E-bike tires – useful or useless?

E-bike tires, E-bike chain, E-bike brakes – there are some components that are made specifically for E-bikes. Money-making scheme or does it make sense? Here we take a closer look at E-bike tires. Do you need them, and if so, what can they do? Find out everything you need to know to choose the right tires for your electric bike.

A critical question arises right at the beginning. Why should an E-bike or pedelec need different tires than any other bicycle?

Why E-bike tires?

There are two good reasons to fit special tires on an E-bike: safety and durability.

➽ An E-bike is faster and heavier, yet you still want to accelerate without spinning tires, not skid in corners, and above all, brake safely. E-bike tires are made exactly for this: for stable handling at higher speeds, for good grip, and reliable braking. This guarantees more safety! Especially for city bikers and the MTB community, these are absolute prerequisites!

➽ The higher weight of an E-bike has an unpleasant consequence: bicycle tires wear out faster. The higher speed at which an E-bike travels and the higher weight cause the tires to wear out faster. Special tires for E-bikes simply last longer!

The perfect tire width and tire size on the E-bike

The selection of tire size does not differ from a regular bicycle, so we will not expand on this point here. In our blog, you can find help in choosing the right tire size. You can generally buy E-bike tires in all common tire sizes.

28 inches, 27 inches, or 29 inches – in what sizes are E-bike tires available?

Even in particularly small sizes like 18 or 20 inches, there are tires and tubes for E-bikes, suitable for transport E-bikes with smaller wheels, compact bicycles, or folding bikes. From 24 inches, there are E-bikes for children and teenagers and the corresponding tires.
Adult bikes ride on 26 inches, 28 inches, 27.5 or 29 inches. You can also buy E-bike tires in these tire sizes.
Besides the size, you can also choose between wire tires or folding tires.

What tire width on the E-bike?

Unlike tire size (or wheel diameter), the tire width on the e-bike is a special topic. Pedelecs and e-bikes usually ride on slightly wider tires than a comparable bicycle. The reason for this is very simple: More tire width improves grip, traction, braking properties, and puncture protection. Why more grip and so on are important for the electric bicycle, you have already read above. More tire width makes the e-bike slightly less efficient. So what! You have a motor! It is absolutely legitimate to fully utilize the tire clearance and fit wide tires. We have collected all the information about the appropriate tire width in a separate blog post.

In the cross-section, you can see the structure of a bicycle tire well, here once with puncture protection (right, red insert) and once without (left). Image © Pirelli

The structure of an e-bike tire

So that you know how a bicycle tire is constructed and what is done differently with an e-bike tire, we will now briefly break down a tire into its components.

Give rubber – e-bike tires have a thick tread

Every bicycle tire rolls on a rubber layer, and with e-bike tires, this layer – the tread – is often particularly thick. This way, the tire is not cut or punctured too quickly despite the higher total weight of the bike. More material also means that the tire has a greater mileage before it is worn out and needs to be replaced.

E-bike tires are therefore thicker overall, which makes them more durable. On the other hand, the tires weigh more than other bicycle tires for this reason.

The perfect rubber mix for e-bikes

The rubber compound from which the outer skin of a tire is made has a significant impact on the bike's riding characteristics. There are harder and softer “compounds” (English for “mix”), the harder the exterior of the tire is, the faster the bike becomes, as the wheels roll better. However, it becomes more slippery.

A softer rubber mix sticks well to the road, giving you more grip. The bike is less efficient, which means with an e-bike: you won't get as far on a single battery charge. However, it remains stable in curves, on wet roads, or during sudden braking maneuvers, it doesn't break away or skid. The “braking maneuvers” are an important keyword, by the way! If the tire sticks well to the road, the bike also brakes much more safely, at high speed it is absolutely indispensable! You probably already guessed it... with e-bikes or pedelecs, stability is always prioritized, even if that means losing a few watts of power.

The carcass – the safety net

The carcass is the framework of the tire, consisting of a mesh-like fabric that stabilizes the tire. The denser the mesh, the more stable the tire, and particularly stable carcasses are used for e-bikes.

The puncture protection

Between the tread and the carcass, puncture-resistant tires have an insert that prevents punctures and cuts through the tread. Not every tire, even for e-bikes, has puncture protection!

Thicker sidewalls

Special tires for e-bikes also have more material in the sidewall. This keeps the tire stable on one hand, and on the other hand, it better protects the tube from side cuts.

Do e-bike tires need special puncture protection?

A flat tire is fortunately not a disaster, the most common bike breakdown is usually more annoying than fatal. To let your bike tires roll over shards, sharp gravel, or thorns without getting holes immediately, there are several ways today to make the tires puncture-resistant and thus resistant to punctures and cuts. Tire manufacturers have their secrets, but generally, it's the construction features that make modern tires puncture-resistant.

