Aug 15 2008
This chair was made for traveling pt. 1: Pneumatic vs. Solid Tires
This is the first in a series of posts about choosing the right wheelchair for your needs. In the first few posts, I’ll only be dealing with manual wheelchairs, and this time, I’d like to write a little about the wheels. The first question is whether you want to have pneumatic tires (with air-filled inner tubes) or what is called a solid or air-free tire on your main wheels.
Please note that if your primary physician or physiotherapist strongly advises that you have one or the other type, you should take that advice over any other. Medical professionals will have a better idea of the condition of your spine and arms and whether or not you can take the added weight and vibration effect of airless tires, or deal with the maintenance of pneumatic tires.
Pneumatic or air-filled tires are lighter and can absorb some of the jolts and bumps of outdoor movement. This means that maneuvering yourself in your chair is easier on the arms, and that there is less transferred vibration to the spine and joints whether you are propelling the chair or being pushed. Pneumatic tires are therefore better for riding on rough sidewalks and cobblestones, and coming down off curbs. Finally, the air pushes the tire into the roundest shape it can maintain, making for a smoother ride.
The issue with pneumatic tires is of course maintenance. The inner tube can get punctured, and the tube can also lose air over time through the valve. In normal circumstances, even if you get a puncture, you can usually get somewhere that you can transfer out of the chair before the tire goes flat, but in a worst-case scenario, you can have to get out of the chair in an inconvenient location while someone repairs or replaces the tube. You should not ride on the wheel rim for any length of time, as it is easily damaged on most models. Of course, carrying a puncture repair kit, spare inner tube and pump is ideal, but not always possible.
Besides there being the potential for such emergencies, having pneumatic tires means regularly checking the tires, and topping up the air. This is not a big issue for most people to deal with, but some would rather not have to deal with the extra ’stress’, and others can’t physically do even such routine maintenance on their own.
What you need to ask yourself is this: Do you have the time and energy to deal with pneumatic tires? Will you be able to do maintenance on your own, or will you need help? Can you have a spare inner tube, repair kit and pump with you? And how rough are the surfaces you deal with?
Solid or air-free tires come in a variety of forms. The three commonest types are solid rubber tires, foam-filled tires, are semi-pneumatic tires with either a solid frame and air or a latex gel- or soft rubber-filled inner tube. All have the advantage of minimizing maintenance: you can’t get a puncture on a solid tire, and there is no need to top up air in them, even in semi-pneumatic tires. Of course, these tires can be damaged, but this is rare in everyday use.
However, solid tires do not absorb as much of the vibration and jolting that comes with outdoor travel. Solid rubber tires transfer the most vibration to the wheelchair user, while semi-pneumatic tires do have some shock absorbance capacity. Furthermore, all solid tires are heavier, which is both an issue for the wheelchair user and the people who have to pick up and carry the chair. Finally, solid tires are the shape they are: there’s no give, and this can add to the roughness of the ride.
The questions here are: Is your upper body up to taking the extra weight of solid tires? Can your spine and joints handle the rougher ride? Are you going to deal with uneven surfaces a lot?
There is no one good answer to the question of whether to get pneumatic or solid tires, because your own physical condition and peace of mind are factors, not just the conditions of the surfaces you deal with. My most comfortable chair had air-filled tires, but it also left me stranded twice with no choice but to wait for help: once in Heathrow airport due to a faulty valve, and once in the city center of Wroclaw, Poland, due to broken glass that I noticed too late. I have had solid tires too, but I really feel much worse when traveling through the older cities of northern Europe with them.
I strongly advise doing your research before you make your final decision about your main tires. Talk to your physician, talk to other wheelchair users if you can, and read some of the articles on the subject. Make an informed choice, because with the cost involved, you might be stuck with that choice for quite some time.
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- Pneumatic tools, pneumatic machine manufacturer and supplier–China Ningbo Jiaerling Pneumatic Machinery Co.,Ltd.
- Pneumatic tools, air tools manufacturer and supplier–China Taiwan Prona Industries Co. Ltd.
- Air tools, pneumatic tools manufacturer and supplier–China Zhejiang Rongpeng Air Tools Co.,Ltd.
- This chair was made for traveling pt. 2: Casters
4 Responses to “This chair was made for traveling pt. 1: Pneumatic vs. Solid Tires”
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My lover is in a chair now (only for the last 4 months) and as you said we just got the first one (at the medical supply )we were told would fit his needs. It is a nightmare, It’s way to big and heavy for him. I worry continuously when we aren’t together. He can’t hop curves or even go up hills without getting winded. We thought he just needed to build up his upper body strength. but your blog has proven what I was thinking all along. Thank you I am going to do more research and get him a better chair! This has been a huge strain on our relationship, and I feel helpless, He doesn’t want to discuss (admit) his problems with me and I have no idea what he’s going through! I needed this site!
Ed Mathews
Ed, it’s a common problem with the first chair. Medical supply stores don’t carry any decent selection of chairs, and they generally don’t know enough about the models they can order.
Assuming there are no objections from John’s primary physician about a particular chair, then go for a chair that gives him his independence. It sounds like his upper body is capable of propelling the chair, so you two need to go for as easy a chair as possible. A lightweight frame, aluminum at least, titanium if you can afford it. A seat that is about an inch wider than his hips - he should be able to fit his hands down between his hips and the arm-rests or mud-guards. Unless you think the maintenance would stress you both out, try pneumatic tires first, but get ones with grips so they handle hills better, not completely smooth ones. Smaller front wheels for more maneuverability on curbs, although since you do holiday in Europe, consider also getting a set of larger ones that you can switch out; they’ll be easier on cobblestones. Consider what you need, and get rid of excess weight. Do you need arm-rests, or just simple mud-guards?
John will probably still need to build his upper body strength, especially for hills. San Francisco used to kill me! However, the lighter chair should make it easier.
Call a wheelchair dealership, and see if you can go in and talk to someone. I got very lucky on one of my chairs: I was in San Francisco and needed a new chair. There’s a dealership in San Mateo - Wheelchairs of San Mateo - and one of the customer service staff is in a wheelchair, so she really understood what she was recommending.
As for you and John, a lesson from my relationship: he’s going through a great deal, and that will put strain on your relationship; you recognize that. However, he needs to recognize that you are also going through a lot, and that he has to help you too. He needs to realize that he can’t just shut you out: you both need to help and support each other, and talking about your feelings is a big part of that. Initially, I wouldn’t talk to my partner about how I felt and what was upsetting me, and it made it difficult for both of us. He stood sadly by and watched me struggle, because I wouldn’t let him help, and no-one helped him with his feelings of seeing that. It took me over a year to realize that I wasn’t the only one who was upset and frustrated and in pain.
Feel free to ask any questions you need, and I’ll do my best to answer them.
not in a wheelchair (although I did have one bout with it for awhile) …. but your post brings back so many memories of dealing with tires on one of my friend’s electric wheelchair…
they were a constant pain in the posterior - wish I’d known then the benefits of pneumatic … might have felt more worth it.
Honestly, pneumatic tires are a pain in the posterior, especially the smaller kind that you get on electric chairs: they seem even more prone to damage. They definitely have benefits, but I really hate dealing with punctures and all that.