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Qeridoo magazine

Air tire vs. air-chamber tire vs. solid rubber: differences in bicycle trailers

Whether daily ride to kindergarten, sporty bike tour or trip into nature – the right tire makes the difference. It determines how smoothly your trailer runs, how comfortable the ride is and how much maintenance you have to invest. Learn here which tire is best suited for bicycle trailers.

Author Wilhelm Wenzel

Wilhelm Wenzel

Head of development department

The key points in brief

Overview of the tire types

Generally with child bicycle trailers – particularly with the buggy wheel – three different tire types are used:

 Air tires
 Air-chamber tires
 Solid rubber tires

The two rear wheels and the jogger wheel are usually air tires, in the front buggy wheel another tire type can also be installed. An overview of the advantages and disadvantages of the tires you get here:

Air tire (8")

Air tire (8")

  • Advantages:

    • individual adjustment of air pressure
    • high comfort on uneven paths
    • flexible to use
    • very good damping and suspension

  • Disadvantages:

    • regular check and pumping up if necessary

  • Qeridoo:

    From QUPA Plus upwards (KIDGOO, SPORTREX) we use exclusively air tires. They offer clear advantages on natural paths, field and forest paths as well as in sporting activities.

Comparison

Advantages and disadvantages: the three tire types in comparison

Choosing the right tire type is decisive for riding comfort, maintenance and everyday usability of your bicycle trailer. Depending on the area of use, air, air-chamber and solid rubber tires bring different strengths and weaknesses.

Air tire – maximum comfort and flexibility

The air tire offers the highest riding comfort and is particularly flexibly usable. Thanks to the individually adjustable tire pressure of the bicycle trailer, the suspension can be optimally adapted to the surface – whether asphalt, gravel or forest paths. These wheels score with excellent damping and are ideal for sporting activities like jogging or longer tours in nature.

Image air tire
An air tire ensures more comfort and flexibility.
You can adjust the air pressure depending on the surface: The harder the ground, the higher the air pressure should be for optimal riding comfort. On soft and uneven surfaces less pressure in the tire is enough.

Note that the tire pressure additionally rises in summer due to the warmth. The tire should therefore not be filled up to the maximum permitted air pressure. The rule of thumb is that a temperature change of 10 degrees makes the air pressure rise or drop by 0.1 bar. Air tires do require some maintenance: the air pressure should be regularly checked and if necessary pumped up.

For tires, jogger wheel and buggy wheel, starting with the model series QUPA Plus – so also with our KIDGOO or SPORTREX – we consistently use air tires. They offer on natural paths and for sporty use clear advantages. Also when using the child bicycle trailer as a buggy, air tires prove to be the best solution for the buggy wheel.
Comparison

Decision aid for the right tire type for the bicycle trailer

Choosing the right tire type depends strongly on what surface you're on and how you want to use your Qeridoo bicycle trailer. Comfort, maintenance effort and durability play a decisive role.


Air vs. air-chamber vs. solid rubber tires in comparison


Use Air tire Air-chamber tire Solid rubber tire
Asphalt ++ +++ +++
Cobblestones ++ + +
Gravel paths +++ ++ +
Field paths +++ ++ +
Forest paths +++ + +
For jogging/sport +++ + -

Air-chamber tire

Air-chamber wheel stroller

  • Advantages:

    • maintenance-free,
    • nearly indestructible,
    • comfortable on paved, level surfaces,
    • no air check needed

  • Disadvantages:

    • less damping on uneven paths,
    • less flexible,
    • no ideal damping

  • Qeridoo:

    Suitable for urban use, but not installed on our trailers.

Solid rubber tire

Solid rubber tire

  • Advantages:

    • extremely robust,
    • maintenance-free,
    • no flats possible,
    • very long-lasting,
    • cheaper

  • Disadvantages:

    • little damping,
    • low comfort on uneven paths,
    • very hard

  • Qeridoo:

    The solid rubber wheel is the cheapest entry-level alternative and is used in our QUPA.

Air-chamber tire – maintenance-free and durable

The air-chamber tire combines some advantages of the air tire with the maintenance-free nature of a solid rubber tire. It is nearly indestructible, requires no air check and runs particularly quietly on paved paths. This makes it ideal for urban everyday use and short distances on asphalt. They are therefore frequently installed in strollers.

