While all wheelchairs have a common purpose: to give mobility to people who cannot walk, there are different types of wheelchairs to cater to specific needs. You will find some wheelchairs with smaller wheels, so why do some wheelchairs have big wheels?
Wheelchairs with big wheels are used mainly by people who can propel themselves. The wheels have a circular handle that needs to be within easy reach of the person sitting in the chair so that they can apply forward or backward force to each rear wheel, thus maneuvering the chair.
There are three types of wheelchairs, each designed to satisfy a particular need. Powered wheelchairs with electric motors, transport wheelchairs designed to be pushed by a carer, and manual wheelchairs designed to provide a comfortable seat for long periods. Each uses different wheel sizes and set-ups, so let’s look at their functions.
Which Wheelchairs Have Big Wheels?
With my wife permanently confined to a wheelchair and unable to propel herself, we’ve had to discover the best option for us. She’s very active, and as a keen outdoor person, mobility is vital. We’ve had a good look at the various types of wheelchairs, and I’m happy to share this information with you.
Powered Wheelchairs Have Medium Size Wheels
Powered wheelchairs are designed to provide independent mobility to the user, who controls the chair’s movement through multi-directional switches usually mounted on the arm of the chair.
Because the user is on their own in many cases, the chair has to be stable, powerful enough to go up inclines, and highly maneuverable with a small turning circle. Small wheels will need to revolve more to cover a distance, which means the battery will lose power more quickly. Large wheels make the chair more mobile but can be inconvenient, for example, fitting under a desk or table.
Powered wheelchairs use a medium size wheel, normally 12-inch to 18-inch. This compromise allows for reasonable comfort over rough ground, good maneuverability, and reasonable distance capability on a single charge.
Transport Wheelchairs Don’t Have Big Wheels
As the name implies, transport wheelchairs are used for short trips from one location to another and will always be pushed by a carer. Typically, this type of chair is used in hospitals, provided in shopping centers for temporary use by customers, and can be used by those who are temporarily unable to walk.
They have small 8-inch wheels, are very light, often foldable, and are not particularly comfortable for long periods. Clearly, the transport wheelchair cannot handle rough ground or stony pathways because of the small wheels and is more for indoor use.
Manual Wheelchairs Have Big Wheels
Manual wheelchairs are so-called for two reasons – firstly, they are not powered by an electric motor. Secondly, they can be propelled manually by the user or pushed by a carer. And that is where the big wheels come into their own.
Reasons For Fitting Big Wheels
- The best thing about a manual chair is that it gives the user independence of movement, provided they have the use of their arms and hands. A metal ring or hand rim fitted to the rim of each back wheel provides the handle that the user pushes to exert forward or backward force and, in this way, propel the wheelchair in the desired direction.
- It can be pivoted in any direction by turning one wheel forward and the other the opposite way, allowing the wheelchair to turn completely around in a very limited space – quite an art but easy for the user to learn.
- The big wheels require much less effort to roll than smaller ones, so for the user or the carer, less effort is needed to move the chair. The physics has to do with fulcrums and levers, but if you think of the old penny-farthing bicycle of the 19th century, you’ll get the idea. The bigger the radius, the less effort is needed. Manual wheelchairs usually have 24″ or 25″ wheels.
- The large wheel makes riding over rough ground much easier for the user and the carer. Small obstacles like stones or pebbles provide little resistance to the large wheels, resulting in greater stability. This adds flexibility to the choice of places one can visit, and by adding wider tires, even pushing a wheelchair on soft ground or sand becomes a possibility.
- Manual wheelchairs are designed to accommodate the user for long periods, so they tend to be heavier. The seats are more substantial, the armrests and backrests are padded, and the leg supports are built to carry the weight of the leg in various adjustable positions. All this additional weight is supported best by the large wheels.
Best Types Of Big Wheels For Wheelchairs
There are two types of rear wheels for Manual wheelchairs:
- Similar to bicycle wheels, Spoked wheels are the lighter option and are often the first choice. They are best suited for less strenuous work, so they are not ideal for rough terrain or wet conditions. They do require regular maintenance.
- Mag wheels are just about maintenance-free, durable, and made for all-terrain use. They are usually a bit heavier than spoked wheels but can handle off-road conditions pretty well.
Tire Choices For Big Wheels
There is a balance between weight, performance, and maintenance when choosing what tire to fit on your wheelchair.
- Pneumatic tires are lightweight, absorb vibrations best, and offer the most comfortable cushioned ride. They also provide the least rolling resistance. However, they are vulnerable to punctures, lose air, and must be maintained.
- Pneumatic tires with solid foam filling are supposed to provide the comfort of an air-filled tire with the benefits of a solid tire. While they don’t puncture, they are much heavier than a pneumatic tire and don’t perform as well off-road as a sold tire. They offer more rolling resistance than other tires and require long-term maintenance.
- Solid urethane tires are totally maintenance-free, lighter than flat-free pneumatics, and ideal for outdoor use. However, they don’t absorb shock or vibrations from rough terrain and can offer quite an uncomfortable ride, but they are very effective on smooth surfaces.
What works best for one wheelchair user may be unsuitable for another, so it becomes a matter of choosing what’s best for your particular lifestyle.
Conclusion
Long-term users of wheelchairs will not be tempted to use a transport wheelchair, and manual wheelchairs are a fraction of the price of powered ones, so it’s safe to say manual wheelchairs are the most commonly used. Choosing the right chair, with the right wheels and tires, is a difficult but vitally important decision – we hope the information helps you make the right one.
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