Solid e-Scooter Tire Installation

[PedalUma]

I know it is not an electric bike. But there is some overlap between bikes and scooters with many users owing both. Solid scooter tires have real advantages, such as no flats. They are very hard to get on a rim. I discovered an easy way. First get yourself a Park Tool PH-10. That is a foot long 10mm p-wrench. Heat the tire for 20 minutes at 200 F to soften and expand it. Cover the rim with dish soap and place down some card board in front of a chair. Put the tire on the card board while seated and put two feet on the rim pressing down. The PH-10 fits into the perimeter holes. Use it to lever the tire on. It takes 90 seconds with no sweat.

 

[Rexlion]

You know what they say... pictures, or it didn't happen!

Nah. I believe ya.

 

[None]

So, 200 degree, 15 min in the oven, like hotpocket?

 

[PedalUma]

pictures, or it didn't happen

Hey, that is quoting me. The thing is that it takes all four limbs! You would need to set up a video camera or have a second person. I failed with motorcycle levers, and pry bars. Someone will post a video because it it so cool and works. I hate to admit, it took four hours to come up with the 90 second solution. I was covered in sweat and gave up three times. The lady wants me to make an electric bike for her so I couldn't just say __ it. She is testing a bike in the morning. What's the best is that you get the Chinese scooter-tire-tea to drink after!

 

[Rexlion]

scooter-tire-tea to drink

And hold the Slime!

 

[PedalUma]

I use the Lemmon/Lime slime. It adds a smooth texture to the Chinese Tire Tea.

 

[Te. S]

i have heard using the Microwave for 3 minutes and then another 3 minuts or soacking in hot water
those 10' tires are very hard to take off and put on

 

[Slaphappygamer]

On a macwheel mx1, the wheel is solid. However it is really regular tire without the tube. The tire is filled with foam. It was a bitch getting the tire off the wheel. I ended up cutting the wheel off. I used a hacksaw (legit bike tool) to cut the meat of the tire. Then I used wire cutters to cut the steel off side the head of the tire. There were multiple steel strands. Tires were off in about 15-20 minutes. I then used a heat gun to eat the new solid tire. I was not changing the scooter wheel in the kitchen, so I used garage tools. I heated each tire for about 20-30 minutes. With the help of this and dish soap I was able to slip the new tires on. They went on crooked with only one side fitting in the rim. I then used a long, thick, screwdriver to pull newer into the honeycomb wheel and “pulled” the tire towards me. The tire was now popping into place. I was then able to insert the flat head of the tire lever and slid it around and the tire. This seated the tire in to place. I didn’t take pics because I like to focus on working rather than stopping to snap a shot, but this did happen. Here are some after photos.

 

[PedalUma]

On a macwheel mx1, the wheel is solid. However it is really regular tire without the tube. The tire is filled with foam. It was a bitch getting the tire off the wheel. I ended up cutting the wheel off. I used a hacksaw (legit bike tool) to cut the meat of the tire. Then I used wire cutters to cut the steel off side the head of the tire. There were multiple steel strands. Tires were off in about 15-20 minutes. I then used a heat gun to eat the new solid tire. I was not changing the scooter wheel in the kitchen, so I used garage tools. I heated each tire for about 20-30 minutes. With the help of this and dish soap I was able to slip the new tires on. They went on crooked with only one side fitting in the rim. I then used a long, thick, screwdriver to pull newer into the honeycomb wheel and “pulled” the tire towards me. The tire was now popping into place. I was then able to insert the flat head of the tire lever and slid it around and the tire. This seated the tire in to place. I didn’t take pics because I like to focus on working rather than stopping to snap a shot, but this did happen. Here are some after photos.

View attachment 186846

View attachment 186847

The shop were I work, Petaluma Motor Wheel, has started refusing scooters altogether. In those solid tires I use 10mm Allen keys in the holes after heating in the microwave and with Dawn on the rim.

 

[why?]

