Your wheels, tires, push rims and casters decide how easily a manual wheelchair rolls and how it feels under you. New rear wheels can make a chair lighter and smoother to push. New push rims can make it easier to grip. New casters can change how it turns and how it handles rough ground. When parts wear out, replacing them brings the chair back to how it rode when it was new.
Most of these parts are made to fit certain chairs, so the size and fit come first. This guide explains the parts, the choices for each, and how to check that a part fits your chair. Each product page lists the sizes and chairs it fits.
Find your sizes first
- Rear wheel size. Read the size printed on the side of your tire. Rear wheels commonly come in 20", 22", 24", 25" and 26", and some sport wheels in 700c. Replace with the same size unless your chair maker says another size fits, because the wheel size changes your seat height and how the chair sits.
- Axle size. Rear wheels fit a set axle diameter. Most everyday chairs use a 1/2" axle, some use 12mm, and many sport chairs use 5/8". Check your axle before you order.
- Caster size. Measure across the front caster wheel and note its width. Common sizes run from about 3" to 8".
- Your chair's make and model. Some wheels and casters are made for one maker's chairs. Keep the make, model and serial number handy.
Rear wheels
The rear wheel is the part you feel most, because you push it thousands of times a day. Rear wheels differ by how they are built.
| Wheel type | What it offers |
|---|---|
| Mag or composite wheels | A molded wheel with a few thick spokes. Tough and low care, and common on standard chairs. Usually the heaviest. |
| Steel spoke wheels | Many thin steel spokes, like a bicycle wheel. Strong and easy to repair, and lighter than most mag wheels. |
| Fiber spoke wheels | A few spokes made of a strong synthetic fiber. Light, and the spokes absorb some of the bumps, so the ride feels smoother. |
| Carbon wheels | A carbon fiber wheel or rim. The lightest and stiffest choice, at the highest price. |
A lighter wheel takes less effort to push and to lift into the car. Sport chairs use wheels built to take hard pushes and side loads, often with crossed spokes. Check whether a wheel comes with push rims and axles, because many are sold as wheels only.
Tires
- Air filled tires. The lightest and smoothest ride, and they roll easily. They need their pressure checked, and they can go flat. The right pressure is printed on the side of the tire.
- Solid tires. Made of solid polyurethane, so they never go flat and need little care. They ride harder and weigh more.
- Flat free inserts. A foam or solid insert inside the tire, so it cannot go flat and still rides softer than a solid tire. Heavier than an air filled tire.
Choose air filled tires if you want the easiest push and the softest ride and you can keep them pumped up. Choose solid or flat free tires if you never want a flat.
Push rims
The push rim, also called the handrim, is the ring you grip to push and brake. A better rim can save your hands and shoulders.
- Shape. Round rims are the classic shape. Oval and wide rims give your hand more to hold and spread the load across your palm.
- Grip. Coated rims and rims with a rubber grip strip help if your grip is weak or your hands get cold. Bare metal rims glide through your hands for speed.
- Material. Aluminum is light and common. Stainless steel is tough. Titanium is the lightest and costs the most.
- Fit. A rim attaches to the wheel at a set number of mounting points and at a set size. Choose rims made for your wheel and its size, commonly 22" to 26".
Front casters
Casters are the small front wheels that swivel. Smaller casters turn quickly and keep the front of the chair light, which suits smooth floors and active riders. Larger casters roll over cracks, thresholds and gravel more easily. Casters made of softer material ride more quietly and smoothly.
Changing caster size changes the height of the front of the chair, and with it the angle of your seat. Stay with the size your chair was set up for unless your therapist or chair maker says another size fits, and check that the caster fits your chair's fork.
When to replace
- The tire tread is worn flat, cracked or split.
- A wheel wobbles, rubs or has loose or broken spokes.
- The push rims are worn, bent or loose.
- The casters wobble at speed, are cracked or no longer swivel freely.
For other worn parts, see our wheelchair parts.
Insurance and Medicare
Hieline sells direct and does not accept Medicare or any insurance, so the price you see is the price you pay. If your private insurance covers durable medical equipment, keep your receipt for a reimbursement claim. Coverage varies by plan, and approval is never guaranteed. Medicare pays only for equipment from suppliers enrolled in Medicare, so it will not reimburse a purchase from us. For the steps to take with private insurance or Medicare, read our insurance and Medicare guide.
Buying from Hieline
Shipping follows our shipping policy. Financing is available through CareCredit on purchases of $200 or more. Low price guarantee: find it advertised for less and we will work with you. Returns follow our returns policy, and each product page says whether that item can be returned.
Not sure it fits?
Send us your chair's make, model, wheel size and axle size before you order, and we will check the fit with you.
How to decide
- Find your rear wheel size, axle size and caster size, and your chair's make and model.
- Decide what you want to change: less weight, a smoother ride, a better grip or fewer flats.
- Choose the wheel type, tires, push rims or casters that do that.
- Check that each part lists your size and your chair on its product page.
Common questions
How do I know my wheelchair wheel size?
Read the size printed on the side of the tire. Common rear wheel sizes are 20", 22", 24", 25" and 26".
Are air filled or solid tires better?
Air filled tires ride softer and push more easily, and they need their pressure checked. Solid tires never go flat and ride harder. Flat free inserts sit in between.
Will new wheels fit my chair?
They will if the wheel size and axle size match your chair. Check both, and check whether the product page lists your chair. Ask us if you are not sure.
What push rims are easiest on the hands?
Oval or wide rims with a coating or grip strip are the easiest to hold, and they help if your grip is weak.
See everything in our tires and wheels collection, or start on our manual wheelchairs page.
