Electric vehicle operation inevitably faces wear and tear of consumables, and the tire here is one of the most vulnerable elements. A puncture or thinning of the tread on the Xiaomi Mi Electric Scooter can catch the owner off guard, turning the trip into a walking marathon. Many users are afraid to start repairing themselves, fearing damage to a complex structure or not be able to assemble the wheel back.
However, with a basic set of tools and a clear understanding of the sequence of actions, replacing the camera becomes a feasible task at home. You do not need to take a scooter to a service center, where the procedure can take several days and cost a lot of money, the main thing is patience, accuracy and safety when working with electrical components.
In this guide, we will take a closer look at the process of dismantling the wheel, removing old tires and installing a new kit, and we will look at the nuances of working with tubeless and chamber tires, as well as focusing on the choice of quality parts, and a correctly performed replacement will prolong the life of your device and restore confidence on the road.
Diagnostics of wheel condition and selection of spare parts
Before you start disassembling, you need to objectively assess the current state of the chassis. Often visual inspection does not give a complete picture, so it is worth doing a thorough check of the pressure and integrity of the surface. If you notice that the camera deflects even after paging, or you see deep cuts and bald spots on the tread, repair is inevitable.
It is important to understand the difference between the types of tires installed on different models of scooters. Basic versions of the Mi Scooter 1S or M365 are often equipped with chamber wheels, while newer models such as the Pro 2 or Essential can be equipped with tubeless tires. A tubeless tire requires a tighter fit to the rim and a special sealant, while a chamber one holds air due to the inner tube.
When choosing a new tire, you should pay attention to the markings that are usually applied to the sidewall of an old tire. The standard size for most models is 8.5×2 inches. However, there are many modifications on the market: softer rubber for comfort, reinforced for durability or bulletproof with additional reinforcement.
⚠️ Warning: Never ignore microcracks on the sidewalls of the tire. Even if they do not allow air to pass, under load when moving, the rubber can burst, leading to a sharp fall and injuries.
- 🛠️ Size: Make sure the new tire meets the marking 8.5x2 or 10x2 model-wise.
- 🔍 Quality of material: Prefer original parts or proven brands like Kenda or CST.
- 💨 Design type: Determine if you need a camera or plan to switch to a cameraless system.
Required tools and workplace preparation
Repairing the tires with Xiaomi requires not only physical strength, but also specific tools to avoid damage to plastic and electronics. The standard set of bicycle mechanic here may not be enough because of the density of rubber fitting on the rim.
First of all, you'll need powerful mounting blades. Plastic options often break against hard cords of Chinese tires, so it's better to use reinforced metal tools, but you need to work with them extremely carefully so as not to damage the camera or rim. Also, talc or soap solution will be an indispensable assistant, which will facilitate the installation of new rubber.
To access the insides of the wheel, you need to remove the locking rings and unscrew the axle mount bolts, and you need a set of hexagons and maybe a 10 mm end head. Don't forget the pump with the pressure gauge for the final pressure check and the sealant if you're working with a tubeless system. It's best to do all the work on a clean, flat surface with good lighting.
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Use WD-40 or penetrating lubricant to treat the thread of the axle bolts before unscrewing if the scooter has been operated in high humidity or dirt conditions.
Dismantling the wheel from the frame of the electric scooter
The process of removing the wheel starts with the power off of the device. Turn the scooter over or put it on the stand so that the wheel rotates freely. The first step should always be to disconnect the brake disc or pad so that they do not interfere with the extraction of the axle. On models with disc brakes, you need to unscrew the two bolts that fasten the caliport and carefully move it aside.
Then there's the electrical part, and there's a motor-wheel connector on the axis of the wheel, which is often protected by a rubber plug or a plastic casing, and you need to carefully remove the protection and disconnect the chip, and be very careful, because the wires fit right up to the axis, and if you jerk around, you can damage them, which requires complicated soldering and re-insulation.
Once the communications are free, you can start mechanically dismantling. Using the appropriate key, unscrew the bolt that holds the wheel axis. In some versions of the Xiaomi M365 and Pro, you may need special removers or knocking the axis out with a hammer through the plug if it is sour. Once the axis is removed, the wheel is freely removed from the fork.
☑️ Checklist of dismantling
Technology of removing old tire and camera
The most time-consuming step is to separate the rubber from the metal rim. Tires that go into the scooters drain often sit very tightly. Start by completely deflating the air and squeezing the nipple inside the tire to free the camera. Then, using mounting blades, pull the tyre side over the rim edge.
Go around in a circle, consistently throwing the side over the edge of the disk. Here it is important not to damage the camera itself if you plan to reuse it, or the rim if it has corrosion damage. If the rubber is stuck to the metal, you can use a soap solution to lubricate the contact surface. In the case of a tubeless system, you also need to remove the remnants of the old sealant.
Once you remove one side of the side, you can remove the camera (if you have one) or completely remove the tire. Examine the inner surface of the old tire for stuck nails, glass or sharp stones that could cause a puncture. If you don't remove the cause, the new camera will be punctured in the same place after a few minutes of driving.
| Work segment | Tool. | Important nuance |
|---|---|---|
| De-shipment | Installation blades | Do not damage the camera when wearing |
| Camera extraction | Hands. | Test the nipple for integrity. |
| Rim cleaning | Fragment, solvent. | Remove old sealant and dirt |
| Lubricant | talc or soap | Facilitates installation of new rubber |
Installation of new rubber and assembly of the unit
The installation of a new tire starts with one of the sides on the rim, which is usually done with your hands without tools, then if you have a chamber version, a slightly pumped camera is placed inside and a nipple is inserted into the rim opening, and it is important to straighten the camera inside so that it does not form folds that can lead to "jamming" and puncture.
The second side of the tire is refueled on the rim with mounting blades. Carefully, avoiding snacking the camera between the side and the metal. After installation, check that the camera does not peek out from under the side around the circumference. For tubeless tires, at this stage, fresh sealant is poured through the nipple or until the final installation of the board.
The final step is pumping. Dramatically inject air into the wheel so that the tire sides click and fall into place on the rim. Check the pressure with a gauge: the optimal value for the city is 3.5-4.0 atmosphere. Once the wheel is assembled, install it on the frame, plug the engine connector and fix the brake system.
⚠️ Attention: When pumping a tubeless tire, the pressure can briefly jump to 6-7 atmospheres for the "landing" of the board, so use a pump with a power reserve.
What to do if the plane does not stand in place?
Typical errors and precautions
Beginners often make mistakes that negate all effort. One of the most common is the wrong direction of rotation. The sidewall of the tire usually has a Rotation arrow indicating the direction. If you put the wheel backwards, the tread will not drain water efficiently, and wear will accelerate significantly.
Another problem is the twisted camera, and if you see a characteristic hernia or bloating on the sidewall after assembly and pumping, it means that the camera inside has twisted or folded, and you can't operate a scooter with this defect, it's a direct route to exploding the camera at speed, and you have to take the wheel apart again.
Also worth mentioning is the balance. Although the imbalance is not as critical at low speeds as it is on a car, a heavily skewed tire can cause the steering wheel to vibrate and accelerated wear on the bearings. Try to set the rubber as flat as possible relative to the center of the rim.
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High-quality preparation of the rim surface and proper landing of the board - 90% of success in the fight against punctures and pressure loss.