Wheelchair rims - what you want to remember when selecting them.

Your push rims are the only part of your chair your hands touch thousands of times a day. Your rims and spokes take every transfer, every kerb and every bump. Get them right and you barely notice them. Get them wrong and you'll feel it in your hands, wrists and shoulders.

Here's what we each run, and what we've learned about wheelchair push rims, rims and spokes along the way.

This is part of our guide to wheelchair wheels: rear wheels, casters, tyres and push rims.

The short answer.

Wheelchair push rims come in four main types: standard metal, coated, ergonomic and wooden. Standard aluminium rims are cheap and tough but need good grip. Coated rims add grip. Ergonomic rims are shaped to your hand and are easier on sore or hypermobile joints. Wooden rims stay comfortable in hot and cold weather. For the wheel itself, more spokes spread the load and help stop the rim cracking.

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The parts.

Rim: the metal hoop the tyre sits on.
Spokes: connect the rim to the hub and spread the load around the wheel.
Push rim (hand rim): the separate ring on the outside of the wheel that you grip and push.

Types of wheelchair push rims.

Gem covered these in a reel. Between us, we've tried most of them.

[INSTAGRAM EMBED: https://www.instagram.com/reels/Dbs3Ta6q7Iz/]

Push rim	What it is	Good for	Watch out for
Standard	Round metal tube, usually aluminium	Low cost, durable, good grip and dexterity	Can be slippery, hard on wrists, gets hot and cold
Coated	Metal rim covered in rubber or vinyl	Grip, wet weather, limited hand strength	More friction on your palms; coating wears over time
Ergonomic	Shaped to fit the curve of your hand	Sore wrists, hypermobile joints, a more comfortable grip	Costs more
Wooden	Wood instead of metal	Extreme heat and cold	Less common; check durability with your dealer

Standard push rims.

Round metal push rims come on most chairs, so they're the cost-effective option. Gem finds them really painful on her wrists and hypermobile joints.

Mike runs them, which goes to show there's no single right answer. His are anodised, clear-coated aluminium, and if you've got the hand dexterity and grip, they'll see you right.

They're robust. You do knock them and ding them from time to time, and the aluminium oxidises and leaves grey marks on your hands. But they last a long time.

Push rim covers.

If you need more grip, push rim covers help.

Covers slip over a standard push rim. They're a cheap way to test whether extra grip helps before you pay for new rims.

Coated push rims.

Coated push rims have a layer of rubber or vinyl over the metal. They're particularly useful in the wet, when bare metal gets slippery, and they mean you don't have to squeeze as hard to push. Less squeezing can mean fewer blisters and calluses, and less tension running up your arms.

Ergonomic push rims.

These are Gem's favourite. They're shaped to fit your hand, so you get a more comfortable grip, and they help stabilise your joints as you push. They cost a bit more, but for Gem they've been well worth the upgrade.

If your hands, wrists or joints complain after a day of pushing, ergonomic push rims are worth a try.

Wooden push rims.

Wooden push rims are a great option if you live with extreme heat or cold, because wood doesn't get as hot or as cold as metal. They're also a little more ergonomic than standard rims.

How close should your push rims sit to the tyre?

Mike sets his push rims in really close to the tyre, so his chair is as narrow as it can possibly be. A narrower chair fits through more doorways and gaps.

The trade-off is that your fingers and thumbs end up touching the tyre as you push. That's one reason he runs the Schwalbe One: it's soft on the hands, and he sometimes grabs the tyre for extra leverage anyway.

Read more: How to change a wheelchair tyre

Rims and spokes.

Mike used to run a 12-spoke wheel, but he kept cracking the rim. There just weren't enough spokes to spread the pressure around.

So he moved to a wheel with more spokes. It's actually quite a bit lighter overall, and he hasn't cracked a rim since. [MIKE: confirm wheel model and spoke count]

More spokes isn't automatically heavier. Spoke material and rim design matter as much as the count. Fibre-spoked wheels like Spinergy are lighter than steel and absorb more shock.

Rim and push rim care.

Check for dings and burrs. A dented push rim can have a sharp edge that catches your hand. Sand it smooth or replace the rim.
Look for cracks in the rim, especially around the spoke holes, every month or so.
Check your spokes. Loose or broken spokes put more load on the rest.
Clean your push rims. A damp cloth takes off the grime and oxidized aluminum that ends up on your hands.
Check the push rim fixings are tight, so the rim doesn't move or rattle.

How to choose your push rims.

Start with your hands. Good grip and no joint pain? Standard aluminium will do the job. Sore wrists, hypermobility or limited grip? Try ergonomic or coated.
Think about your climate. Hot summers or cold winters make metal uncomfortable. Coated or wooden rims help.
Test before you spend. Push rim covers are a cheap way to see if more grip helps.
Decide how narrow you want to be. Push rims set close to the tyre keep your chair narrow, but your hands will touch the tyre.

What push rims do you find best? Tell us in the comments.

FAQ.

What are the different types of wheelchair push rims?

The main types are standard metal (usually aluminium), coated (rubber or vinyl over metal), ergonomic (shaped to fit your hand) and wooden. Push rim covers can also be added to standard rims for extra grip.

What are the best push rims for wrist or joint pain?

Ergonomic push rims are usually the most comfortable. They fit the natural curve of your hand, so you don't have to squeeze as hard, and they help stabilise your joints as you push. Coated rims also reduce how hard you need to grip.

Why do my wheelchair push rims leave grey marks on my hands?

Aluminium push rims oxidise over time, and the residue rubs off on your hands. Wiping your rims down regularly helps, and coated, ergonomic or wooden rims avoid it.

Are wooden wheelchair push rims any good?

Yes, especially in extreme temperatures. Wood doesn't get as hot or as cold as metal, and wooden rims are often a little more ergonomic than standard ones.

How can I get more grip on my push rims?

Push rim covers are the cheapest option. Coated or ergonomic push rims give more grip permanently.

Does the number of spokes on a wheelchair wheel matter?

Yes. More spokes spread the load around the rim. Mike cracked rims on a 12-spoke wheel, then switched to one with more spokes that's also lighter overall. Spoke material matters too: fibre spokes are lighter than steel.