Comparing Rad Power Bikes to determine which one is the fastest is a challenge. This is because they have many similarities among their components and features with just a few significant tweaks which might make one go faster than another.

In general, all Rad Power Bikes have a maximum motor-assisted speed of 20 mph but can go faster. Which Rad Bike is the fastest depends on multiple factors including the drivetrain, pedal assist levels, sensor, throttle, wheel size, and weight of the e-bike, in addition to the motor and battery power.

So what you probably really want to know is which Rad bike you can ride the fastest on?

Because the answer to that question is not as simple as you might think, I’ll help you compare the models to find out which one is the fastest of them all.

You’ll discover the top speed of your favorite Rad Power bike model or perhaps decide which model is fast enough for you.

I’ll also explain the legal aspects of electric bike speed and a couple of speed hacks to make your Rad Power bike go even faster!

What is the Fastest Rad Bike?

To determine which Rad Power Bike is the fastest, several features are compared in the table below.

When looking at the table, I’ve determined that the RadCity Plus may be the fastest of the Rad Power Bikes because of its taller wheels (27.5″), narrower tires (2.0″), and lower e-bike weight (65 lb), as compared to the other models.

Take a look at the RadCity Plus!

When comparing models side-by-side, you can see that every Rad Power Bikes electric bike model has a twist throttle. You can use it to get you to the maximum motor speed of 20 mph on each e-bike, at which time the electric motor will stop producing power to assist.

Every Rad bike model also has a cadence sensor that measures how fast you’re pedaling (as opposed to a torque sensor that measures how hard you’re pedaling). It produces power at regular intervals based on your pedaling speed.

So, although the sensor and throttle (without pedaling) both contribute to an electric bike’s speed, they can’t distinguish the fastest one since all models have these same features.

But, if you rule out the single-speed, lower-level pedal assist RadMission and RadRunner (original version) e-bikes, you can instead rely on wheel size and electric bike weight to determine which Rad Power Bike is the fastest, all other features being equal.

Take a look at the Rad Power Bikes features that affect speed:

Now that we’ve answered what the fastest Rad Power Bike is, it’s helpful to understand how fast we can make Rad Power Bikes go above the top electric-assist speed.

How Fast Can a Rad Power Bike Go?

Here are the other factors that affect the top speed at which you can ride a Rad Power Bikes e-bike. These include:

• how hard you pedal
  
• your own weight
  
• electric bike tire inflation
  
• weather and road conditions
  

When you take these factors into consideration, you may be able to go faster on one Rad bike or another, despite how fast the actual e-bike is.

What is the Top Speed of Rad Power Bikes?

First, you should understand that, although every Rad Power e-bike can go up to 20 mph with the help of the electric motor using throttle or levels of pedal assist, you can actually go even faster, typically up to 8 mph more.

In general, the top speed of Rad Power Bikes is as fast and as hard as you can pedal while using the highest level of electric pedal assist and throttle.

However, if you pedal harder, you will go faster. For example, if you weigh 125 lb you’ll go faster on your electric bike than a person weighing 210 lb when pedaling with the same force.

In addition, if your electric bike tires are fully inflated (to the manufacturer’s recommended PSI), there will be less tire contact with the ground. This will help you keep momentum and speed on paved roads.

And, naturally, you can go faster when weather such as wind, rain, or snow, doesn’t slow you down. Other road conditions that can affect e-bike speed are potholes, puddles, rough terrain, and construction.

How Fast Does the RadRunner Plus Go?

As one of the most popular Rad Power Bikes, the RadRunner Plus utility e-bike is built for speed and power. It goes up to 20 mph using both throttle and pedal assistance.

And it can carry weight up to 300 lb with its rear cargo rack or passenger seat!

You’ll be able to zip through town in no time! However, one thing to consider is that your overall speed will be slower if you’re packing it with heavy gear or a rider on the rear seat.

Check out the Rad Runner Plus!