The tires are thicker-walled
A puncture protection insert protects the tube inside the tire from punctures
The sidewall of a puncture-resistant tire is also reinforced

Of course, the puncture protection medal also has its flip side. Puncture-resistant tires are thicker, because the thicker the tire, the further an object can penetrate before causing damage, logically. But generally, the tire also becomes heavier, which fortunately doesn't weigh much on the total weight of an e-bike. The other point is the purchase price, for bike tires with advanced puncture protection you have to pay a bit more. However, since you'll have less hassle, and fewer repair costs and new tubes, it's usually gladly accepted.

Do you really need special e-bike tires?

You now know how pedelec tires are constructed and operate. But do you really need them? After all, they are often a bit more expensive than other bicycle tires.

Whether your bike benefits from the slightly more expensive e-bike tires depends, among other things, on how much you ride.

If you ride rather infrequently, and not at full throttle, it may be that normal bicycle tires are absolutely sufficient. Even if you only ride on well-paved roads and in dry conditions, simple tires will suffice.

Weight also plays a role. A light rider on a "light e-bike" might save the investment, especially if the bike is used infrequently and only for short distances.

Therefore, our conclusion: If …

you ride a lot
you like to fully utilize the thrust of the drive and ride fast
you ride in all weather conditions
e-bike + cyclist + luggage result in a high total weight

… e-bike tires are a good investment.

Tires for E-MTBs

Enduro, downhill, XC, or all-mountain, for every MTB discipline there is now a suitable eMTB and, of course, thick tires in 27.7 or 29 inches that withstand the enormous demands. No matter if you ride a hardtail or a fully, if you want to show your MTB where the hammer hangs in the terrain, it should be equipped with special tires for E-MTBs! An E-MTB screams "Here!" in pretty much all critical points. The bikes are usually heavier, and you want to make it speed-wise explode. You want safe handling, perfect grip, and also timely deceleration. You need E-MTB tires!

Tires for Trekking E-Bikes and City E-Bikes

Reliability and durability are two qualities that play an important role on long distances and for commuters! Exactly these qualities are naturally brought by trekking tires and city e-bike tires.

For city bikes, safety in dense city traffic is also important. Here you have to react in a flash and – very important – be able to rely on your brakes. Optimal wheels and top tires with the perfect rubber compound and a suitable all-weather profile play an important role!

You can find e-bike tires for compact or folding bikes in 18 or 20 inches, and some cargo e-bikes also need these tire sizes. Common tire sizes are otherwise 26, 28, or 29 inches.

There are also special tires for e-racing bikes and e-gravel bikes, but they are still quite rare.

The E-Bike with the Fat Tires

An "E-Bike with fat tires," known in professional circles as a fatbike, is always an eye-catcher. After a brief hype, these extraordinary bicycles almost disappeared again, as the massive rolling resistance made the non-electric versions simply uninteresting. But then came the e-bikes, and with them, the fat e-bikes! Snow, gravel, or sand, it doesn't matter; the fat bike rolls over it with its thick tires. However, the market is so small that special e-bike tires in such oversized dimensions are quite rare.

Do you have to fit tires for e-bikes?

Whether you benefit from the features of special bicycle tires for e-bikes is one question. The other is: Do you have to have them on your e-bike? Currently, the regulations are very consumer-friendly.

If you ride a normal e-bike or pedelec that supports you up to 25km/h, you are not required to fit special e-bike tires.

It is different for faster S-pedelecs.

If your bike provides motor power up to 45km/h (or more), it is an S-pedelec, and then it must have special tires!

Tires for S-pedelecs must have the appropriate approval and be tested at higher speeds. Most tire manufacturers round up and differentiate their products into "E-Bike 25" and "E-Bike 50".

What is the ECE-R75 standard for tires?

Like every product in Germany and the EU, tires are also tested, regulated, or subject to regulations and standards. For tires, the ECE-R75 standard applies, which regulates the necessary testing procedures, load limits, and approvals. Since an S-pedelec is not considered a bicycle but a light motorcycle, it must have tires that meet this standard and are approved for a faster e-bike.

E-Bike Reifen

“E-Bike ready 25” and “E-Bike ready 50”

There is no uniform designation for e-bike tires, so manufacturers have come up with their own. At the bicycle tire pioneer Schwalbe, tires recommended for regular e-bikes are called “E-Bike ready 25”, and the tires approved for S-Pedelecs are labeled “E-Bike ready 50”. Premium manufacturer Pirelli offers tires for E-MTBs, named not very originally Scorpion (like all MTB tires of the manufacturer) but with the addition E-MTB. At Maxxis, there are tires for S-Pedelecs called e50, and at Continental you will find an “e” in the name of the tire and a symbol with a plug with 25 or 50.

Overview of Advantages & Disadvantages

Advantages	Disadvantages
✅ safe driving behavior at high speeds	❌ less efficient
✅ safe braking	❌ higher price
✅ stable cornering	❌ heavier
✅ less prone to punctures
✅ higher performance
✅ now available in almost all sizes and for all types of bicycles

§§§ Please note that we cannot make binding statements regarding standards and the applicable legal situation!

You can find many more details in the other parts of our tire series:

There is also much to read about e-bikes: