More Grip, Longer Wheelies? Float Life Performance Tires on the Antic (Install + First Ride)
March 11, 2026
If you’ve been riding the Antic and wishing it felt a little more planted—especially when you’re carving turns or trying to hold a wheelie—this is one of those upgrades that can genuinely change the vibe of the bike.
For this review, I installed The Float Life performance tires on the Antic (Thundercat up front, Pioneer in the rear) and pair the rear tire with a 5-inch MTE hub. Then we go ride it like you actually would: pavement first, then some wet off-road, and a whole bunch of wheelie practice in between.
The idea behind this upgrade
The stock setup works, but the goal here is simple: more grip, a more forgiving feel, and better control—especially since the Antic doesn’t have suspension.
The rear change is the bigger “system” upgrade. The Pioneer goes onto a 5-inch MTE hub (instead of the stock 6.5-inch hub). The expectation: a thicker sidewall feel and a more rounded profile that should make turning and balancing feel easier.
Up front, the Thundercat tread is the immediate visual difference—and on pavement it’s also the immediate “feel” difference.
Install walkthrough (what it’s really like)
This is not a quick tire swap.
The install goes step-by-step through removing the rear fender and motor cable access plate, pulling the rear wheel, breaking the bead, removing the stock tire, and then doing the hub swap (stator out, new O-rings/parts in, spring washers installed, cap aligned and torqued down).
A few real-world notes that come through loud and clear:
You need the right bits/tools (Torx Plus comes up specifically) and you want plastic tire levers to avoid damaging the hub.
Breaking the bead and wrestling the tire on/off is work—especially the rear.
I noticed that if it’s your first time doing this, expect it to take a while.
There’s a “pay someone local” moment that… honestly, many of us can relate to after fighting a stubborn tire.
Tubeless sealant is added after seating the tire (core out, sealant in, core back, refill), and pressure is adjusted for the ride test.
First ride impressions: pavement feel
The biggest takeaway on pavement wasn’t some dramatic “new bike” moment the second I twist the throttle.
Instead, it’s subtler—and then it starts stacking up:
It feels more planted.
The bike feels easier to turn while up in a wheelie.
With the pressure set low (I ride around 18 PSI in the test), the tires feel locked-in during side-to-side balance corrections.
There’s a specific sensation I describe that’s worth calling out: feeling your weight “in the sidewalls” when you lean. That’s the kind of thing you only notice when you’re actually riding, not staring at a spec sheet.
Wheelies: the control upgrade
This is where the upgrade seems to pay off immediately.
I’m able to recover better in turns and hold balance more confidently. The rounded feel of the rear setup comes through as “more leverage” when shifting weight into a turn—especially at lower PSI.
If you’re buying this mod purely for wheelie fun, my test’s vibe is pretty clear: it makes the Antic feel more dialed.
Off-road (wet): traction and confidence
On the wet off-road segment, I noticed two things:
You still feel impacts—tires can only do so much on a bike with no suspension.
But it’s more comfortable and more fun off-road.
The standout moment: I climb a hill I couldn’t do last time, and I’m not totally sure whether it’s the extra traction, the extra torque feel from the hub change, or both—but the result is what matters: it made it.
Speed/torque vibe (as tested)
A Dragy test is included.
With the new hub installed, it feels like more torque off the line, but the top-speed result was about 31 mph. For comparison, the stock setup hit 37 mph.
What’s refreshing here is the honesty: I don’t mind the speed loss, and riding past 30 mph on this can feel sketchy—and it would likely crush battery anyway.
PSI is the secret sauce
I’d start by playing with tire pressure to get the feel you want.
I ride around 16–18 PSI as a lighter rider (I’m about 140 lbs). If you’re heavier, you’ll likely want more pressure.
I’ve also seen comments from the Onewheel community about similar tire setups feeling “too nimble” or “squirrely” at higher PSI—so if you try this and it feels twitchy, pressure is probably the first knob to turn.
What We Like
Noticeably more planted feel on pavement
Better cornering control during wheelies, with easier recovery mid-turn
More confidence in wet/off-road traction (the hill climb is a great example)
Low-PSI ride feel adds comfort and a more “floating” sensation
Honest takeaway: for my riding style, it’s a significant upgrade
Things To Consider
Not an easy mod if you’ve never swapped small tires or done a hub swap
You’ll want the right tools (Torx Plus bits, bead breaker or DIY method, plastic levers)
Rear tire install can be a wrestling match
The hub/tire combo I tested traded top speed for feel (I saw around 31 mph vs ~37 mph stock)
PSI tuning matters—set it wrong and it may feel too twitchy
Final Thoughts
This ride test is a great reminder that the best upgrades aren’t always about chasing numbers—they’re about making the bike feel easier, safer, and more fun in the stuff you actually do.
After the install and first ride, my verdict is simple: totally worth it if you ride the Antic often and care about grip, balance, and control (especially for wheelies). Just go into it knowing it’s not a “15-minute tire swap” kind of afternoon.
Links
Antic: https://anticbikes.com/
TFL Antic Bike Accessories: https://thefloatlife.com/collections/antic-bike-accessories
Bead Breaker: https://anticbikes.com/products/bead-breaker
Torx Plus Socket Set: https://amzn.to/4bCnjLc
Pillow Grips: https://amzn.to/46X0fUW
Stan's Tire Sealant: https://amzn.to/4lq5Rx0
Stan's Core Remover: https://amzn.to/4lshhQP
Park Tool Tire Lever Set: https://amzn.to/4rtvXR7
Bar Mirror: https://amzn.to/3OZQHlK
E-Brake Levers: https://amzn.to/4aQM5FZ
Handlebar Brake Line Clamp: https://amzn.to/4aUb9Mo
Cable Clamp: https://amzn.to/4aD4Fmg
Brake Cable Kit: https://amzn.to/4kX0Vj1
Extension Springs: https://amzn.to/4kTFAqx
Bell Super 3R MIPS Bike Helmet: https://amzn.to/3TJ1vTR
Fox Racing Bike Gloves: https://amzn.to/40P5SyQ
Fox Racing Hip Bag: https://amzn.to/3xmW4mT
Hafny Handlebar Bike Mirror: https://amzn.to/3FVubmN
Veeape Electric Air Pump: https://amzn.to/3LPLTf9
Denlix Military Sling Bag: https://amzn.to/3LTKN2c
Lamicall Bike Phone Mount: https://amzn.to/3LXmD6O
Onvian Wireless Bike Alarm: https://amzn.to/42KUgyE
RunPlayBack Merch: http://shop.runplayback.com/