How Fast Does the RadRover Plus Go? (vs RadRover)

After the RadCity electric bike, which we deemed above as the fastest Rad bike, the RadRover (not the RadRover Plus) probably comes in as the fastest off-road e-bike thanks to its 26″ X 4″ wide fat tires.

Even though thinner tires would generally help you go faster on paved roads, the wider tires will traverse the rough terrain easier, moving over bumps and debris faster and smoother.

Although The RadRover has the same top speed of 20 mph as other Rad Power brand bikes, it’ll move faster off-road. And, it might just beat out the Rad Rover Plus when it comes to speed due to its lower weight of 68 lb (vs 73 lb for the Plus model).

But you really can’t beat either fat tire e-bike for riding over rough terrain.

In fact, if this is where you’ll ride most of the time, as long as you keep your tire pressure on the lower end of the recommended range, you’ll be able to go faster on sand, dirt, or snow, than with any other Rad Power e-bike.

Check out the RadRover or Rad Rover Plus!

How Fast Does the RadMini Go?

Although the RadMini has a top electric assist speed of 20 mph and a 750W motor, it may not go quite as fast as the RadRunner or RadRover due to its smaller but wider 20″ X 3″ tires.

But that’s not to say it isn’t plenty fast and a ton of fun. I rarely have the need to go as fast as the top speed on my RadMini folding electric bike (step-thru), but I still feel like I’m zipping along! Plus, I like being a little closer to the ground and still having the ability to ride over gravel and dirt, in addition to paved roads.

Check out the RadMini Folding E-Bike!

How Fast Does the RadMission Go?

Although the RadMission is a single-speed e-bike, it can still go as fast as 20 mph. However, it may require you to pedal a little harder and faster to get up to top speed with electric pedal assist.

Unfortunately, you won’t be able to shift gears for speed assistance since it’s single-speed. No worries, though, as you can still use the throttle without pedaling to get going fast!

And note that this e-bike is the lightest of the Rad Power Bikes brand at only 48 lb.

Check out the RadMission Electric City Bike!

How Fast Can a 750 Watt E-Bike Go?

All but one of the Rad Power Bikes electric bikes, the RadMission (with a 500W motor), have a 750W motor.

Typically, a 750W electric bike can go up to 28 mph (45 km h) on level ground. It can speed even faster if you’re going downhill and not applying the brakes.

The overall power and speed of electric bikes are guided by the power of the electric motor. So, naturally, the motor wattage sets the top speed limit.

Comparison Chart of How Fast a 750W E-Bike Can Go:

As you can see from the chart, 250W-750W e-bikes have similar top motor-assisted speeds. However, with pedaling or downhill riding, you can reach approximately 28 mph (45 km/h) on a 750W e-bike or approximately 25 mph (40.23 km/h) on a 500W e-bike (and even less on a 250W bike, some only reaching a maximum speed of 18-20 mph).

What’s important to understand is that the top motor-assisted speed can be achieved using only electric power (throttle or pedal assist), but once the electric power cuts out, you’ll have to pedal harder or faster to reach a higher speed.

And if you’re comparing a 750W to a 1000W e-bike or higher, know that any bike over 750W may be illegal to ride in many places. Find out about e-bike classification below.

E-Bike Classes Explained

Rad Power Bikes and other 750W e-bikes are required to limit their top electric speed due to a classification system that many countries and states have implemented to regulate the legal speed of electric bikes.

The Three-Tiered E-Bike Classification system basically uses 3 classes of e-bikes to limit the top electric assist speeds to 20 mph for Class 1 or Class 2 electric bicycles and 28 mph for Class 3 electric bikes.

This ensures that an e-biker rides safely around children on bikes, pedestrians, cars, and even people riding regular bikes, skateboards, scooters, etc.

Although not all locations have adopted the use of this classification system, e-bikes in the USA are legally required to be programmed according to the maximum speeds. Further, some classes of e-bikes still won’t be allowed in every location (especially Class 3 e-bikes that can go as fast as 28 mph).

