Total Traction A Guide to Powerchair Tires By Mark E. Smith

When it comes to tires, powerchair users need to learn what auto enthusiasts, cyclists, and sportschair users have always known:  The tread on your wheels can make or break the performance of your ride. While the market isn’t exactly bursting with tread patterns for powerchairs, there’re 3 common gray tire styles -- slick, studded, and knobby -- available for 10”, 12”, 14”, and 16” drive wheels.  Indeed, as I learned by testing the 3 tread patterns for a weak each in the 4.10/3.50-6 (13”x4”), rim size, the type of tires you’re running make a huge difference on how your powerchair performs. Slicks (far left in photo) Generally a smooth tread with shallow crosscuts, slicks provide the lowest rolling resistance on smooth, hard surfaces.  They adhere exceptionally well to asphalt and concrete, which is why they’re common on race cars.  However, on loose, soft, or wet surfaces -- such as off road or in wet conditions -- slicks dramatically lose traction.  For this reason, slicks should be avoided in off-road and winter applications.   I ran Primo’s slicks, inflated at the rated maximum 50psi, and they were hard as a rock, providing an excruciatingly jarring ride.  I attributed this not so much to the psi level, but to the fact that the tire has a narrow profile, not giving the tire enough volume to absorb the shock (generally, a more “balloonish” tire that protrudes out from the sides of the rim does a better job absorbing bumps). If you’re looking for a quiet, efficient ride on hard, smooth, dry surfaces, slicks are the way to go. Studded (middle in photo) Studded -- or “diamond tread” -- tires feature a constant pattern of diamond-shaped studs, with about a 3/8” gab between the studs.  The studded pattern provides a quiet ride on smooth surfaces, has a good tread life, and offers excellent traction off-road and in winter conditions.   The only two drawbacks are that the studded tires, like the slicks, have a square profile that doesn’t absorb shock as well as one might wish, and the gaps in the tread collect mud, littering floors.   Overall, the studded tire is the best bet for most full-time powerchair users. Knobby (far right in photo) Make no mistake, the knobby tire is the bad-ass of the bunch, truly giving your chair an all-terrain look and ability.  What’s more, knobbies offer the only balloon shape, providing a considerably softer ride than the other tire styles.   On the down side, much like putting monster off-road tires on a city truck, knobbies produce noise at high speeds on hard surfaces -- and I mean a lot of noise! -- and wear out faster.  So, they may not be appropriate for those living in concrete jungles. Nevertheless, if you live in snow country, spend a lot of time off-road, or want the softest ride possible, go with the honky-tonk knobbies. A Tire is a Tire is Not a Tire So, the next time you swap out your tread, give thought not only to the size, but also the style.  You know, “there’s a lot riding on your tires” (wouldn’t that make a great ad campaign?). Tire Resources SpinLife.com Cybermeds.com Edmond Wheelchair Supply

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