Xiaomi Mi Electric Scooter series electric scooters have proven to be a reliable means of transportation, but pneumatic wheels require regular maintenance. Unlike hard tires, inflatable rubber is prone to punctures, natural wear and depressurization, which sooner or later raises the question of replacing the owner. Self-replacement of tires allows you to save a significant amount of money that service centers charge for work, and extend the life of your device for several seasons.
The replacement process requires some physical training, as the rubber products for the Xiaomi M365 and Xiaomi Pro scooters are very rigid and dense. The wrong approach can lead to rim damage, a new camera rupture or even a hand injury. In this guide, we will discuss all the steps in detail from choosing the right consumables to final pumping and checking the tightness of the system.
Before you start dismantling the wheel, you need to prepare the workplace. You need a clean, flat surface with good lighting. It is important to buy quality components in advance, because using cheap analogues often leads to repeated punctures after a short period of time. The quality of rubber directly affects cushioning and safety of the ride.
Selection of consumables: cameras and tires
The electric vehicle accessories market is full of offers, but not all are equally good. The standard wheel size for most Xiaomi models is 8.5 inches. When choosing a new rubber, you should pay attention to the thickness of the wall and material. Cameras are common and reinforced, and there are tubeless options, although the latter require specific installation skills.
- 🔹 Original components – provide perfect geometry and durability, but are more expensive than analogues.
- 🔹 Reinforced cameras – have an additional layer of protection against punctures, which is important for urban conditions with broken glass.
- 🔹 Solid polyurethane tires - completely exclude punctures, but significantly reduce ride comfort and power reserve.
Special attention should be paid to the nipple. In the original Xiaomi cameras, the nipple is often angled or has a specific length, which makes it easier to pump without removing the wheel. When buying universal counterparts, make sure that the length of the nipple allows you to conveniently connect the pump. The angle of the nipple is 45 degrees greatly simplifies the maintenance of the wheel in the future.
⚠️ Warning: When buying a camera, check it for factory defects by briefly pumping air before placing it in the tire, which will help to avoid a situation where the new product is leaky.
Tools and training required
Successful tire replacement is not enough, it requires a specific set of tools. The standard set of keys that comes with a scooter will not help here. You will need powerful mounting blades, which are often sold separately. Plastic blades can break against rigid rubber, so it is preferable to use reinforced metal or composite options.
You'll also need a compressed air source. A hand pump is good for pumping, but to shape the camera initially and refill it into the tire, you need a high-pressure compressor. Don't forget to prepare a soap solution that will serve as lubricant for installation.
☑️ Preparation for tire replacement
It's important to keep the process safe. Slippers can injure your hands or damage the wheel disc. Use rubberized gloves for better grip. If you're changing the tire on the rear wheel, pre-disconnect the battery and be careful with the engine wires going through the axle.
Dismantling the wheel from the frame of the scooter
The first step is to remove the wheel from the frame. The front wheel is easier to do: just unscrew the axle nuts and remove the brake disc if it interferes. The rear wheel requires more attention because of the motor-wheel connection. You need to carefully disconnect the power connector, first unscrew the compartment cover.
Once the fasteners are loosened, the wheel is removed from the fork. If the nuts are boiling, use penetrating lubricant, but avoid chemicals on the brake discs and electrical contacts. Put the wheel on a flat surface, after releasing the residue of air from the chamber through the nipple.
Features of the removal of the rear wheel
The removed wheel must be cleaned of dirt and dust. Dirt caught between the camera and the tire can cause scuffs and subsequent puncture. Visually inspect the rim for burrs or sharp edges that may have formed during operation.
Technology of removing old tires
The hardest part is removing the old, often rim-stick tire, and the rubber will tan and stick to the metal over time, and start by pushing the tyre sides inside the rim on both sides, and that will free up space for the blades to work with.
Put the first blade under the tyre and grab it by the spoke (or hold it with your hand if the design permits). Step back 10-15 centimeters, insert the second blade and act on the principle of lever, gradually turning the edge of the tire outwards. The movements should be progressive, without jerking.