All Rad Power Bikes brand models are classified as Class 2 because electric powered speed goes up to 20 mph with the use of all levels of pedal assist or throttle. Alternatively, all e-bikes from the Ride1Up brand are Class 3, which means the motor will assist you up to 28mph!

Can You Make a Rad Power Bike Go Faster?

If the built-in speed of Rad Power Bikes doesn’t make for a fast enough bike for you, there are ways to overcome this.

These hacks can make your e-bike go faster, but be sure you want to make these modifications before doing so as they can have negative effects.

Rad Power Bike Speed Hacks

Many e-bike controllers can be modified to change the top speed of the bike. You can make a Rad bike go faster by:

• Removing the speed limiter- You should probably have some electrical experience to do this.
  
  Generally, find the wire that limits the speed and remove the connector. Use a piece of black electrical tape to cover the second connector pin and put the wire connector back together. Finally, use a zip tie to hold the wire flat against your e-bike.
  
• Re-programming the e-bike’s controller (LCD display)- This is less mechanical and easy to do for the novice. Simply turn on your Rad bike, press and hold both of the up and down arrows to get to the e-bike’s settings, and get to the speed limit display by pressing the “mode” button.
  
  Now you can increase the speed limit up to 25 mph (40 km/h) by pressing the up button. Lock in the top speed by hitting the “mode” button once more on the LCD display (learn more about an electric bike controller).

Cons to Making Your Rad Power Bikes E-Bike Go Faster

Even though you can make your Rad bike go faster with the above hacks, there are some cons you should be aware of:

1. This will likely void any warranty you have on your purchased Rad Power bike
   
2. Your Class 2 Rad Power Bike will no longer be defined as a Class 2 e-bike, thus limiting you to fewer acceptable riding locations
   
3. You may be riding your electric bicycle illegally if you are on public roads and property
   
4. Your motor and battery will experience an increase in load, thus decreasing battery capacity per ride as well as motor and battery life.

Conclusion: What is the Fastest Rad Power Bike?

Even though Rad Power Bikes models have the same top motor-assisted speed, one can go faster than another.

There are several ways this can happen. Besides each Rad e-bike’s features, there are things you can do to make each one go faster.

So you’ve probably found the best and fastest e-bike for you from Rad Power Bikes. Will it be the RadCity, RadRunner utility e-bike, RadMini folding bike, or RadRover fat tire e-bike? Or perhaps the RadMission is the perfect speed for you!

If you’re tired of commuting to work or school with an expensive car or a slow regular bicycle that leaves you sweaty by the time you get to work, you’ve probably started thinking about an electric bike. But there’s a lot to learn about electric bikes in general and you might be wondering whether commuting by electric bikes is right for you in the first place.

There are many pros and cons of commuter electric bikes that will help you decide whether or not to ride one. Overall, there are numerous advantages of commuting on an electric bike as opposed to a non-motorized, regular bicycle.

Below, I’ve compiled the ultimate list of advantages and disadvantages of riding commuter electric bikes, why they’re perfect for commuting, how far you can go, and how to find the right type of e-bike.

What is a Commuter E-Bike?

Generally referred to as “commuter” or “city” electric bikes, they’re designed for efficient city travel on paved roads. They typically have an upright seating position and include bike racks to help you carry your projects, books, and lunches with you.

Many commuter e-bikes can also be used for recreational rides and may have wider tires than road e-bikes to allow riding on hard-packed dirt or gravel paths.

Typically, you’ll get a throttle to help keep you up to speed in car traffic and to provide a break from pedaling, especially if you have a long commute.

Commuter E-Bikes Pros and Cons

As you’ll see, there are more pros to commuter e-bikes than cons. Yet, each one listed may be of different importance or even irrelevant to you personally.

