596 chapter 64
FEATURE
TIRES
Pump-up with
air ‘balloon’
tires
Solid tires (standard
wheelchair wheels)
DESIGN DETAILS
• Bicycle tires and tubes
work well for the large
wheels—20 inch (51 cm.),
24 inch (61 cm.), or
26 inch (66 cm ), wide or
narrow.
Puncture-proof inner
liners may be available.
Buy from wheelchair
supply center to fit
diameter and width of rim.
ADVANTAGES
• softer ride
• easy to replace
• wide tires good for sand
and rough ground
• narrow tires better on
smooth, paved roads
• no flat tires
• good for speed
on very smooth
surfaces
Rubber hose inside
bicycle tire
Thin strip of
old car tire
• Overlap ends
and cut at 45°
angle
• Fit hose
into tire.
• Cut strip in wedge
shape to fit rim.
• Wire ends
together
Large machinery fanbelt
(discarded)
Piece of old bicycle or
scooter tire
• Use old power belts or
fan belts from industrial
machinery or tractors.
Cut to fit and wire ends
together.
• used for middle-sized
or small wood wheels
• Notch edges, glue, and
nail to wheel.
• no flat tires
• softer ride than with
solid tire
• cheap
• no cost
• long-lasting
Sink bolt
head,
Wire ends
together. and/or
bolt the
ends.
• no cost
• long-lasting
• wedged to fit
wedge rim
• cheap
• If heavy tire is used it
may last a long time.
• Protects edge of wood
wheel.
BIG WHEELS
Standard factory-made
wheelchair
wheels
Bicycle wheels (rims
and spokes)
/
Bicycle rims with wooden
spokes
• Buy to fit chair.
• available from wheelchair
dealers
• 24 inch (61 cm.) or
26 inch (66 cm.) rims
for adults
• 20 inch (51 cm.) rims for
small children (may be
hard to find)
• For children, standard
thickness spokes may be
enough.
• For large persons,
heavy-duty spokes may
be needed.
• notched wood cross-
pieces on a triangular
wood base can be
greased and used as the
hub
• little work needed (if
they are bought to fit
standard hubs)
• May come fitted with
hand push rim.
• less costly than
standard wheelchair
wheels
• available in different
sizes and widths
• no need to know
how to fit spokes
• works with wood
hub
DISADVANTAGES
• Puncture (hole in tire) may
occur— especially on
rough roads.
• more costly than some
other tires
• wears out sooner than
solid tires
• costly
• hard to replace
• very hard, bumpy ride on
rough surfaces
• very narrow—sinks into
sand
• Flattening of tire where
it touches ground
means it moves slower,
and is harder to push.
• bumpy ride
• difficult to fit
well on rim and to
fasten ends firmly
• bumpy ride
• difficult to fit
• may be hard to find at the
right width
• hard, bumpy ride
(but softer than on
wood wheel alone)
• may tear off
• costly
• may be hard to find
• wide-wheeled models
often not available
• may not hold up on rough
ground
• poor quality
bearings
• Putting on and lining up
spokes takes time and
skill.
• axles weak (but stronger
ones can be adapted)
• Rim may easily get
bent—especially on rough
roads.
• hard to line up evenly
• Hub wears out easily.
Disabled village Children