Frequently asked questions

Loopwheels are heavier than wheels with conventional spokes. But for this, you get suspension as well as a wheel! The weights without tyres or push rims are:

Loopwheels Urban 24″: 1.36kg
Loopwheels Urban 25″: 1.52kg
Loopwheels LT: 1.36kg
Loopwheel Extreme: 1.33kg (but the tyres on these are bigger, so this wheel is generally our heaviest overall once you fit the tyres).
Loopwheels Classic (24″): 1.84kg
Loopwheels Classic (25″): 1.86kg

Yes. For Loopwheels Urban, LT and Extreme, the warrantied speed limit is 25km/h (15.5 mph). This is also the speed limit on most roads.
For Loopwheels Classic and Carbon, the warrantied speed limit is 7km/h (4.35mph). Classic and Carbon are only suitable for manual use or with a handbike at low speed.

Surprisingly well! We tested the Loopwheel against a spoked wheel to measure the rolling resistance. Because the Loopwheel is not held back by any obstacles it encounters, it travelled faster and more easily than a non-suspension wheel if there are small or large bumps in the road/pavement/track. Find out more about the test here.

Don’t forget that the biggest cause of poor rolling resistance is if your tyre is not fully inflated: make sure you’re pumped up!
Solid tyres are much more resistant to moving than a good quality air tyre. We recommend Schwalbe Marathon Plus, designed for wheelchairs and puncture-resistant. We don’t recommend using solid tyres.

It’s not possible to change the amount of suspension on your Loopwheels.

You can buy Loopwheels in one of three different spring compression rates: soft, regular and stiff. Loopwheels Urban and Extreme are both available with regular or stiff springs, and Loopwheels LT offer a softer suspension.

Your choice will depend on the average speed of travel, user weight and personal preference. Please get in touch with us if you have further questions about the differences in spring rates.

There are different colour options available for each of our wheels, but they are not exchangeable once built.

Loopwheels require little maintenance other than a clean. We advise you wash your wheels with warm soapy water – avoid aggressive abrasive cleaning agents.

Check your wheels and chair regularly for wear and to spot any early signs of damage – see our user manuals for recommendations.

If you start hearing a noise in your wheels after you have had them some time, they need checking. Causes could be:
– one of the bolts attaching the push rim to the wheel rim has worked loose and may need tightening;
– a rim hinge bolt may have worked loose. We can repair this for you.

Bearings should be rinsed if they come into contact with salt or sand. Bearings are a wearing part which may need replacement from time to time, exactly as bearings in spoked wheels. So are tyres – check they still have grip! Tyres should also be inflated to maintain good tyre pressure.

In the UK you can buy direct from us via this website, or by contacting us, if you can’t find a supplier more local to you.
Check out our find a Loopwheels retailer page first, as local retailers can advise you on your whole chair set-up or supply Loopwheels as part of a whole chair solution.

In most non-UK countries, we have exclusive supply through a distributor and don’t sell direct from our website. In this case your country won’t come up in our list of shipping destinations. Contact the distributor for your country (see our retailers page), and they will direct you to a supplier in your country.

Yes. The maximum total load limit covered by the warranty is 120kg. Total load is the weight of the rider plus the weight of everything else carried on the wheels. This is in line with most active manual wheelchairs which typically have a 100kg user weight limit.
 
In terms of minimum weight, you’re not likely to feel much benefit from the shock-absorption of Loopwheels if you weigh less than 40kg.
 
Each wheel we’ve developed has been optimised for different weights and applications. This includes offering three spring rates: soft springs, regular springs and stiff springs.
 
Loopwheels LT have soft springs, designed to offer suspension to lighter users between 40-60kgs. Loopwheels Urban and Extreme are available with either regular or stiff springs. Our general recommendation is the heavier you weigh and the faster you go, the ‘stiffer’ the spring rate. All springs are equally strong, with the same recommended load limit of 120kg. The final choice comes down to personal preference!

All our new generation of Loopwheels are suitable for using with a power-assist device or handbike like a Batec, Klaxon Klick, PAWS, Triride, etc. The Urban and LT are also great for manual propulsion (ie if you just propel yourself manually without any handbike or power add-on device).
The main difference between the models of Loopwheels is that the Loopwheels Extreme are designed to take a chunkier, MTB style tyre which has increased grip, ideal for uneven surfaces or off-road. Due to the heavier tyres the Extremes are harder work to propel manually than either the Loopwheels Urban or Loopwheels LT. We recommend the Extreme for using with a handbike or e-handbike.
Loopwheels LT are for people who are smaller and lighter. It is the same wheel as the 24″ Loopwheel Urban, with our softest suspension rate.
To help you choose which wheels are best for you, check out our guide here.

Loopwheels are actually quite stiff!

The springs are made of a composite material of carbon fibre, glass fibre and resin with natural damping characteristics. The springs only flex when they need to, to make you feel more comfortable and give you wheelchair suspension when you need it.