For example, sitting upright while riding may be important to your comfort, but perhaps you don’t mind riding in the rain because you have the proper clothing and gear.

Check out this list of commuter e-bikes pros and cons to determine which ones may be to your advantage:

Pros of Electric Commuter Bikes

• Upright Riding position
  
  Sitting upright with high handlebars on your e-bike is more helpful when you are riding in traffic or through busy intersections. Not only is it important for safety to see potential dangers but most riders will agree that it’s more comfortable, especially for long rides such as commuting 10 miles or more to work.
  
• Pedal assist
  
  This is one of the biggest advantages of commuting on an electric bike. Not only does motorized pedal assist make it easier to ride in general, it can minimize exhaustion on long commutes.
  
  Although many city e-bikes have multiple levels of pedal assistance, some only come with a single speed and max out at 15mph. So, it’s important to make this distinction when buying one.
  
• Get to work or school fast
  
  The average electric bike, whether it’s a commuter e-bike or not, stops providing motorized assistance at 20mph. However, continuing to pedal, especially downhill, can get your speed up to 28mph on most bikes.
  
  The throttle, however, can also help boost your speed to get you moving quickly. Not all e-bikes come with a throttle (read about adding one here), but I personally recommend one, especially when you’ll be riding in traffic.
  
• Cheaper to buy than a car
  
  Generally speaking, you can get commuter electric bikes for thousands less than a car (unless you buy a $2000 clunker that you’ll have to spend lots of money to repair).
  
  You’ll probably spend between $800 and $3000 on a commuter bike. If you ride long commutes every day, you’ll want to consider electric bikes that cost $1500-$2500, as this is the range where you can get good quality and the best value for your money.
  
• Cheaper to maintain than a car
  
  You can get routine maintenance once or twice a year on your electric bike for an average of $100, give or take depending on where you live. That may seem pricey when comparing it to giving your car a basic oil change. But when doesn’t your car need other work done such as a tire rotation and air filter?
  
  Plus, the big one… gas! You can easily spend more on gas in a month than on maintaining your e-bike.
  
• You can ride long commutes
  
  Thanks to very efficient lithium-ion batteries, you can go 20 to 50 miles on most commuter e-bikes. This is a huge pro to commuters who would otherwise only be able to ride 5 miles without getting tired.
  
  And, if you have an e-bike that only has a 20-mile range per battery charge, then you can simply charge it while at work or school for the ride home. Make sure to calculate how far you need to ride each day and know how far your bike’s battery can go on a single charge.
  
• Easy to park in downtown or congested areas
  
  You won’t have to drive around the block four times to find a space that, just maybe, your car can fit in. Nor will you need to worry about parking fees!
  
  Most buildings have bicycle parking right in front, so you won’t even have to walk far to get to where you’re going.
  
• Easy to climb hills
  
  One of the most stressul things about commuting to work on a standard bike just might be struggling to get up a hill, especially at the end of the day when you’re tired and just want to be home relaxing on your sofa.
  
  With electric bikes, you won’t have to suffer through this. Just increase the pedal assist level so that you need to put in less pedaling effort or get a boost uphill with the throttle.
  
• Carries your belongings
  
  Bring along your books, bridefcase, lunch bag, files, projects and whatever you need on a rear rack. You won’t need to accomodate these items in a backpack that swings wildly as you turn the corner and makes you lose balance.
  
• Exercise is easier
  
  Yes, exercise CAN be easier on a comfortable commuter electric bike, if that’s what you desire. And, certainly, if you’re riding 10 miles to school every day, you’re getting exercise as long as you pedal. It doesn’t have to be difficult. Yet, you can always put in more effort when you have the energy.
  
• Decreases sweat
  
  You can easily ride 20 miles to the office on your electric commuter bike without working up a sweat. If you ride this far on a standard bicycle, your work clothes will most likely be sweaty by the time you get there! Or you’ll end up sitting right next to another student in college class not smelling too pretty.
  
