A wheelchair is generally just like any other device that you need to move from place to another. However, to ensure that it remains in a good working condition you need to take good care of it. One of the things that you should focus on is wheelchair wheels. If you don’t take good care of the wheels they may not last long. Choosing the right wheelchair wheels can have one of the best effects on your wheelchair when it comes to manoeuvrability, performance, and comfort.

Since there are several wheels in the market it’s very important that one knows how to take good care of them. Wheelchairs typically come with two sets of wheels the rear and the front ones. However, According to National Wheelchair Services, there are some special rare ones that come with a set of 3 or 6 wheels. These types of wheelchairs include the ones used for racing and other sports as well. If you are shopping for the best wheelchair wheels then click here to raid our in-depth reviews about some of the best ones.

Why wheelchair wheels have to be there

Since there are so many types of wheels for wheelchairs including 12-inch wheelchair wheels, 20-inch wheelchair wheels, 22-inch wheelchair, 24-inch wheelchair wheels, and 8-inch wheelchair wheels, the best wheels are usually determined depending on the purpose that the user intends for the wheels. The different types of wheelchair wheels can be categorised as solid tires, pneumatictires, and flat-free tires. While pneumatic tires are the ones that contain inner tubes that are inflated, solid tires are generally attached to the rims and are made from materials such as plastics and rubber. Which not only makes them maintenance free but durable as well. Flat-free ones are similar to both types.

Types of all-terrain wheelchair wheels

Pneumatic tires

Pneumatic wheels are the types of wheels that are suitable for wheelchair users who are looking for a smoother ride on various terrains. Since their inner tubes are air-filled they are the best wheels for absorbing shocks from rough rides thus allowing the user to enjoy a much more comfortable ride. However, there are several disadvantages to this type of wheels. Since their wheels are much softer than the other wheels, they are bitter harder to propel over different terrains. More so in case of electric wheelchairs that use pneumatic wheels, the batteries tend to last less due to the extra energy that’s needed to propel them.

Solid tires

These are some of the most common types of cheap wheelchair wheels for manual wheelchairs and the best to use over flat surfaces. Since they are denser they usually cause less friction when rotating and make it easier to propel on flat surfaces. These tires are the most durable tire available to users and some of the most common since they do not need a lot of maintenance. However, the main disadvantage of these types of wheelchairs is that they are majorly used for hard surfaces thus limiting the mobility of the wheelchair user. More so since they are not good at absorbing the shocks, they can make the wheelchair user a bit uncomfortable while riding on a bumpy surface.

Flat-free electric wheelchair wheels and powered wheelchair wheels

This type of wheelchair wheel is a mixture of the two other wheels that are discussed above. Since these wheels absorbed shocks well. They not only provide a comfortable ride but also ensure that you use them without the risk of the tiregetting flat. Since they have textures they can always be comfortably used in various terrains since their textures will prevent them from. More so, like the pneumatic tires, they are completely solid hence are a bit harder to propel from one point to the next.

Different type of wheelchair replacement wheels

There are also different wheelchair styles out there in the market. These include

Composite mag wheelchair replacement wheel

These are by far the most common wheelchair wheels styles. And they come with most standard wheelchairs out there. These wheels are made out of fibre glass-like or nylon-like material that’s resilient, strong and lightweight. They are also fitted with different types of hand rims and tires to meet the needs of the entire wheelchair user. The good thing with these rims is that they are maintenance-free and designed such that they can always spring back to their original shape in case the outside pressure warp or bend them.

Spoked wheels

These are very similar to the spoke wheels of the bicycle and were the main wheelchair style prior to the development of composite wheels. Although these wheelchair wheels are not a must on many wheelchairs models, only the ones who need special functionality from their wheelchairs usually opt for them. In spite of their popularity, composite wheels will always flex during use and this flexing may incase the energy that’s needed to propel the wheelchair. Since these wheels do not flex when they are in good condition they are more efficient.

High-performance wheels

High-performance wheels just as the name suggests are some of the best wheelchair wheels out there. There are many of them in the marker hence users can always choose the best one. High-performance wheelchair wheels are, therefore, worth considering if you are a wheelchair user.

Wheelchair wheels components and considerations

The smoothness of wheelchair ride, manoeuvrability, speed, and control, usually depends on wheelchair small wheels, casters and tires. For more information about these check out www.nationalwheelchairservices.co.uk. However, choosing these components is not as easy as you may think. Due to this if you are not sure you need to get an expert who can help you go about this. For instance, a healthcare professional or therapist can help you choose the best wheelchair components. He will ensure that they meet your performance, lifestyle, maintenance, and affordability needs. Here are some of the components of the main wheelchair that you need to know.

