... /hegar.jpg
And get a better ride, with bigger sidewalls and lower pressures, true off road ability and grip on sand etc and high floatation so they don't sink or get stuck. And tubeless at the same time so punctures become extremely rare, and at the same time look cool!
This is actually very easy to do. Negatives are that on THAT chair it will add 6 inches to the width. Width is no problem on my own chairs, because I build them very narrow to allow for the fatter tyres. But if a 6 inch gain is acceptable then fit these you will not look back. Better in every way. These are 14 in diameter. But on a wide rim, which is only 6 inches diameter.
Burgerman wrote:The problem then is that you are limited in tyres as there are very few made in 300 x 8 that are the same width as yours. The 350 by 8 will fit, on your wheels, and are available with an off road style. http://www.shirebikes.co.uk/collections ... obbly-tyre But its all style because they are still skinny, so sink in mud, sand etc.
And these will add 1 inch to your chairs width.
I would not mind getting a little bit of a larger rim. As long as it doesn't change any of the measurements of the chair;
Burgerman wrote:I would not mind getting a little bit of a larger rim. As long as it doesn't change any of the measurements of the chair;
But that's the point. A chairs width is determined by the width of its batteries, plus width of motors plus width of wheels/tyre combination. Its just maths. Its the thing that determines minimum width.
To keep the width down to 25.x inches on THIS chair http://www.wheelchairdriver.com/images- ... r-1200.jpg required a radical redesign, with the whole centre section narrowed, motors moved inboard by 3 inches each side, and the batteries turned around 90 degrees so they are longways.
So since pride (or anyone else) have not figured this out yet, you cant fit wider rims, or wider rubber without making your chair too wide. The only way they managed this was to fit small batteries in the "EDGE" chair, and managed to lose just 1.4 inches... The smaller batteries are only possible with both loss of range and/or slower chair (lower gearing.)
So...
If you want to fit the 350 off road style tyres to new or your existing rims you will make the chair 1 inch wider. If you want to fit the 145/70 or 6.00 sized all terrain tyres that I use, your chair will end up some 6 inches too wide.
THESE are not steel. But aluminium, lightweight, take tubeless tyres, and are cheap!
And they look way better than a bunch of paint or fancy trim...
Munkypoop99 wrote:Burgerman wrote:I would not mind getting a little bit of a larger rim. As long as it doesn't change any of the measurements of the chair;
But that's the point. A chairs width is determined by the width of its batteries, plus width of motors plus width of wheels/tyre combination. Its just maths. Its the thing that determines minimum width.
To keep the width down to 25.x inches on THIS chair http://www.wheelchairdriver.com/images- ... r-1200.jpg required a radical redesign, with the whole centre section narrowed, motors moved inboard by 3 inches each side, and the batteries turned around 90 degrees so they are longways.
So since pride (or anyone else) have not figured this out yet, you cant fit wider rims, or wider rubber without making your chair too wide. The only way they managed this was to fit small batteries in the "EDGE" chair, and managed to lose just 1.4 inches... The smaller batteries are only possible with both loss of range and/or slower chair (lower gearing.)
So...
If you want to fit the 350 off road style tyres to new or your existing rims you will make the chair 1 inch wider. If you want to fit the 145/70 or 6.00 sized all terrain tyres that I use, your chair will end up some 6 inches too wide.
THESE are not steel. But aluminium, lightweight, take tubeless tyres, and are cheap!
And they look way better than a bunch of paint or fancy trim...
I would like the chair to not get any more wider. If it does, it will only fit in handicapped doors in my area. And it will definitely not fit in the tattoo shop, which I have been waiting to be able to get in there. I don't really want to have to do a lot of cosmetic changes. If I don't have to. See, my caregiver who would be helping with this.... Well, with the parts he can.... Is your stereotypical huge nerd that always plays games. He knows nothing about all this and there is no way I can direct him and help out since I do not have any usage of my arms. This is why would prefer them to slide right on. Of course I know I have to have a shop mount the tires on the rims, but that's not a problem whatsoever. What size are those rims in that picture? The tires look great and would help me but might be too large, especially when I go places such as Dr. offices, since for some odd reason those offices are small. I like the knobby tires previously posted on this thread topic. But you are right, they do look pretty skinny. I would just love to have a chart or something like that. That would tell me exactly what they would look like on my chair or something like that. I don't mind adding an inch or 2 to go width, but I don't really want to go any much more than that. Also, I could handle an inch or 2 for height, but no more than that, or I will be hitting my head on a lot of things.