• Eco-friendly
  
  As an added bonus to all of these other benefits of riding a commuter e-bike, you’ll know that you’re protecting the environment from harmful emissions that automobiles put into the environment.
  
  You don’t need gas or other toxic substances to make it run! It charges with one simple plug just like your phone or laptop.
  
• Charge your mobile phone
  
  Speaking of phones, many electric bikes have an outlet that lets you charge your phone. If this is important to you, find out whether the electric bikes you’re interested in have this option and where its located on the bike.
  
• Fun to ride
  
  Because it’s so easy and fun to ride, there’s a good chance you’ll be out riding just for fun on the weekends or holidays. Find a nice path to ride on where you can test out the maximum speed of your commuter bicycle and let it rip!

Cons of Electric Commuter Bikes

• Riding in bad weather
  
  It’s no fun riding an electric bikes in bad weather. But on an electric bike, you’ll be riding even faster. This means that you’ll get more rain, snow, wind, or sleet in your face and pummeling your body than on a regular bike.
  
  Of course, if you have the proper clothing and bicycle gear, you might just see this as a challenge.
  
• Much slower than a motorized vehicle
  
  Although an electric bike is much faster than a standard bicycle, a car, motorcycle, or bus is still much faster. If you don’t have the patience or desire for commuting to work, even on an e-bike, than this could be a big con.
  
• Increased worry over theft
  
  Another disadvantage to any kind of electric bike is that it tends to be worth more than a non-motorized bike. So, not only is it more enticing for thieves, it’s a bigger loss for you if your bike is stolen.
  
• Costs more than a standard bike
  
  So you’re likely to spend hundreds of dollars more to buy an e-bike than you would with a typical bike, if not thousands more. But, this isn’t really a big disadvantage if you’re comparing the overall costs of owning an e-bike with that of driving a car.
  
• Costs more to maintain than a normal bike
  
  Yes, it will cost more to maintain an electric bike because it requires special maintenance and care for the electric motor, battery, and controller. But the good news here is that if you take proper care of these components, then they shouldn’t cause too much trouble.
  
• Worry over losing the battery charge
  
  There’s nothing worse than getting stranded halfway to your destination because your battery has lost its charge. Granted, if you were riding a standard bike, you wouldn’t have to deal with this… but you also wouldn’t have made it as far in the first place.
  
  Further, you can prevent this by knowing your battery range and the number of miles you need to ride.
  
• May not be allowed to bring it into work or school
  
  Not every employer or teacher will be happy to have your commuter e-bike indoors. So, ask first and perhaps offer them a ride if they cooperate!
  
• May be too heavy to lift onto a bus or up a flight of stairs
  
  E-bikes are quite a bit heavier than traditional bikes due to the electric motor, battery, and heavy frame that supports the electric components. Check out this article if you’re concerned about weight.
  
  

Are E-Bikes Good For Commuting?

E-bikes are excellent for commuting to work or school, no to mention that they’ll reduce your carbon footprint! There are many advantages of riding an electric bike instead of a standard bike or as an alternative to driving a car, with only a couple of potential disadvantages.

Advantages of Commuting on an E-Bike

An electric bike will save you time every day by getting you to work faster, avoiding traffic, and allowing you to park quickly. Plus, it can significantly reduce the amount of sweat, saving you time by not having to shower or change clothes, either at work or after you get home. So, you can wake up later and enjoy more time at home doing something you love.

Besides saving you time, your commute will be easier and less stressful. With pedal assist, multiple gear shifts, and/or using the throttle, you won’t have to worry about climbing hills or getting too tired. In fact, if you didn’t sleep well the night before or don’t feel your best, then you can complete your commute with almost no exertion (just make sure your lithium-ion battery is fully charged).

Overall, riding a commuter e-bike isn’t much different than a traditional bicycle. So, if you know how to ride a bike, you can ride an electric bike.