- 🔸 The first grip is the most difficult, requires maximum effort to remove the rubber from the rim.
- 🔸 Advance – move the shoulder blades around, gradually releasing one side of the tire.
- 🔸 Extract – after freeing one side, pull out the camera and then remove the tire completely.
⚠️ Warning: Do not use sharp objects such as screwdrivers or knives to pick around the rim.There is a high probability of damaging the camera (if it is still intact) or scratching the disc, which will violate the leakage in the future.
If the tire is extremely heavy, you can warm it up a little with a hair dryer (not open fire!) to make the rubber more elastic. However, most often the problem is solved by correct positioning of the tool and applying force. After removing the old camera, carefully wipe the inner surface of the new tire with talc to avoid friction.
Installation of a new camera and tire
Installation of new components begins with the preparation of the camera, which needs to be slightly pumped so that it becomes round, but does not swell completely, which will prevent the rubber from pinching between the tire and the rim, and grease the camera with soap solution for better slip.
Put the camera inside the tire, align the nipple with the hole in the rim. Start filling the sides of the tire on the rim with your hands, starting from the opposite side relative to the nipple. When you can't fill your hands, you use the mounting blades again. Act carefully so you don't bite the camera with the tool.
💡
To facilitate installation, heat the new tire in hot water or on a battery (no higher than 60 degrees) for 15-20 minutes. Warm rubber becomes softer and more elastic, which makes it much easier to pull on the disc.
Once the tire has fully settled, check the uniformity of the landing. The circumference of the wheel should be visible uniform strip (marker) along the entire length of the side, if in some place the tire "got" deeper, then the camera inside is twisted or pinched.
| Parameter | Norma. | Critical significance |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre pressure | 45-50 PSI (3.0-3.5 Bar) | Below 35 PSI |
| Heating temperature during installation | Up to 60°C. | Above 80°C |
| Clearance between the side and rim | Absent. | More than 2 mm |
| Position of the nipple | Perpendicular to the rim | Strong inclination |
The final step is pumping. Dramatically blow air into the chamber to straighten it and get back in place. Check the pressure with a pressure gauge. For Xiaomi M365 Pro models, it is recommended to keep the pressure closer to the upper limit (50 PSI), since the weight of the scooter and the driver is larger.
Checking of leakage and assembly
Before you put the wheel back on the scooter, make sure that there are no leaks. The pumped wheel can be dipped in a container of water or moistened with soapy solution. The appearance of bubbles will indicate the puncture site or leaky nipple. If everything is clean, wipe the wheel dry.
When mounting the rear wheel, carefully monitor the wire in the frame channel so as not to overrun it when the nuts are tightened. Tighten the axle nuts with force using a counternut or a thread lock, as vibration when driving can weaken the attachment.
💡
Properly tightened axle nuts and the absence of wheel distortions are the key to safe driving and the absence of steering at high speeds.
After assembly, do a test run at low speed, check the brakes and no extraneous sounds, and for the first few kilometers, it is recommended to monitor the pressure, as the new rubber may stretch slightly and the pressure will drop.
Frequent mistakes and expert advice
Beginners often make mistakes that negate all efforts, the most common being the use of car sealants to seal scooters’ cameras, which can be too heavy or chemically aggressive for Xiaomi’s thin rubber cameras.
Another mistake is saving on the tool, and if you try to replace a knee tire without good blades, you risk tearing a new camera in the first minutes of operation, and don't ignore the rim condition: if it has deep scratches, the new camera will quickly become unusable.
- 🚫 Ignoring lubrication - dry rubber breaks during installation.
- 🚫 Camera twisting - leads to uneven wear and vibrations.
- 🚫 Disadvantage – driving on flat tires kills the camera in a matter of kilometers.
⚠️ Warning: Never leave a scooter with fully flat tires for long periods of time, causing the tire to deform and cracking in the folds, even if the camera is intact.
Regular maintenance of the wheels will prolong their lifespan. Check the pressure once a month and remove small pebbles stuck in the tread. If you live in a region with cold winters, keep the scooter warm, as frost makes the rubber brittle.