The Ultimate Guide to Electric Scooter Tyres

Introduction

“Tyres make the world go round” would be a great quote… if anyone had actually said it. Tyres are essential in any vehicle, and every vehicle has specific kinds of tyres basis where they are used. With electric scooter tyres too, there are specific kinds of tyres that work, even though the vehicle is not very different from a regular petrol scooter. It’s important for owners to know the different kinds of electric scooter tyres so you can choose the best tyres for your electric scooter. This article introduces you to electric scooter tyres and gives tips on how you can maintain them to last long.

How are Electric Scooter Tyres Different?

While there are similarities in the basic construction between electric scooter tyres and traditional scooter tyres, they do differ in terms of design, functionality, requirements and maintenance considerations. Simply put, they look the same, but are completely different from one another. Here are some of the key differences between petrol scooter tyres and electric scooter tyres:

1. Construction: Unlike their petrol scooter counterparts, electric scooter tyres are optimised for electric scooter propulsion systems and can handle the instant torque delivery of Warp™ Mode acceleration. They are made to handle the specific weight distribution that the electric scooter manufacturer has designed.
    
2. Performance: Tyres for electric scooters are designed to offer good traction and grip, especially during high acceleration.
    
3. Size and load capacity: Factors such as battery weight and motor placement determine what electric scooter tyre sizes are ideal for your electric scooter.
    
4. Quiet operation: Electric scooters are renowned for their quietness, and therefore, even the tyres are built to reduce road noise and complement the quiet electric propulsion of the electric scooter.
    
5. Rolling resistance: Electric scooter tyres have lower rolling resistance in order to optimise overall efficiency, and give you more out of every recharge.

Different types of electric scooter tyres

Broadly, there are two types of electric scooter tyres. 

The first and most common type are pneumatic tyres, i.e. electric scooter tyres filled with air. Pneumatic tyres provide natural shock absorption, which is especially useful on bumpy Indian roads. These electric scooter tyres can be either tubed or tubeless. Tubed tyres are cheaper. However, in the case of a puncture, the tyre goes flat immediately. Tubeless electric scooter tyres, on the other hand, are easier to maintain and help you reach the nearest tyre repair shop.

The other type of electric scooter tyres are ‘solid rubber’ tyres. These tyres are made solely out of rubber, and don’t need any air, making them practically flat-free and therefore, hassle-free. However, they aren’t as shock absorbent and provide less traction on wet surfaces. In order to mitigate some of these disadvantages, some tyre manufacturers have started making vented, honeycomb, or foam-filled solid tyres, thus increasing their durability and shock absorption abilities.

Choosing the best Tyres for electric scooter

So should you go for pneumatic or solid electric scooter tyres? That depends upon your preferences and where you’re most likely to ride your e-scooter. If you live in a city where the roads are bumpy or filled with potholes, the shock absorption of pneumatic tyres with large diameter could help you with a smoother ride experience. For a city with relatively better roads, or if you’re going to be riding on a smoother highway more often than in the city, consider solid tyres for their durability and low-to-no-risk of puncture. Solid tyres are not recommended by most manufacturers as it is not practical on city roads.

Apart from the type of tyre, the tread patterns of your electric scooter tyres is also something that can drastically affect your riding experience. A smooth tread pattern soothes city roads, especially the sleeker main roads, whereas the off-road or bumpy rides are better navigating using tyres with a knobby pattern.

Electric scooter tyres maintenance tips

Changing tyres often is not ideal, especially from a cost perspective. So, to make the most out of your electric scooter tyres, take these few easy steps. 

One, go to the Ather Store - our store for electric scooter accessories, and invest in a good tyre inflator and a TPMS (Tyre Pressure Monitor System). With these sleek electric scooter accessories, you can keep a constant eye on the tyre pressure and inflate them yourself, if needed, easily.

Riding your electric scooter on tyres that are not well inflated can cause tyre damage, reduced shock absorption capabilities and reduced range for your electric scooter. It can also compromise your handling capabilities and lead to accidents. Having said that, over-inflated tyres are also at the risk of punctures and provide bumpy rides. 

It’s also important to keep the tyres clean and adhere to your scooter’s maintenance schedule to get the best out of your electric scooter and its tyres.