I hope I am not sounding like a broken record and becoming annoying. This is all new to me on finding the perfect tire and rim to purchase. And due to being on disability, if I purchase something, it better work out great, you know what I mean? I do appreciate everyone's help. I am learning some and finding sites I never found. I still have a lot to learn. Which sucks since I get my chair in 2 weeks and it's almost summer, when I am in my chair the most.
A little too big and wide but not by much
Burgerman wrote:I've never bought tires for a wheelchair before I always Kept the ones that came on it for the last 6 years.
This is amazing to me.
I get through at LEAST four and usually 5 sets of bigger 10 inch caster tyres a year, totally worn away to the canvas and in danger of failing.
And stock grey 14 inch powerchair tyres were worn to the same level after about 5 to 8 months depending on type.
How on earth do you get 6 years? Are you a full time user (all day)? Do you just stay at home all day?
Same with batteries. I used to throw away a set of 70Ah batteries every 8 to 10 months. Because range, and or Torque (power), just fell away to the point where it stopped me doing what I do...
Recent fast charging, better chargers, multiple daily top ups, has extended this to around 3 years though now. The only way batteries can last longer is if you barely discharge them.
And motors. Swapped around every 18 months to 2 years (4 pole) and the original (early) 2 pole ones were replaced about every 9 months when they were completely worn out.
Munkypoop99 wrote:I had problems last year in the summer when I was outside. There was no tread on those stock tires so they cannot grab to the grass or whatever and I spend a lot of time in the summer in my yard because it is a fairly large yard. I used a center Drive last time and now switching to rearwheel because I tried it and that helps me a lot to get through things. I was going to do air filled, but I was told about how fast they go flat. So I am going with pneumatic tires. I want it to look just like stock size, just more grip and tread on the tires, so I don't get stuck again
Burgerman wrote:A little too big and wide but not by much
Its much shorter than your rival. By some TEN inches!
Its 25.3 inches wide. So the same width as the Rival to the mm...
It seat can be much lower too.
It works with full sized batteries, and more power than yours, on beaches, snow, sand, and it wheelies like mad. Also greater ground clearance. And much better build quality. And instead of a 75Amp controller it has either a 100Amp one (more torque)
The NEW one is exactly the same, but even shorter! And has 3x the speed, 3x the range, and can be charged much faster, and its 45v lithium battery is half the weight and holds 3x the energy! And a 45 volt system and a 150Amp one. The big manufacturers are not trying.
they told me those aren't air filled, GRRR! I think foam filled or something. I don't know. But I was originally going to switch to air filled and told them I don't want to anymore, so they said pneumatic, HMMMex-Gooserider wrote:Munkypoop99 wrote:I had problems last year in the summer when I was outside. There was no tread on those stock tires so they cannot grab to the grass or whatever and I spend a lot of time in the summer in my yard because it is a fairly large yard. I used a center Drive last time and now switching to rearwheel because I tried it and that helps me a lot to get through things. I was going to do air filled, but I was told about how fast they go flat. So I am going with pneumatic tires. I want it to look just like stock size, just more grip and tread on the tires, so I don't get stuck again
I should point out that pneumatic tires ARE the same as air-filled ones... The WC industry uses split rims and tubed tires, which DO go flat quickly in the case of a puncture. However if you can find TUBELESS tires and compatible rims that you can make fit on your chair, there is much less of a problem with flats...
Barring a gross puncture of the sort that totally cuts the tire open, a typical small object will only give a slow leak - this is part of the nature of a tubless tire. If you use puncture sealing goo inside the tires the way that BM does, you are even less likely to have a problem.
The air filled tires will give you a much softer ride than the solids that the WC industry tries to stick people with.
ex-Gooserider
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