Electric scooter tire: tubeless or with inner tube, for road or off-road use

The right tire for an electric scooter depends on three things: the rim of your machine (size and type), the type of terrain where you ride (road, trails, or track), and the speed the scooter can reach. On a powerful machine, the original tire is often the first limiting factor: it deforms, slips on wet surfaces, and wears out quickly. Here's how we choose tires in our workshop, and why.

Reading the dimensions of a tire

Electric scooters often use two different ways to specify tire size, and this is frequently where ordering errors occur.

• In inches, for example 10 x 3.0: This indicates an approximate outer diameter of 10 inches and a width of 3 inches. This is the standard notation used for compact scooters.
• In motorcycle style, for example, 90/65-6.5: 90 represents the tire width in millimeters, 65 is the sidewall height expressed as a percentage of that width, and 6.5 is the rim diameter in inches. This format is used for the tires found on mini-bikes, which are often mounted on 11-inch scooters.

The one measurement that cannot be compromised is the rim diameter: a tire designed for a 6.5-inch rim will not fit on a 6-inch rim. The width, on the other hand, has a small tolerance, provided that the tire does not touch the fork, the brake caliper, or the fender once it is inflated.

Tubeless or with inner tube

A pneumatic tire contains a flexible inner tube, which holds the air. A tubeless tire, on the other hand, holds air directly against the rim, thanks to a bead that creates an airtight seal.

Tubeless technology is not simply a matter of tire choice; it's the rim that makes it possible. Our CNC-machined aluminum rims are tubeless and split in half (a "half-rim"), which makes mounting a rigid motorcycle tire much easier. Our half-rims for the MHS and MHT motors, however, use inner tubes. To repair and prevent flat tires, see our guide on electric scooter flat tire repair.

Whether for road use, off-road adventures, or track racing, there are three main types of tires

Road tire

It features grooves that channel water away and a relatively soft compound that provides good grip even in cold conditions. This is the tire suitable for the majority of uses. For 11-inch scooters with a 6.5-inch rim, we recommend the PMT Stradale 100/55-6.5 (Dualtron Thunder, Sonic Alien, Achilleus, Rovoron S7, Teverun Fighter 11 and Supreme); for 10-inch machines with a 6.5-inch rim, the Stradale 90/60-6.5 (Dualtron Victor, Teverun Fighter Mini, Odyssr Drift). The PMT Junior 90/65-6.5, also grooved, is the tire we mount as standard on the RM-Series CS75 and on most road setups.

The all-terrain tire

The knobby tires grip well on dirt and gravel, but they reduce the contact area with the pavement: on the road, braking and cornering performance are less effective, and the knobby tires wear out quickly. This is a good choice if you're really riding off-road, not just to "look like an adventurer." The electric off-road scooter guide details what this type of terrain demands from the rest of the machine.

The slick tire is designed for track use

A slick tire has no grooves: its entire surface touches the ground, providing maximum grip on dry surfaces once the rubber is warm. However, on wet roads, it doesn't evacuate water and becomes dangerous. We reserve slick tires for track use; that's the purpose of the guide slick tires for track use.

Why the chassis relies on a powerful machine

The carcass is the structure of the tire, located beneath the rubber compound. A flexible carcass effectively absorbs minor impacts at low speeds, but at high speeds, it deforms: the scooter becomes unstable in turns, may start to oscillate, and the tire can overheat. PMT tires, manufactured in Italy for mini-motos and pit bikes, have a carcass designed for these speeds; that's why they are commonly found on most modified scooters.

For compact 10-inch scooters, the PMT E-Fire 10 × 3.0 offers a rigid casing and a grippy compound in a 10-inch format (compatible with Kaabo Mantis, Dualtron Victor, and FH60 motors). It is mounted with a suitable inner tube.

Most common errors:

• Mixing a slick tire and a treaded tire: The two wheels will have different levels of grip, making the scooter unpredictable during braking.
• Choose a larger size "for better grip" without checking the clearance in the fork and around the caliper.
• Forget about pressure: A very good tire will perform poorly if it's not properly inflated. See our guide on tire pressure.
• Keeping a cracked tire because it still has rubber: An old tire hardens and loses its grip, even if it's not very worn.