Further, riding an e-bike may actually be safer than riding a traditional bike. The ability to go faster can keep you with the flow of traffic in the city and give you a boost when you need to get out of a dangerous situation (such as while crossing the street with a car rapidly approaching).

Disadvantages of Commuting on an E-Bike

The primary problem with being an e-bike commuter is the value of the bike. Because it’s more expensive than a standard bike, and more desirable to thieves, protecting it is of primary importance.

Fortunately, there are two ways to keep it safe:

• Multiple bike locks
• Electric bike insurance

With a serious lock strategy, theft can be reduced significantly. By using more than one super tough lock, a thief will want to avoid stealing your e-bike… they’ll just look for another one that’s easily accessible.

I’d recommend checking out the Hiplock wearable chain lock and the Kryptonite U Bike Lock on Amazon.

And, if you’re still not convinced that locks will keep it safe, find out about GPS location trackers or buy electric bike insurance. Read my article on electric bike insurance before you assume your homeowner’s policy will cover it (it probably won’t).

Types of Electric Bikes Good for Commuting

A bike doesn’t have to be called a “commuter e-bike” to work well for commuting. It may also be called a city e-bike, folding e-bike, or cargo e-bike. Finally, commuter hybrid electric bikes may be a combination of any of these as well as have additional features of other types of electric bikes.

Basically, if it has a powerful mid-drive or rear wheel hub motor, long-range battery, and a cargo rack, then commuters can use it. But there may be one style that meets your needs better than another.

Typically, there are four types of electric bikes that are good for commuters:

1. Commuter or City E-Bike
   
   Designed for city riding, these bikes will have a comfortable upright seating position and a rack to carry everything you’ll need for the day.
   
   Fastest Commuter E-Bike: Ride1Up 700 Series
   
   This commuter bike speeds you through the city at up to 28 mph with a powerful 750W motor and up to 50 mile range!
   
2. Folding Electric Bike
   
   Many city e-bikes are also foldable. Folding electric bikes will make it easier to take on a train, bus, or up flights of stairs.
   
   Versatile Folding E-Bike: Blix Vika+ Flex
   
   With a range up to 45 miles and a smaller folding frame, it’s perfect for city commuters. Plus, with the ability to step-thru the frame, it’s easy to get on and off at a moment’s notice.
   
3. Electric Cargo Bike
   
   A cargo e-bike typically has one or more storage options for transporting goods.
   
   Favorite Cargo E-Bike: RadRunner Electric Utility
   
   This Rad Power Bike is a favorite with a powerful 750W hub motor and multiple cargo options. It even turns into a hop-on passenger e-bike as well. I also love this one becauses it fits riders from 4’11” to 6’2″, so almost anyone can ride it!
   
   Note that Rad Power Bikes is the largest USA brand of electric bikes.
   
4. Hybrid
   
   Best Value Hybrid Electric Bike: Lectric XP
   
   With this e-bike, you’ll get the best of everything: Folding frame, capable 500W motor, low-step entry, 3″ wide tires, and up to a 45 mile range. Plus, it’s under $1000!

How Far Can You Commute on an E-Bike?

You can commute as far as your e-bike’s battery range will allow. Typically, most lithium-ion batteries have a range of 20-50 miles. A battery with a 20-mile range will let you ride 10 miles to work and 10 miles back home on a single charge.

However, you can ride further than your e-bike battery allows on a single charge by riding one way, recharging it, and then riding home. This is easy to do as long as you have a safe place to plug in your charger while you work (and as long as you don’t forget to bring the charger).

One other important consideration as to how far you can commute on your e-bike is your riding style. If you use only the lowest pedal assist level and pedal consistently, your battery will last much longer than if you ride on higher levels and/or use the throttle quite a bit.

So, just make sure you test out the type of riding you’ll do close to home so that you can determine whether you’ll make it work on a single charge.

Conclusion

Riding to work on a regular bike can be time-consuming and exhausting. But riding an electric bike can make it fast, easy, and even fun.

