Powerchair Wheels 101 By Mark E. Smith

Few aspects of a powerchair are as important as what's between the user and the ground - wheels, that is.  From indoor maneuverability to outdoor prowess, the size and type of wheels dictate a powerchair's performance.  Whether you seeks a 6" caster, or a 16" drive wheel, selecting wheels based on the intended environment in which the powerchair will be used can dramatically improve long-term satisfaction with your powerchair. Casters Ranging in size from 6" to 10", casters are the pivoting, non-powered wheels found on a powerchair.  On a rear-wheel drive, the casters are in the front of a powerchair, and on a front-wheel or mid-wheel drive, the casters are in the rear.   As a rule, larger casters work well outdoors, whereas smaller casters work well indoors.  The extreme 10"x3" caster size climbs obstacles well, and offers great floatation outdoors; however, the 10"x3" casters requires a lot of space in which to pivot, making for awkward indoor maneuvering.  To the other extreme, the 6" caster needs minimal space to pivot, making it very compact indoors, but it's too small for frequent outdoor use, prone to catching on the smallest obstacles.  For full-time powerchair users, 8" and 9" casters are the most common choice, with 8" as the most practical for light outdoor users, and 9" for more frequent outdoor users.   Caster size also affects how closely footrests can be placed on a rear-wheel drive powerchair configuration, so if tucked-in footrests are needed, smaller casters maybe a wiser choice than selecting their larger cousins. Caster Size Guidelines: · 6"x2" - Indoor use / minimal outdoor use, may catch on obstacles · 8"x2" - Indoor use / outdoor use, a good choice for indoor handling, while retaining outdoor capabilities · 9"x2.75" - Indoor use/ heavy outdoor use, very effective outdoors, increasing off-road and obstacle-climbing abilities, while still works well indoors · 10"x3" - Minimal indoor use / heavy outdoor use, may be too large for use in tight quarters, such as maneuvering in vans Drive Wheels Connected to the motors via a drive shaft or drive belt, the drive wheels are what propel the powerchair.  Because traction is imperative, drive wheels are most often larger than casters, ranging in size from 10" to 20".   As with casters, smaller drive wheels perform well indoors, residing within a smaller powerchair footprint, less likely to extend beyond the chair and interfere with maneuverability.  Larger drive wheels operate well outdoors, easily rolling over obstacles, offering increased traction; however some find 16" and 20" wheels too large indoors, compromising maneuverability.  Large drive wheels may also contribute to increased seat-to-floor height, so if a low seat position is important, a smaller drive wheel may be preferable over a larger one.  In today's marketplace, the 14" drive wheel is the most popular for full-time powerchair users, compact indoors and capable outdoors. Drive wheel width also affects performance, dictating stability and traction.  Drive wheels under 2" wide are not recommended for frequent outdoor use.   Drive Wheel Guidelines: · 10"x3" - Indoor use / minimal outdoor use, not recommended for unfinished outdoor surfaces · 12"x4" - Indoor use / frequent outdoor use, compact indoors and works well outdoors · 14"x3" - Indoor use / heavy outdoor use, works very well on full-size chairs indoors, and offers excellent outdoor performance. · 16"x4" - Indoor use / heavy outdoor use, may be too large in some confined indoor spaces · 20"x2.25" - Indoor use / outdoor use, very large for indoor use and the narrow width may restrict outdoor performance Anti-Tip Wheels Located on the front or rear of a powerchair, depending upon drive configuration, anti-tip wheels stabilize the powerchair, preventing catastrophic tipping.  Ranging from 2" to 8" in diameter, the size of an anti-tip wheel dictates its performance, with larger ones less likely to sink into soft surfaces than smaller versions, improving safety.  Some anti-tip wheels feature suspension, allowing several inches of upward travel to prevent hang-ups when encountering obstacles, which is a benefit for users frequently outdoors.   Therefore, the next time you're shopping for a powerchair, don't merely consider what you're sitting on, but also what you're rolling on - choices of wheels can make all the difference.