What Are Great Ways to Use a Fat Tire Ebike? (Fresh Ideas)

Top 5 Things To Do On Fat Tire Electric Bikes

Fat tire electric bikes are taking the world by storm, and there’s no better time get into fat tire ebike riding. Why are fat tire electric bikes so popular? There are several reasons riders like these types of bikes so much, including the extra traction and stability these wider footprint bike tires have, giving you access to remote areas with unpaved trails.

In this article we discuss the top 5 ways to use a fat tire electric bike. 

But before we get to the list, let's just briefly review what fat tire ebikes are exactly. As the name implies, this category of bikes is electric (with a motor, battery and controller) and they have fat tires, which are any tire that is 4" wide or more. 

You will often see fat tires on electric mountain bikes, where the tire dimensions are 26" x 4", and on many folding models, where the tire size is usually 20" x 4".

Having fat tires will give you an extra cushion when riding, especially because you can actually deflate the tires down to 5psi, for riding over sand or snow. These tires have more surface area contact with the ground, have more traction, and provide greater stability on uneven surfaces such as trails.

While you are here make sure you check out our Ultimate Fat Tire Electric Bike Showdown 2024 Edition for our recommendations on the best fat tire electric bikes on the market today. It's epic!

Commuting

A fat tire eBike might not be your first thought when it comes to selecting an electric bike for commuting purposes. 

But we think that’s a mistake.

Think for a second about some of the road conditions that you might experience on the way to and from work. 

You will probably ride over a few roads of questionable quality from time to time. Potholes, curb cuts and gravel can all be hazardous for eBikes with standard width tires (typically 1.75" to 2.1" wide) but not so for a wider tire. Fat tires are usually 4.0" in width, but some are 4.5" and we've even seen monster eBikes with 5"-wide tires. 

There’s nothing worse than having to stop to change a flat on the way to work when you are already pushed for time. 

Your chances of experiencing flat tires are significantly reduced when you ride on fat tires. Fat tire bikes act as cushions, floating over the rough ground surfaces rather than cutting into them. And with the ability to adjust tire inflation from 5 psi (pounds per square inch) to 30 psi, fat tire bikes are great for most riding conditions.

Many people also need to switch between roads and trails riding on the way to work, which can often mean transitioning from curb to road and back. This can put a lot of strain on your tires and wheel rims. A bent wheel is no one's friend.

You can add additional protection to your wheel rims with fat tires. 

Finally, fat tires eBikes will give you an edge if you need to take an off-road shortcut through a field or park to reduce your commute time. 4-inch fat tires can eat up sand, dirt and mud far better than standard 2-inch tires.

We’ve got some awesome compact, urban fat tire electric bikes in our Ultimate Showdown, check them out today. 

Fishing/Beach Riding

Do you love to fish or spend time at the beach?

Fat tire electric bikes are actually perfectly suited to being ridden on the sand. Most fat tires are designed to be operated at a lower tire pressure, allowing you to float over the sandy surface rather than cutting through it.

Like off-road vehicles this allows them to have an even wider surface area in contact with the sand which means that they don’t sink easily or get bogged down. 

If you hit some of that sweet firm sand by the waters edge you will literally be able to fly along to your favorite fishing or swimming spot and back.

You just can’t get that action with standard sized tires.

As an added bonus many of our fat tire e-mountain bikes are available with a range of accessories that can enable you to securely carry your fishing gear with you. A good example is the Bakcou Mule Hunting Ebike.

Fat tire electric mountain bikes (e-MTBs) are quickly becoming entrenched with hunters and other outdoorsmen. 

And it’s not hard to see why.

Electric bikes move quickly and very quietly compared to other forms of transportation, which make them perfect for getting in and out without disturbing your targets. They will also save you a lot of pedaling, which means when you get onsite you will have more energy to focus on the task at hand. 

Fat tire electric bikes are far more stable which means you can spend less time focussing on the trail and more time focussing on your other surroundings.

An additional benefit is that fat tire electric bikes can be ridden in a lot of areas where it is illegal to use other vehicles due to their classification.

The connection between fat tire electric bikes and hunting is now so established that there are a number of companies that are exclusively producing excellent models focused solely on the hunting market. 

Vacation Riding

Whether you travel by RV, boat or car, it’s great to have a light form of transport with you to get around your destination. Did you know that many fat tire eBikes are foldable?

Electric bikes are a great option, you can move under your own power but there’s nothing more relaxing than cycling with the assistance of an electric motor. And let’s face it when you’re on vacation you want to be able to relax.

If you are traveling with a compact electric bike it makes sense to have one with fat tires. When you are traveling to new places you just don’t know where you’ll ride and over what type or quality of terrain.

Having a fat tire electric bike with you will ensure that you are able to ride over just about any surface. And your friends will be envious of your new eBike - we promise.

Trail Riding

Ok, so this one is a bit of no-brainer, fat tires are kinda made for off-road trail riding. But many people still go for standard size tires on their mountain bikes.

We think it’s time to change that. The wider tires on fat bikes allow greater control over broken surfaces and reduce the chance of flats and damaged wheel rims. Whether your stump-thumbing or creek-crossing, fat tires will get you there with fewer bumps and bruises.

Added to this, as we mentioned earlier, fat tire eBikes are much more suited to soft surfaces like sand or mud thanks to their wider tire footprint. 

If you hit the trails regularly it's definitely time to upgrade to a fat tire eBike.

Still on the hunt for the right fat tire electric bike? Make sure you check out our Ultimate Fat Tire Electric Bike Showdown 2024 Edition for the latest on the best fat tire electric bikes.

Not sure which brand is right for you? Well check out our comprehensive list of the Really Good Ebikes Family of Brands.