How To Change The Tyres On Your Scooter

Your electric scooter’s tyres are a critical component of your scooter’s makeup. 

Therefore, it goes without saying that proper care and maintenance of your scooter tyres is essential to keep your electric scooter in tip-top shape, ensuring your scooter lasts the lifetime it was intended to. Admittedly, changing your scooters tyre’s does require a certain level of expertise. So, if you’re a little uncertain on the way forward, we’ll show you how to make changing scooter tyres a more straightforward affair.

It may be worth mentioning, though, that the method of changing tyres on electric scooters can vary slightly according to the electric scooter model. However, overall, the basics of changing tyres or fixing punctures on e scooters remain pretty much the same.

Tools Required

As far as changing the tyres on your electric scooter goes, you’ll need a few essential tools to help make the process a bit easier.

But don’t worry; you’ll probably find that you have most of these in your toolbox already. And if you’re fortunate (depending on the scooter model), you might find that your scooter will come with some of these basic tools on arrival:

• A small screwdriver set

• A spanner set

• Wrench or Allen key set

• A rotary tool

• A picking tool (for trims)

• Tyre levers

• A pump to inflate the tyre

• An inner tube (if the tyre is pneumatic) to replace it if damaged

Removing The Rear Tyre

Removing the tyre from your electric scooter is probably the most challenging part of the entire process.

However, it has to be done, and it must be done correctly to ensure that you can get to the tyre to repair or replace it.

Getting it in the proper position

First things first, depending on whether you are changing the front wheel or the rear wheel of your scooter, you’ll need to position the scooter correctly on an appropriate work surface.

Lay the scooter down on one side (the brake disc side) on a smooth surface (to prevent your electric scooter from being scuffed in the process) if you change the rear tyre. This will ensure that you can work freely when dismantling the tyre from the scooter frame.

Unloosen the wheel nuts

Then, using a wrench or Allen key (depending on the scooter model) works at unloosening the wheel nuts one by one. After loosening all the applicable nuts, including the brake adjuster bolt, drum brake retention pin, and the front axle nuts (if these are present), remove the axle bolt and the brake lever spring (to disconnect the front brakes).

But be sure to put all the loose ends in a safe place though to avoid misplacing them. This will undoubtedly make the job easier when reassembling the tyre to the scooter.

Removing and deflating the tyre

After dislodging the wheel and removing it from the rear wheel, it’s time to get to work on the tyre itself:

• If you are merely replacing the tyre without it being punctured, you would first need to completely release all the air within the tyre by removing the valve nut (if there is one). Or in the case of a valve core, release the tyre pressure by applying pressure to the valve pin.

• Once the tyre has deflated enough, take the tyre levers and remove the outer tyre bit by bit. Continue to prod the tyre bead away from the rim with a tyre lever until it is completely free.

• Next, you’ll have to remove the inner tube within the tyre, which is pretty simple to do. Inner tubes that have been damaged due to punctures will need replacing.

• Then, the next step is to connect the pump to the air valve stem of the new inner tube and inflate away! Stop when the tube has enough air to fill the tube.

Fitting the tyre back onto the wheel

Next, reinsert the tube back into the outer casing of the tyre. And then, you can begin fixing the tyre bead into the wheel while taking care to align the valve of the inner tube in the correct placement spot on the wheel. Once done, make sure the tyre is fitted evenly within the rim of the wheel.

Reinflating the tyre

Onto the next step – and we’re almost there! Just to recap, and in case you missed anything, the inner tube should be sitting snuggly within the tyre, which then should fit comfortably in the wheel.

Next, you’ll have to use the pump again to reinflate the tube even further until the tyre is nice and firm (not forgetting to check the supplier manual to confirm the tyre pressure you should be using). Also, don’t forget to put the valve cap back on, or else you’ll end up right back at square one!

Take note of the tyre’s tread pattern to the wheel, and ensure that the tread pattern is pointing in the right direction (as indicated on the side of the wheel).

Putting the wheel back on

Put the drum brake back into the wheel together with the drum brake barrel.

Now take the tyre and place it back in position within the wheel lip of the scooter, taking care to put the brake cable back into position. Place the brake spring back over the cable as well.

• Then reinsert this back into the brake barrel. Next, slide the all-important axle back into place (remember to put the washer first, though, between the work and the tyre). Refit the spring washer and brake retention bolt afterwards.

• From this point on, you need to refit all the bolts back into their places, including the necessary brake adjuster screw, to ensure your brakes don’t come undone.

Removing the front tyre

Prevention is better than cure

Inflate the tube and inspect

Once you have removed the tube from the tyre, inflate the tube fully to inspect for any leaks. Listen or feel for any air escaping, and mark next to the spot for reference when repairing the puncture.

Check the puncture marks

Check the type of puncture marks to determine what caused the puncture in the first place to replace or repair the tyre or tube:

• If the puncture hole is singular and small, it was likely caused by a thorn or nail, which may be easier to repair.

• Slits in the tyre or tube can indicate a pinch puncture. This may need replacing depending on the damage caused to the tyres. Take note to ensure that the tyre bead is fitted correctly within the wheel lip in the future. Alternatively, you may need to use wider tyres.

• Large holes or long cuts or shreds are most likely to indicate a tyre blowout, with it usually being irreparable as a result.

• There may also be an issue with the valve core, ensuring that the valve is functioning correctly and that the tube is fitted accurately to align with the valve so that the air pressure within the scooter tyre is not compromised in any way.

The same goes for the tyre

Check the tyre (including the tyre bead) for apparent damage. Look on the outside of the tyre for any protruding objects.

Also, inspect any holes or slits for sharp objects that may still be stuck inside. After you are confident that the tyre is clear of any dangerous objects, wipe clean with a cloth and do a final inspection by feeling carefully inside to make sure the tyre is safe for use.

And, you are ready to go

Once you’ve mastered the task of changing your tyres on your electric scooter, you’ll find the process of changing tyres becomes more accessible and more manageable when you replace the next flat tyre and the one after that. Our e-scooter tyre guide may be worth a read too!

It turns out that a job that at first appears difficult can become simpler to do with practice and the proper know-how, after all!

Author:
Nely Hayes

BIO: 

Nely is an adrenaline junkie and one of her life goals is to sky dive, but until that day she gets her kicks from testing fast electric scooters. Part time scooter fanatic & part time SEO analyst. Nely’s favourite scooter is the Dualtron X.