Even though there are many more commuter e-bike pros than cons, there are a few things you need to know to help you decide whether commuting on an electric bike will work for you.

No matter whether you need to replace an old electric bike tire, are doing an e-bike conversion, or need help buying an e-bike with the right tires for your riding style, deciding on the ones that’ll be best for you should be a top priority.

Getting the best electric bike tires for you depends primarily on where you ride, how fast you ride, and your general riding style, in addition to the weight of the e-bike.

Additionally, the best e-bike tires can withstand the bike’s extra weight and the greater force on the tires themselves during braking or accelerating.

Below is a list I put together to help you choose the type of e-bike tire that may be best for you. Take a look at the tire sizes and what terrain they’re generally good for… then continue reading to find out what tire and wheel size you need and how to choose the best tire in just 3 steps.

I’ll help you decide which tire will work best for you so that you’ll have an easier time buying the perfect tire or e-bike with the right tires.

Do E-Bikes Need Special Tires? Really?

Electric bikes require tires that are durable enough to support the extra weight of a larger frame, battery, and additional electric equipment, such as the motor and controller.

Although Europe requires electric bicycle tires to be certified, the United States does not. Rather, the differences in U.S. e-bike tires are entirely the choice of the manufacturers and USA brands.

E-bike tires may even be different amongst the models of the same brand. So, although an electric bike may have special tires to accommodate its weight, it might also have the same tires you can find on any bike, at least in the USA.

Still, reputable brands understand the need for tire durability and use tires that allow for the correct tire pressure to maintain stability and traction.

However, if you’re choosing the best tire for your situation, it’s important to consider the type of tire that’ll work well before you purchase an e-bike, replace worn-out tires , stock up on tire inner tubes, or buy new tires for an electric bike conversion. After all, you’re likely to ride harder and go farther on your electric bike thanks to pedal assist and how it works.

A good tire also impacts tire puncture protection, flat tires, and how long your tire will last (along with correct tire pressure).

E-Bike Tire Size vs Wheel Size

When considering what electric bike tires are the best, you need to understand the importance of tire size versus wheel size. Much of an e-bike’s performance is dependent upon the size of both the tire and the wheel.

Here are some common wheel sizes and tire widths for electric bikes as well as the e-bike brands and models that use them:

As you can see, many electric bikes come with somewhat wider tires to support the weight of the components. E-Bikes with wider tires are generally better for riding on dirt or sandy trails while also riding smoothly on the road.

Electric Bicycle Tire Size

Tire size is determined by the width of the tire. In turn, tire width has much to do with the type of electric bike the tires are on and the terrain on which you’ll be riding.

A wider tire will help your e-bike ride comfortably on a greater variety of terrain, while a thinner tire will make your electric bike ride smoother and more efficiently on the road.

Electric Bike Wheel Size

Wheel size is all about the diameter of the wheel. Electric bike wheels can range from 12 inches to 29 inches in diameter, which is quite a huge difference.

Foldable e-bikes used for commuting often have very small 12″ to 20″ wheels. The wheel size is small so that you can easily fold up and carry your e-bike up a flight of stairs, or on a train or city bus.

The largest wheels are typically found on bikes that are ridden for sport (such as an electric mountain bike) and racing or riding long distances (such as an electric road bike). You’ll also find cargo e-bikes (to carry children, dogs or cats, and goods), electric trikes (with 3 wheels), and some of the biggest fat tire e-bikes in this wheel size category.

3 Steps to Choosing the Best E-Bike Tire for Me

It’s much easier to choose the best e-bike tires if you know how and where you plan on riding. Complete these steps to help you find the best electric bicycle tire for your situation by answering each question:

Step 1- Will you be riding on paved roads or off-road? Or both?

Decide on what type of riding you’ll be doing most often. If you’ll be riding off-road in the dirt, gravel, snow, or sand, then you’ll want a tire that has at least a 20-inch wheel with a tire width of 2.6 or more. And, if this is your primary type of riding, you may want a 26″ or larger wheel with a much fatter tire.

