Just like bicycles, scooters and motorcycles, punctures are part of the life of an electric scooter. Although most punctures are harmless, losing the ability to use your two-wheeler and having to push it around to make repairs can be terribly frustrating.
By following Weebot's 5 tips, you will discover how to avoid punctures on an electric scooter , you should greatly reduce the risk of having to go through the after-sales service box.
How to avoid punctures on an electric scooter in 5 tips
Why do the tires burst? This is the first question that must be asked when analyzing the situation. Repairing without understanding where the puncture comes from only delays the deadline for the next one. Different types of punctures can occur but in many cases, be aware that the problem is often caused by the user of an electric scooter.
Most people think they've run over a nail, but the truth is that most scooter punctures are caused by bad riding habits or lack of maintenance . Indeed, on tube tires in particular, they are victims of pinching and the pneumatic hose bursts inside.
The important thing with an electric scooter is to anticipate problems through regular maintenance .
TIP 1: inflate your tire to the correct pressure
One of the first things to do when receiving your electric scooter is to check the tire pressure before use. Inflating your tire well is not only synonymous with comfort, it is also very important not to puncture on an electric scooter .
Regularly checking the pressure of your electric scooter tires is essential. At Weebot, we advise you to check it twice a month for more security. In fact, depending on the changes in temperature, the weight that the device undergoes and the lack of total sealing of the air chamber , there can often be slight losses of air .
The bar is the unit of pressure indicated by tire manufacturers, the 0 of which corresponds to atmospheric pressure. Each scooter requires a different pressure depending on the tire fitted. The pressure necessary for a tire to operate properly can vary depending on the size, both in height and width, and depending on the composition of the tire (tube or tubeless).
For example, it is agreed that a Xiaomi M365 electric scooter equipped with 8.5 inch tires requires 2.7 bars in the front wheel and 3 bars in the rear. Remember that depending on your weight you will have to adjust the pressure. If you weigh less than 75 kg, you can remove 0.1 bar per ten kilos less. Conversely for ten additional kilos, it will be necessary to add 0.1 bar this time.
An under-inflated tire generates punctures due to a pinching of the inner tube , following the pressure suffered by an impact (when climbing a sidewalk or passing over an obstacle). But an overinflated tire can be even more dangerous for a vehicle. By overinflating your electric scooter tire, the grip surface of the tire on the road causes both a lack of grip but also premature wear of the tread.
TIP 2: regularly check the condition of your tire
If you are used to riding on roads instead of asphalt, it may be useful to clean your tires of debris collected by the grooves. For example, by removing small gravel stuck to the tyres, this can save you a puncture in the long term.
TIP 3: replace the inner tube with a stronger one
A well-known problem for Xiaomi M365 enthusiasts is the low quality of the base tubes. Many users of these Xiaomi have repeatedly punctured. Equipped with particularly thin inner tubes, the tires of M365 and M365 Pro are known to puncture very easily. Same with the not very strong valves either.
Fortunately Xiaomi has revised its copy on its new Xiaomi Essential electric scooters - 1S - Pro 2 - with brand new reinforced tires.
Other scooters are in the same situation and we can only advise you to invest in reinforced tires and inner tubes. in order to guarantee a much better resistance to punctures. These thicker rubber tires are a major asset in the fight against punctures, all for an affordable price.
TIP 4: don't roll just anywhere
Common sense dictates that you should spare your mount by adopting a behavior adapted to the use of the scooter . Some models have wide off-road tires such as the Kaabo , Dualtron or Zero brands which are better suited to practice on rough roads. A Xiaomi M365 model, for example, will be less suitable for driving on gravel-filled paths. Its universe remains above all the very smooth asphalt of our city centers.
Adapting your driving also means anticipating braking on your journey. By dint of repeated brutal braking, the tire will eventually wear out completely and therefore more likely to puncture as we pointed out in our tip n°2.
TIP 5: anti-puncture gel
Anti-puncture gel is effective as a preventive , but only works on inflatable tires with inner tubes. Easy to use, this liquid latex seals any gaps in the inner tube. This is simply inserted through the valve as if to inflate the tire but be careful not to develop too much otherwise it will be counterproductive.
On the side of the anti-puncture bombs that have been found for cars, the use for electric scooters is absolutely not interesting. At best you can walk a few hundred meters. No need to walk around with a tire sealant in your bag.
What are the different tires on electric scooters
While the vast majority of bicycles are equipped with inflatable tires with inner tubes , electric scooters have different types of tires. There are three models of tires for this type of device and each has advantages. Along with the battery, the wheel is an essential part of an electric scooter, being the only part in contact with the road. The tire is therefore used for driving comfort, but also for safety and performance.
Inflatable tube tire
Let's say it right away, it's the electric scooter tire most prone to punctures. It is the one that equips the famous Xiaomi M365, among others. As on a bicycle wheel, this one is composed of the tire on the outside and a rubber tubular filled with air on the inside. The interest is multiple by providing the comfort of an air cushion to absorb shocks and vibrations on the road, while being able to be changed easily.
If the rubber of the tire and the inner tube are too thin, the tubular can be pierced by inserting a point . But most inflatable tire punctures are not caused by this type of problem. Pinching of under-inflated tubes caused by impact on the tire leads to most punctures in electric scooters. In particular on the front wheel which is more subject to shocks.
This is why we advise Xiaomi M365 owners to change their tires for reinforced models , which are much more resistant.
Tubeless inflatable tire
Also inflatable, the tubeless tire is associated with cars. Also called a tubeless tire in French, it has the advantage of presenting less risk of punctures than its inner tube counterpart. If the interest is obvious, mounting a tubeless tire is however more complicated and requires a certain technique.
Solid tire or solid rubber wheel
Unlike the other types, the solid tire is puncture-proof . Composed entirely of more or less soft rubber, the solid tire does not have the cushioning of an air cushion which unfortunately makes it less comfortable.
E-Twow electric scooters are known to be equipped only with solid tires. These do not require any particular maintenance, other than checking that the grooves on the tire are not too worn. Well preserved, these grooves allow good evacuation of water and therefore good braking on a damp or wet road.
Solid rubber wheels have the additional advantage of offering better top speed. On the other hand, the user loses driving comfort with less good road holding and increased noise pollution.
Conclusion
All in all, therefore, a question of choice for your electric scooter tires. There is no ideal solution and it is all about knowing how to make concessions. Some models, such as the Zero 8, have chosen to equip their vehicle with an inflatable tire on the front wheel and a solid tire on the rear wheel in order to benefit from the best of both worlds.
But as we have pointed out, the puncture is not inevitable. By following our simple tips, the risk of dying on an electric scooter will be greatly reduced.
FAQs:
- Are solid tires the ideal solution to avoid punctures?
A solid rubber tire cannot actually puncture. On the other hand, driving comfort is degraded when using solid tyres. If your electric scooter is not designed for this, the vibrations, not foreseen on basic use, generated by the road can be fatal for the internal electronics.
- What is the correct tire pressure for Xiaomi M365 electric scooter tires?
The ideal pressure required for the tires of Xiaomi M365 (and M365 Pro) is between 2.4 bar and 2.7 bar for a person weighing up to 70 kg on the front wheel. Then 2.7 to 3.4 bars for the rear wheel, still for a 70 kg user.
