72V ONYX Wheels, Spokes, Rims, and Tires Guide

This post is a complete, practical guide to building and upgrading ONYX RCR wheels.

It covers:

• Spoke patterns and why they matter
• Aftermarket rims and spoke sizing
• Recommended tools
• Tire sizing, fitment, and clearance
• Performance vs daily riding tire choices
• Advanced setup considerations

If you are upgrading power, weight, or riding style, your wheels and tires become one of the most important reliability upgrades you can make.

Simple Overview

If you just want the safe, proven setup:

• Spokes: Cross-laced (3-cross or 4-cross)
• Rims: 17" aluminum, 2.15"-3.0" front, 2.5"-4.25" rear
• Daily tire: Michelin City Extra 2.75 × 17
• Performance tire: Michelin Pilot Street 2 (90/80 front, 100/80 rear)
• Pressure: 32 PSI front and rear

Everything below explains why these work best.

Spoke Patterns (Cross vs Radial)

Cross-Laced Spokes

• Spokes cross each other (2-cross, 3-cross, 4-cross)
• Handles hub motor torque
• Better braking force support
• Even stress distribution
• Long-term durability

Best for:

• Hub motors
• Disc brakes
• Heavy batteries
• High power builds
• Off-road riding

Radial-Laced Spokes

• Straight from hub to rim
• Lighter
• Slight aerodynamic benefit
• Poor torque handling
• High hub flange stress

Best for:

• Front wheels without disc brakes
• Low power bicycles

Verdict

For ONYX builds:

Always use cross-laced spokes. Prefer 3-cross or 4-cross for maximum strength.

Rims (17" and 18")

Common aftermarket options:

• Rim - 17 x 1.85 to 4.25
• Rim - 18 x 1.85 to 4.25

Spoke and Rim Tools

• Spoke Wrench Tool
• Truing Stand - 27 Inch

Spokes - Front (17" wheel)

• Spoke Nipple Washer - M6 x 10mm x 1mm
• Front Stainless Spokes - 3.18mm × 185mm
• Front Steel Spokes - 3.18mm × 185mm

Specifications:

• Length: 185mm
• Diameter: 3.0-3.18mm
• Count: 36
• Nipples: Included

Spokes - Rear (QS205 motor, 17" wheel)

• Spoke Nipple Washer - M6 x 10mm x 1mm
• Rear Stainless Spokes - 3.18mm × 105mm
• Rear Steel Spokes - 3.18mm × 105mm

Specifications:

• Length: 105mm
• Diameter: 3.0-3.2mm
• Count: 36
• Type: J-bend

Nipple sizing:

• Middle: 4.7mm
• Top: 5.7mm
• Head: 8.7mm
• Rim opening: 4.5mm

Tire Fitment Basics

Stock setup

• 17" rims
• 3.0" tires
• ~23" total diameter

Clearance limits

• Front: ~3.5" wide, ~2.8" sidewall
• Rear: ~3.9" wide, ~3.1" sidewall

Wider tires may require:

• Taller fork stabilizer
• Extended swingarm

Tire Size Systems

Two formats:

• Inch sizing (3.0")
• Metric sizing (90/80)

Metric reference:

Example:

90/80 = 3.5" wide × 2.8" sidewall

Tire Types by Use

• Michelin City Extra - Daily riding
• Michelin Pilot Street 2 - Performance street
• Pirelli Angel / Diablo - Sport street
• Continental ContiStreet - Budget
• Shinko 241 - Light trail
• Shinko 244 - Street + dirt

Always follow sidewall PSI limits during mounting.

Two Tires That Matter Most

Michelin City Extra

• Long tread life
• Strong wet grip
• Puncture resistant

Recommended sizes:

• 2.75 × 17
• 3.0 × 17

Michelin Pilot Street 2

Performance setup.

Front:

• 90/80 × 17
• 112 mph rating

Rear:

• 100/80 × 17
• 106 mph rating

Recommended pressure:

• 32 PSI

Tire Diameter vs Acceleration

Smaller = faster acceleration Larger = higher top speed

Speed Ratings

• P = 93 mph
• R = 106 mph
• S = 112 mph

High-power builds should use R or S rated tires.

Load Ratings (examples)

• 46 = 375 lb
• 50 = 419 lb
• 52 = 441 lb
• 57 = 507 lb

Heavier riders and battery upgrades benefit from higher ratings.

Tubes and Flats

Best practices:

• 2-3mm thick tubes
• No slime
• No tire liners
• Use rim protectors

Rear Axle Torque (Quick Reference)

• Axle nut: 24mm
• Torque: 80 Nm
• Brake caliper bolts: 12 Nm
• Clean axle before install
• 1-2 drops threadlocker

Advanced Clearance Notes

• Shinko 244 (3.0") requires taller fork stabilizer
• Rear tires over 4.0" require extended swingarm
• Metric sizes above 100/80 may interfere with front clearance

Final Recommendations

• Zero drama: Michelin City Extra
• Maximum grip: Michelin Pilot Street 2
• Mixed use: Shinko 244
• Budget: ContiStreet

Wheel setup affects:

• Acceleration
• Top speed
• Motor load
• Braking
• Stability
• Range

It is one of the highest-impact upgrades you can make on an ONYX.