On a macwheel mx1, the wheel is solid. However it is really regular tire without the tube. The tire is filled with foam.

Is there a brand (aerosol can) of expandable rigid urethane casting foam that would work for transforming a 10" scooter tube tire into a solid tire? It's too labor intensive of a battle for me to replace tube tire with a solid 10" tire; after viewing a few youtubes and seeing labor intensive effort. Paying a professional could end up costing at least $100 (including cost of new solid tire). And that's assuming i could even find someone able to do the changeover.

I've had to replace the tube twice in two years. Scooter has a seat so most of weight is over the rear tire. My thinking at this time is to pump [or spray] expanding foam into the inner tube where it will cure rigid.

Tire/tread is aok ... any other product option besides expndable urethane to achieve tire rigidity.

Normally comes in 2-part mixable for pouring into a mold or in my case forcing into the innertube ... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00O5FBQJK?ref=ive_vftp_hero_cx_pfo_vse-cards-ingress0&th=1

Is there a comparable polyurethane expandable foam in aerosol can that would suffice (rigid after cure) ... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CZDWWD5...33f52&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWw&th=1

Do you think this product might provide a better solid tire than the one above ... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMQRK9Y...2fdd&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWwy&th=1

 

[PCeBiker]

I'm not sure, but the spray in foam may not cure if it's sealed inside the inner tube?

It might not need oxygen to cure, but it may need to off-gas some VOC's ??

Although, I replaced a windshield using automotive polyurethane windshield glue.
I didn't get the tube emptied fast enough, and after 10 minutes of so, with ½ a tube left, it hardened up and glued itself into my chalking gun.

 

[why?]

I didn't get the tube emptied fast enough, and after 10 minutes of so, with ½ a tube left, it hardened up and glued itself into my chalking gun.

That would be a problem with the STANLEY ultra fast cure (aerosol) listed above.

Another option i've considered is drilling 4-5 small holes in the tire tread every few inches ... just large enuf to insert the aerosol fill tube. Then quickly spray the STANLEY fast cure into the 4-5 holes around the circumference of the 10" tire. Shouldn't take more than 1-2 minutes. Any pushing out of each hole while curing can be easily removed after curing and shouldn't affect tire grip/wear.

I'm thinking that is my best option. The current innertube doesn't hold air so even if the drilling should damage the innertube makes no difference as it already leaks air. I've already tried a newer sealant but the innertube still didn't hold air after several unsuccessful attemps ...

 

[PedalUma]

Muc-Off works great. I just took Muc-Off stickers and cut the middle V out of the M of two and laid them over the C of a third. So now is says Mux-Off for the cybertruck guy. Just buy a solid tire of the type that has the circle cutouts around it so it has some flex. Microwave it so it expands and put dish soap on the rim. Lever it on using the cutout holes.

 

[PCeBiker]

,.. Just buy a solid tire

Here you go.
No more flats,..

https://a.aliexpress.com/_mssaVIX

 

[Slaphappygamer]

I’m not sure what compound can safely be used to fill the tire. The honeycomb solid tires are ok. Pneumatic are best.

Going with the honeycomb tires was a good move for me. I had to replace the tires due to loss of tread.

These are what I’m using.

The solutions you provided seem like they may work. Getting these honeycomb tires is about the same cost. For me, it was worth the hassle (which wasn’t really that bad) of changing these tires knowing that I’ll never have another flat.

 

[kevinmccune]

why aren't the rims made to be split seen some like that?

 

[Slaphappygamer]

why aren't the rims made to be split seen some like that?

That’s a good question. I’m not sure what dictates a split rim. Some are and some are not.

Here is a photo of what was in the original MacWheel, uh, wheel.

You can see the nipple. That is where the air valve hole, in the rim, is. They used that hole to fill the tire with this foam. It was easy to cut through. Not quite rubber and not quite foam.

 

[kevinmccune]

dont know the term it is a rim that bolts together,the old "split rim" truck wheels would kill or maim people.