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Scooter Wheel & Tire Buying Guide

Dec. 11 2020 Buying guide By Interstate Cycles

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One of the most important parts of a scooter is the two tires upon which it rides. Without the correct tires, you’re in for a pretty bumpy ride and reduced fuel efficiency. You may even damage your scooter or cause an accident if your tires are entirely unsuitable or in poor condition. This is why it’s important to know how to shop for scooter tires and the wheels to which they’re mounted.

Interstate Cycles in Lake City, FL, is your Sunshine State scooter dealer. Read on to learn more about how to shop for wheels and tires for your particular scooter model.

Common Scooter Wheel Sizes

Scooter wheels, as in the metal center and not the rubber tire that surrounds it, come in a variety of sizes designed to suit different needs. The size of the wheel is measured by its diameter, with the rubber tire adding approximately six inches to the full tire diameter. Wheel diameters for scooters fall between 10” and 16”, with most being about 12”. 

Smaller wheels can make your scooter easier to maneuver, thanks to a reduce gyroscopic effect that makes it easier to turn your scooter on a small wheel. However, larger wheels can contribute to a scooter’s overall stability and they can more easily roll over obstacles in the road. Wheel size depends on the size of your scooter and the attributes you desire most.

Tire Shopping

As noted above, scooter tires are approximately 5 to 6” deep and come in different diameters to suit the diameter of the metal wheel they surround. There are a few designations that you’ll want to be aware of when shopping for scooter tires that will help you select the correct style for how you want to ride. Scooter tires will generally cost between $35 and $70 apiece.

Tubes or No Tubes? 

Most scooter tires are tubeless, but some older scooter models may have inner tubes, which is important to be aware of if you’re shopping for tires for a vintage model. Certain tires may be designated for front or rear usage specifically, while others may be usable on either wheel.

Designations

An average tire designation will have the tread width, followed by the aspect ratio with a hyphen before the wheel rim diameter. For example, a designation that reads “130/60-13” means that the tread width is 130mm or 5.1” and the aspect ratio is 0.60, which means that the sidewall height is 60% of the width of the tire. “13” at the end is simply the wheel rim diameter measured in inches that the tire will fit upon.

One final optional designation may be a letter between the aspect ratio and the wheel diameter: J, L, N, P or S. This letter designates the maximum speed at which the tire can operate effectively:

  • J tires can be ridden at speeds up to 62 miles per hour.
  • L tires can be ridden at speeds up to 75 miles per hour.
  • N tires can be ridden at speeds up to 87 miles per hour.
  • P tires may be ridden at speeds up to 93 miles per hour.
  • S tires may be ridden at speeds up to 103 miles per hour.

Generally speaking, you will not need to concern yourself with tires above L, since most jurisdictions in the United States do not permit vehicles to travel faster than 80 miles per hour anyway.

Be mindful that some scooter tires may have directional tread patterns which will require you to mount the tire in such a way that the treads rotate in the correct direction for maximum efficiency. This direction will usually be indicated by an arrow. 

Ready to check out some scooters for sale? Check out our wide stock of new and used scooters for sale at our dealership in Lake City, FL. We even offer financing to help you get the scooter you want. You can also talk to our parts department if you’re interested in locating new tires for your scooter. Interstate Cycles proudly serves the cities of Jacksonville and Gainesville, FL.