Which is better for kick scooters: solid polyurethane (PU) wheels or inflatable tires?

Solid polyurethane (PU) wheels are inexpensive and won’t get flat tires, but they come with several drawbacks. They lack grip when wet, the bearings in their plastic hubs loosen quickly, their load capacity is low, they don’t absorb vibrations, and they wear out fast—requiring full wheel replacement when they do. In contrast, air-inflated tires are more costly and can get flats, but they offer superior comfort, better grip (even in wet conditions), significantly higher load capacity when paired with traditional spoked rims, and lower rolling resistance once they reach a certain size and pressure.

In summary, a high-pressure, air-inflated wheel of at least 12 inches is a far better choice than a smaller solid PU wheel, especially if you opt for premium tires and bearings. Boardy scooters feature high-pressure Continental tires and premium sealed industrial bearings, making them far superior to solid PU wheels in terms of comfort, speed, and load capacity.