As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Links to Amazon on this page are affiliate links.
Solid or air-filled scooter tires: which should you pick?
Updated
Solid tires cannot go flat, but every crack and seam in the road comes up through the deck into your feet and hands. Air-filled (pneumatic) tires ride softer and grip better, but they can puncture and need air every week or two. For most commuters on real city streets, I'd pick air tires. Pick solid if your route is smooth and a flat would leave you stranded.
| Solid (including honeycomb) | Pneumatic, tube or tubeless | |
|---|---|---|
| Flats | Never | Possible. Tubeless and self-healing types help |
| Ride comfort | Harsh on cracks, seams and brick | Softer, especially with suspension |
| Grip | Less, and less again on wet paint and metal | More |
| Upkeep | Almost none | Check pressure often |
What our picks use
- Gotrax GXL V2: 8.5 in solid (honeycomb).
- Segway Ninebot E2 Pro: Pneumatic (air).
- Hiboy S2 Pro: 10 in solid.
- Segway Ninebot MAX G2: 10 in self-healing tubeless (air).
- Hiboy S2 MAX: 10 in pneumatic (air).
- Hiboy MAX Pro: 11 in pneumatic (air).
Segway lists tire pressure for its air tires: 45 psi, give or take 3, on the E2 Pro and 42 to 48 psi on the MAX G2. Low pressure costs range and makes pinch flats more likely.
Why small wheels matter too
CPSC warns that e-scooters have small tires, so objects and uneven surfaces can throw you off, and says to slow down and lean back when you come to bumps. NHTSA notes that many e-scooter crashes involve only the scooter and happen where the pavement is poor. A 10 or 11 inch air tire rolls over a pothole edge that can stop an 8.5 inch solid tire. The 8.5 inch solid tires on the Gotrax GXL V2 make it a short-trip, smooth-pavement scooter.
Solid tires with suspension
Suspension helps. The Hiboy S2 Pro pairs 10 inch solid tires with rear shocks, which makes it the softer solid-tire option here. It still will not feel like air tires on rough streets.
Fixing a flat
Changing a scooter tube can be a real job, because the tire sits on a motor hub. Hiboy says the S2 MAX's split wheel hub makes tube swaps easier. Tubeless self-healing tires like those on the MAX G2 seal small punctures on their own. Either way, carry a small pump and check the pressure every week or two.
Next: put your own battery and weight into the range calculator, or see the 6 commuter scooters on the short list.