Loopwheels Urban comes in three suspension rates: Soft, Regular and Stiff.
Loopwheels Extreme is available in two suspension rates: Regular and Stiff.
Loopwheels LT (and our older Classics) have just one suspension rate.
Please visit your local stockist to try Loopwheels or contact us for more information. In the UK, you can trial Loopwheels for just £35.

Yes, Loopwheels have been independently crash-tested for seated use in a vehicle using wheelchair vehicle restraints.

Loopwheels are designed for adult, active manual wheelchairs, and are not generally suitable for power-chairs or transit chairs. Loopwheels Urban and Loopwheels LT are available in pretty standard 24” and 25” sizes, whilst the Loopwheels Extreme model is a 24” wheel.

We don’t include spindles/axle pins with Loopwheels, as most people don’t need new ones for their wheels! The ones you already have with your wheelchair may fit fine, or just need a minor adjustment. Quick release axle pins are adjustable by up to 4mm in either direction.
 
If you find your axle pins don’t fit (or you just fancy some new ones), you can buy 85mm, 99mm, 104mm, 109mm, 114mm and 120mm lengths. We have some of these in 12mm as well as 12.7mm (half inch) – but not all.

We’ve found 99mm and 104mm to be the most common axle lengths, but all wheelchairs vary and may require a longer or shorter axle pin. If you’re not sure which length is right for you, check out the diagram and/or drop us an email.

Each axle length is adjustable at the head by about 4mm, in either direction. We also supply 2 metal spacers with each axle (and a rubber grip) in case these help to make minor adjustments or whilst you do a trial.

Measurements of our 104mm quick release axle. L = 104mm; L1 = 45.9mm and is the part of the axle that passes through the wheel. L2 is the part of the axle that goes into the chair.

Minor Adjustment. The length of the Loopwheel axles can be adjusted by rotating the ‘Nut’, clockwise (shorter) counter clockwise (longer). This is done by clamping the ‘Flat section’ and turning the ‘Nut’ using a suitable spanner. Maximum adjustment is approx 4mm.

Loopwheels must not be mounted at a camber angle that exceeds 12 degrees. We recommend an optimum camber of 3 to 6 degrees for Loopwheels Urban and Loopwheels Extreme used with a handbike, but due to the inherently flexible characteristics of the suspension, Loopwheels can be used at any camber up to a maximum of 12 degrees.

Removal of the bearings may seriously damage your wheel and will void any warranty that covers this. Do not remove or change the bearings yourself. We fix the bearings into the wheel hub with a high specification ‘Loctite’ bond. If you need to change bearings, please seek advice from us, or talk to your local dealer.

The answer depends on your wheelchair! Most chairs are made with 1/2″ (12.7mm) diameter axles, so we fit 1/2″ bearings as standard. You must tell us if you require a 12mm diameter bearings in your wheels. If you’re unsure about the diameter of bearings please check with your wheelchair manufacturer before you place an order with us, or ask us for advice. A 1/2″ axle will not fit into a 12mm bearing and a 12mm axle will wobble in a 1/2″ bearing.

If you have a fender on your wheelchair which curves over the top of the wheel, allow for a gap of 30mm above the Loopwheel tyre and the underside of the guard. This is because the three-spring suspension system will cause your seat to move downwards, towards the tyre, if you move over a larger obstacle. If there is insufficient clearance, the wheel could slow down/brake when it comes into contact with the guard.
 
There is no issue with a straight sideguard – only one that curves over the top of the tyre.
It may be possible for your guard height to be adjusted. Check before fitting the Loopwheels to your chair!

Loopwheels are designed to sit slightly further out from the chair than a Spinergy wheel, to allow for the suspension movement. Pushrims will also sit slightly wider than a Spinergy wheel.
 
Our older designs, Loopwheel Classic and Loopwheel Carbon, were wider at the hub.

No. The EMotion can’t be fitted to Loopwheels – sorry!

We are proud to offer a diverse range of pushrims to be fitted both to Loopwheels and spoked wheels.
 
The standard option we offer is either a black powder-coated aluminium push rim, or silver anodised rim.
 
We also sell the complete CarboLife, Tetra-Equipment and Lignorim pushrim ranges, which you can browse here.
 
If you’re choosing pushrims to be fitted to a new pair of Loopwheels, and you can’t find your pushrim of choice in the drop-down list on the product page, please contact us, as only the most popular models are listed.
 
Check out Pushrim Solutions for more information on pushrims for spoked wheels and Loopwheels!

We don’t supply Natural Fit pushrims but we offer a wide range of alternative, ergonomic hand rims that we believe are an equal or better option.

We only make wheels for wheelchairs. If you want a MTB tyre on your wheelchair, we recommend our Loopwheels Extreme with a Schwalbe Smart Sam or Marathon Plus tyre. Smart Sam is a larger off-road style tyre. You can buy any 507 MTB tyres for Loopwheels Extreme from a bike shop if you prefer a different choice from what we offer.