As compared to other wheelchair manual wheelchairs usually come with two sets of wheels namely the caster and also known as the steering wheels and drive wheels. On the contrary, a power wheelchair may come with up to three pairs of wheels that is one drive and two caster wheels. Wheelchair wheels are generally made of rim, tire and spokes and hub. While the spokes connect to the rims, the hub iscentre of the wheels and the rim is where the tire is usually mounted.

Spoke replacement wheels for wheelchair resemble bicycle wheels and are made of metal mag wheels, on the other hand, are made of synthetic materials and usually have less than ten spokes. It’s also important to know that wheels come in different sizes while the standard adult manual wheelchair drive wheel is 24 inches a standard power wheelchair drive wheel is 18 inches. The size of the wheels therefore generally affects the comfort and the effort that’s required to move the wheelchair from one point to another. You, therefore, need to choose a drive wheel that will allow you to comfortably sit on the chair while at the same time requires very little effort to propel around. Unlike manual wheelchairs, electric wheelchair wheels are much smaller and are made of softer materials.

Alignment and truing of the wheels

The alignment of the wheelchair wheels is very important. It not only affects the stability of the wheelchair but also how the wheelchair rides, its stability, and the effort needed to propel it. When it comes to aligning the wheels you need to consider components such as camber, truing, and alignment of issue.

How to clean and take care of the best wheelchair wheels

As a wheelchair user, you need to know that the wheels of wheelchair can always become dirt over time. Gravel, mud, twigs, and leaves can easily get stuck on the wheels especially during wintry or rainy weather. Whether you are using a manual or electric wheelchair they are all bound to gather dirt and dust. The bad thing is that they will also carry those things indoors certainly since you want to minimisethe work that you do you need to protect and clean the wheels so you can ensure that they do not carry dirt, stains or dirt indoors. The cleanliness of the wheels of a wheelchair is, therefore, a very important routine that must be carried on with a lot of care.

When you enter your house it’s important to have an area where you can pause and check your wheelchairs. This place should be an area where you have an outdoor rug with a rough bristle surface. Here you need clean you’re the wheels of your wheelchair while your wheelchair is still packed on the mat. This will allow you to shake the debris from the mat on the trash or porch. It can also be a good idea to have a small vacuum cleaner near this area.

How to clean the wheels of manual wheelchair

In order to clean the wheels of a manual wheelchair, you need to wipe them off using car wash glove or damp paper towels. While doing this you need to ensure that any chemicals that you use to clean them do not leave any unwanted results on the floors of stick on the wheelchairs. It’s also recommended to use a bicycle tirecleaner for cleaning your wheelchair so they can come out clean. The good thing about this is that since it’s meant for cleaning the wheels it’s quite harmless to the floor. By using car wash gloves you’ll significantly protect your hands while cleaning the wheelchairs. Since the gloves are washable you can also save a lot of money on paper products. Once you are through, use a hairdryer to dry the wheels.

Since you have to support the wheelchair on its sides cleaning the front wheels of manual chairs requires some more attention. To remove leaves, twigs, and animal skins from the spinning wheels or spokes you need something such as a toothbrush, long-handled brush or even tweezers. A can of compressed hairdryer or compressor can also be used safely and comfortably to remove these.

Cleaning the wheels of an electric wheelchair

As compared to manual wheelchair cleaning the wheels or an electric wheelchair is a bit more difficult. This is because the wheels of these wheelchairs usually come with a deep tread hence are much harder to reach. Before anything, you need to unplug the wheelchair for safety purposes. Also, you need to avoid applying liquids directly to the electrical parts of the wheelchair. However, just like the manual wheelchair damp car wash or wipes can help clean the surfaces. You also need a strong brush with sturdy handles to clean the car surfaces as this is what will help you dislodge any mud or gravel glued on the tires.

If you want to blow out leaves, loose dust, twigs, and leaves it’s important to use a hairdryer or compressed air. This can help you when you are cleaning hard to reach areas such as near the battery region and even other cracks found at the base of the wheelchair. However, since it can be a bit difficult for the user to clean the wheelchair himself it’s important to get a caregiver to help them.

Wheelchair washers

If you have very dirty wheelchair wheels, then it’s important to consult local experts who will advise you on how you can clean the wheels. In most instances, they will advise you to clean the wheelchair in your wheelchair’s washing machine. This is a special device that not only sterilizes but also cleans the wheelchair and other facilities there are also some companies that provide cleaning services for both electric and manual wheelchairs

Clean wheel helpers

There are some innovative products that will not only protect your wheels but will also ensure that they are protected from accumulating dirt wherever you roll and track outdoors. Since these tires covers fit the tires well they will always protect them well. The good thing is that these covers are removable and washable. The company also has water-resistant covers that cover the rear wheels well. In some places, there are also companies that provide cleaning services for those who use wheelchairs.