If you’ll only be riding on paved road or bike trails, a thin tire will provide the best performance as far as speed and efficiency go.

However, if you expect to find yourself riding on both paved trails and rougher terrain, then you’ll want a tire that is wide enough to help you get over the bumps and loose ground safely and comfortably, while still providing a relatively efficient ride on the road.

My own RadMini e-bike does exactly this with it’s 3.0 inch wide tires (not super fat tires but much wider than standard bike tires).

Finally, if you only plan to ride in the city or on your daily e-bike commute to school , you can choose any wheel size. But a folding e-bike with smaller 12 inch-20 inch wheels will make it easier for you to carry it on public transportation or store it at work for the day.

Step 2- Will you need to transport your e-bike to trailheads or for traveling?

If your answer is “yes”, consider doing one of two things:

1. Get an electric folding bicycle with a smaller 20″ wheel so that you can toss it in the back of your car for traveling. I wouldn’t go any smaller than a 20″ wheel, however, if you plan to ride on off-road terrain or non-paved trails.
2. Or, if you’d prefer a larger wheel and fatter tire, be prepared to spend additional money for a bike rack that’ll support the weight and size of an electric bicycle (check out this one on Amazon). You won’t be able to use a standard bike rack.

Step 3- How much are you able or willing to spend?

Now that you have an idea what size tire and wheel will work best for you, you can start searching for a tire. Higher quality tires will cost more but may be worth it if you ride long distances.

And, if you’re planning on buying a new e-bike with your choice of tires, then this is a good time to check your budget.

In general, fat tire e-bikes, electric cargo bikes, and electric mountain bikes will be somewhat more expensive than smaller tire foldable or commuter e-bikes due to added features such as wider tires or bike racks. And getting a good tire with puncture protection is a must.

If you’re looking to buy an electric bike under $2000, these brands will give you some great options with different sized wheels and tires:

RadPowerBikes

Ride1Up

Charge Bikes

Want to find an e-bike under $1000? Look here:

Lectric Bikes

Electric Bikes on Amazon (paid link)

Are Fat Tires Better for E-Bikes?

Using a fat tire on your electric bike is a good idea if you plan on riding off-road and you aren’t worried about having to lift, maneuver, or store your bike in a small space.

A fat tire e-bike will give you better traction on all surfaces because they’re super wide and have more contact with the ground. It’ll also ve much more comfortable to ride when going over bumps or uneven ground.

But you’d probably rather have a smaller, lighter tire if you’ll only ride on the pavement or if you have a foldable e-bike... It’ll be much easier to manage with a smaller-width tire.

Further, if you get a poor quality fat tire as opposed to a high-quality e-bike tire, then there will be little advantage to having a fat tire just for the sake of it.

Can You Put Bigger Tires on Your E-Bike?

For starters, this depends on whether you want to put on bigger (and taller) tires or tires of a different width.

If you plan on substituting tires that are larger in diameter, then you’ll also need to put on larger rims. But if you just want wider tires, then your current rims should work well.

As discussed in this article earlier, you’ll also want to consider the type of riding you’ll be doing the most. Getting a wider tire with the same wheel diameter will help you traverse rougher terrain (as long as your wheel size is a minimum of 20″).

Or, you might prefer narrower tires if you’ll be sticking to the road and have a folding e-bike.

So, in general, you can put bigger tires on your e-bike but you should check with the manufacturer to make sure you’re getting a compatible size.

Conclusion

Now that you’ve learned how to choose an electric bike tire (and in just 3 steps), you should consider your ultimate purpose for riding an electric bike.

Knowing how you want to ride and where you want to ride will help you decide on the right tires, whether you’re replacing worn-out tires or buying a new e-bike.

Remember, you’ll be choosing the best tires for your situation, not just good-quality tires.