Buying the Right Wheels and Tires For Your Scooter

Scooters are safe, comfortable, and economical ways to get from A to B, making them the perfect choice for commuters and people who like to explore their hometown. But scooters can’t be any of that without the right tires, and different users will need different types to keep their scooter efficient and safe. We here at Revel 42 Golf Carts & Powersports want to help you get the most from your scooter, so we’ve put together some tips for buying the right wheels and tires, below. To learn more, or to see the scooters and scooter wheels and tires we have for sale, contact our store in Garner, North Carolina, today!

Wheel Sizes

The wheel, which is the metal part in the middle, will come in a variety of sizes measured by its diameter, which tends to fall between 10-16”, with most landing around 12”. Smaller wheels can improve maneuverability, but larger wheels contribute to stability and allow you to more safely go over obstacles on the road. You also need to factor in your scooter’s size.

Tires

As mentioned above, the tire is the rubber part on the wheel and tends to be between 5-6” deep. The diameter will need to suit the wheel’s diameter, but even with that there’s a variety of options on the market that tend to cost between $35-70 each.

Tubes

The average scooter tire has no tube, but older scooter models might have inner ones, which can be important to know if you’re buying a tire for a vintage model. Some tires are specific to the front or rear tire, so verify that before installing.

Designations

There are two kinds of designations a scooter tire can be labeled with. The first denotes the tire tread width in millimeters followed by the aspect ratio with a hyphen before the wheel rim diameter. For instance, if a tire is designated “130/60-13,” that means the tread width is 130mm (or 5.1”) and the aspect ratio is 0.60, which means the sidewall height is 60% of the tire’s total width.The 13 at the end is the wheel rim’s diameter in inches.

The other designation includes a letter between the aspect ratio and the diameter. Each letter denotes what speed the tire can safely achieve:
“J” tires can hit up to 62 mph safely
“L” tires can hit up to 75 mph
“N” tires can hit up to 87 mph
“P” tires can hit up to 93 mph
“S” tires can hit up to 103 mph

You’ll need a tire that can take you at the speeds you need, but don’t pay extra for a tire with speed potential you don’t need. Also remember to check which way the tread pattern should face, indicated by an arrow, since that might indicate which way the tire should rotate.

For more information, or to see the scooters and scooter accessories we have for sale, contact us at Revel 42 Golf Carts & Powersports. We proudly serve the people of Raleigh, Clayton, and Cary, North Carolina—let us serve you today!