Image air-chamber tire
Air-chamber tires ensure low maintenance effort and longevity.

It consists of a foamed plastic wheel that has many small air bubbles inside. Through this, the wheel itself has a certain damping effect that additionally supports the riding comfort.

However, the disadvantage is the lower damping on uneven paths. For sporty riders or frequent use of the bicycle trailer for jogging on natural ground, it offers less comfort.

Solid rubber tire – robust, cheap and absolutely puncture-proof

Solid rubber tires are the most robust and cheapest alternative. They are completely maintenance-free, puncture-proof and extremely long-lasting. Particularly for budget-conscious buyers or occasional use, they are a solid choice.

Image solid rubber tire
Solid rubber tires are cheap and particularly robust, but offer little comfort.

However, the hardness of the material comes at the expense of riding comfort: on uneven surfaces, shocks pass through directly, which makes the riding experience less pleasant. On our entry model QUPA 2022, this tire type is installed in the buggy wheel, since maintenance-free is the top priority here.

Discover Qeridoo child bicycle trailers now

Discover our popular child bicycle trailers now as single- or double-seaters.

Last updated: February 4, 2026

FAQ – Die häufigsten Fragen zu Luftrad, Luftkammerrad und Vollgummireifen beim Fahrradanhänger

Welches Rad ist für einen Fahrradanhänger am komfortabelsten – Luftrad, Luftkammerrad oder Vollgummi?

Das Luftrad bietet den höchsten Fahrkomfort. Durch den einstellbaren Luftdruck lässt sich die Federung an den jeweiligen Untergrund anpassen – ob Asphalt, Schotter oder Waldweg. Das Luftkammerrad ist auf befestigten Wegen ebenfalls angenehm, schwächelt aber auf unebenem Gelände. Der Vollgummireifen bietet kaum Dämpfung und ist daher am wenigsten komfortabel, besonders auf unebenen Strecken.

Ja, ein Luftrad kann im Gegensatz zum Luftkammerrad und Vollgummirad einen Platten bekommen, da es einen Schlauch enthält. Dafür bietet es die beste Dämpfungswirkung. Wer auf Pannensicherheit angewiesen ist und hauptsächlich in der Stadt fährt, kann auf ein Luftkammerrad oder Vollgummireifen ausweichen – beide sind pannensicher.

Der Reifendruck beim Luftrad sollte regelmäßig überprüft werden – am besten vor längeren Ausfahrten. Im Sommer erhöht die Wärme den Druck um ca. 0,1 Bar pro 10 Grad Temperaturanstieg, weshalb der Reifen nicht bis zum Maximalwert befüllt werden sollte. Luftkammerräder und Vollgummireifen brauchen dagegen überhaupt keine Druckkontrolle.

Für Jogging-Touren und Sport auf Naturböden empfiehlt sich ausschließlich das Luftrad. Es federt Unebenheiten effektiv ab und schützt das Kind vor Erschütterungen. Das Luftkammerrad bietet auf solchem Untergrund deutlich weniger Komfort, und der Vollgummireifen ist zum Joggen mit dem Fahrradanhänger ungeeignet.

Nein, das Luftkammerrad enthält keinen aufpumpbaren Schlauch, sondern besteht aus aufgeschäumtem Kunststoff mit winzigen eingeschlossenen Luftbläschen. Es wirkt daher nicht wie ein echter Luftreifen, hat aber eine gewisse dämpfende Wirkung. Ein Luftrad mit Schlauch federt spürbar besser und ist flexibler einsetzbar, erfordert aber regelmäßige Wartung.

Sowohl das Luftkammerrad als auch der Vollgummireifen sind vollständig wartungsfrei – kein Aufpumpen, keine Druckkontrolle, keine Pannengefahr. Das Luftrad hingegen muss regelmäßig auf den richtigen Luftdruck überprüft und bei Bedarf nachgepumpt werden.

Qeridoo setzt ab dem Modell QUPA Plus – also auch bei Kidgoo und Sportrex – konsequent auf Lufträder, da diese auf Naturwegen und bei sportlicher Nutzung die besten Ergebnisse liefern. Das Einsteigermodell QUPA verfügt am Buggyrad über einen Vollgummireifen, weil dort Wartungsfreiheit Priorität hat. Luftkammerräder werden bei Qeridoo-Anhängern nicht verbaut.