This is how you inflate the tire of a wheelchair
Do you have a wheelchair with pneumatic tires? Then check the tire pressure at least once a month. It does not matter whether you drive a manual or electric wheelchair. In this blog post we explain how to inflate wheelchair tires and why the correct pressure is so important.
Step-by-step plan for inflating a wheelchair tire
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Check which valve the wheelchair tire has. Most have a car valve, but some have a bicycle valve. You can usually connect a bicycle pump or hand pump to both valves.
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Check the prescribed tire pressure. This is indicated in psi or bar.
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Unscrew the valve cap and connect the pump, if necessary via an adapter.
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Enter the correct tire pressure and inflate the tire to the correct tire pressure.
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Remove the pump and put the cap back on the valve.
Correct tension for a wheelchair tire
The correct pressure is indicated on the tire or in the manual. For a manual wheelchair, a pressure between 6 and 8 bar is recommended for most rear tires. A hard-inflated tire ensures lower rolling resistance. It then costs you less energy to push the wheels, so you have the opportunity on arm and shoulder injuries. However, on slippery or wet surfaces it may be wise to lower the tire pressure slightly, for example to 4 or 5 bar. This causes more of the tire surface to touch the road, so you have more grip. For the smaller wheels of an electric wheelchair, the air pressure is usually around 2.5 bar. A properly inflated tire ensures that the battery uses less electricity.
Inflating a wheelchair tire with an electric pump
You can inflate the tires of a wheelchair with a bicycle or hand pump. However, this can be a tough job. Moreover, these pumps do not always reach a pressure of 8 bar. An air compressor offers you more convenience. You can check the tire pressure in no time. If necessary, add sufficient air at the touch of a button. Or let the air pressure drop slightly in a controlled manner. For good road holding it is important that the pressure in the rear tires is equal. With an electric pump this is a piece of cake: you simply set the desired pressure.
More tips on inflating tires
Are you curious about the best way to inflate the tires of other vehicles? To our blog page you will find various articles about this.
The number 1 tire pump for wheelchairs
The Donrox Ride F511 is ideal for inflating the tires of a wheelchair without effort. This compressor fits on different types of valves and stops automatically at the desired air pressure. It is compact, portable and equipped with a pressure gauge and USB rechargeable power bank. You can use it at home, but also on the go. This way you are flexible enough to adjust the air pressure in your tires to the surface you are driving on.
