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If you’ve seen anyone riding an electric bike, you’ve probably noticed that they have plus-sized or fat tires on.
Most ebike, especially specialized ones like electric hunting bikes, benefit greatly from the offset weight and stability on the trail that fat tires provide. Not only does a fat tire ebike give your bike better stability, but the added weight will barely affect your motor’s range or power.
With this in mind, it’s important to discuss the pros and cons of a fat tire bike and whether it’s worth the money.
Fat tire bikes are bikes that use wider and heavier tires for the trail. Fat tires are popular for mountain bikes and electric bikes because they provide better grip and stability on rough terrain.
While skinny or normal-sized tires are fine for everyday road use, they don’t hold up well when bumping up against thick rocks and roots on a singletrack. For this reason, fat tires are most ubiquitous on electric bikes, since ebikes typically go faster and require better traction on the road or the trail.
You'll typically find fat tire eBikes with features and accessories that accommodate off-road use, such as special suspension components in the frame and fork, low gearing, and racks. In rare cases, you may even find special designs with dual front or rear tires for increased traction and stability.
Fat tire eBikes are heavier than traditional electric bikes. Therefore, they take a little more effort to get moving when pedaling manually. You may also notice the weight difference when balancing the bike under certain circumstances.
Otherwise, they can actually be easier and more comfortable to ride than their counterparts, especially on rough terrains like rocks and roots and around sharp corners.
Fat tires offer a greater contact patch to improve traction, which is perfect for wet terrain during rainy or snowy days.
In addition, the larger tire size and lower tire pressure also allow them to function like a shock absorber. So if you’re hitting up rocky terrain, you’ll greatly benefit from a pair of fat tires.
Don't get too caught up with the weight, either. The motor will quickly overcome that factor, and features like pedal assist make it totally unnoticeable to you.
Yes, fat tire eBikes are good on paved roads. Again, the additional weight capacity and comfort might even make them more desirable to some riders in such settings. That does not mean there aren't tradeoffs to consider.
Fat tire eBikes aren't as fast or agile as skinny tire eBikes on the pavement. They aren't necessarily harder to ride, but they simply can't compete with bikes designed specifically for the setting.
The wider tires' additional weight and surface tension will also bog efficiency down. As a result, fat tires aren’t necessary for road use if you’re looking for recreational biking, but certainly are beneficial for all terrains.
Riding a fat tire eBike isn't all that different than riding any other eBike, and you won’t have to change much about your riding habits without any gear. They are heavier than other bikes, but you won't notice the difference outside of exceptionally demanding situations due to the motor.
The biggest difference you will notice under most circumstances is increased stability on a trail or singletrack. These eBikes can ride over rough terrain far easier than skinny tire bikes. Even a traditional mountain bike couldn't offer the same level of confidence you'll have on many trails with a fat tire eBike.
When riding styles really change is when you load the eBike up with your hunting gear. The additional weight will require you to balance things differently than you normally would.
Due to safety concerns, it's important to be thoughtful of what you bring and how you carry it on your eBike, as well as the course you follow and how you maneuver.
Fat tire bikes are popular choices for mountain bikes and electric bikes. Thanks to improved traction and weight balance, fat tires are ideal for all terrains and all weather conditions. Be sure to browse our selection of the best fat tire electric bikes to find one that best suits your needs and riding style.
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