Danger: High Voltage & Safety
Ensure the scooter is turned off, and take care when using metal tire levers to avoid pinching your fingers or puncturing the new inner tube.
Required Parts & Tools
Have these ready before starting the repair. Clicking links supports our free guides.
Replacement Parts Needed
- Xiaomi M365 Thickened 8.5-inch Inner Tube$5 - $10
Standard thin tubes pop instantly. Buy reinforced 2mm thick butyl rubber tubes instead.
Tools Required
- Heavy-Duty Metal Tire Levers (30cm / 12-inch)$12 - $18
Standard bicycle levers will snap. You need thick, rounded motorcycle-style steel levers.
- 18mm Socket Wrench & Hex Keys$15 - $25
18mm socket is required to remove the axle nuts. Hex keys (2.5mm and 3mm) remove the plastic covers.
- Heavy-duty Zip Ties (x5)$3 - $5
Used for the clamping hack to hold the tire bead inside the rim well during installation.
DIYStep-by-Step Instructions
- Step 1 of 5
Remove the Wheel from the Frame
Pry off the red decorative reflectors from the plastic fork covers. Use a 2.5mm hex key to unscrew the plastic cover plates. Finally, use an 18mm socket wrench to loosen the axle nuts on both sides and slide the wheel out. On the front wheel, be mindful of the motor cable.
Schematic FIG. 1DIYPEV Technical LabUnscrewing the reflector covers of a Xiaomi scooter wheel using a hex keyReference Blueprint SchematicAlt description tag verifiedScale: NTS (Not To Scale) - Step 2 of 5
Break the Tire Bead and Deflate
Unscrew the valve cap and use a small screwdriver or pin to press the valve core, releasing all air. Squeeze the tire around its entire circumference to break the bead (separate the tire rubber from the lip of the metal rim).
Schematic FIG. 2DIYPEV Technical LabSqueezing the side of the tire to separate the rubber bead from the metal rimReference Blueprint SchematicAlt description tag verifiedScale: NTS (Not To Scale) - Step 3 of 5
Pry One Side of the Tire Off the Rim
Lubricate the rim edges with highly concentrated soapy water. Insert your first heavy-duty metal tire lever between the rim and the tire bead. Pry the bead over the rim and lock the lever in place. Insert the second lever 5cm away and pry another section. Work your way around until one full side of the tire is hanging outside the rim.
Schematic FIG. 3DIYPEV Technical LabMetal tire levers prying the rubber tire edge over the metal scooter wheel rimReference Blueprint SchematicAlt description tag verifiedScale: NTS (Not To Scale) - Step 4 of 5
Remove the Valve and Extract the Tube
Push the valve stem inside the rim hole using a bolt or screwdriver. Reach inside the tire and pull the inner tube out. Run your bare fingers carefully along the inside of the outer tire carcass to feel for sharp glass, wires, or thorns that caused the flat. Remove any debris before installing the new tube.
Schematic FIG. 4DIYPEV Technical LabExtracting the deflated red rubber inner tube from inside the tire housingReference Blueprint SchematicAlt description tag verifiedScale: NTS (Not To Scale) - Step 5 of 5
Install the Tube and Mount Using the Zip-Tie Hack
Slightly inflate the new tube (just enough to give it shape; this prevents pinches). Insert the valve stem through the rim hole and tuck the tube inside the tire. Lubricate the tire bead with soapy water. Place zip ties around the tire and through the spokes at 4 locations, tightening them so the tire is pinched together. This forces the tire bead into the deep center well of the rim, making it incredibly easy to pop the last section over the edge with a single lever. Cut the zip ties and inflate to 50 PSI.
Schematic FIG. 5DIYPEV Technical LabZip ties wrapped around tire and wheel rim, holding tire bead in center during installationReference Blueprint SchematicAlt description tag verifiedScale: NTS (Not To Scale)
Why Xiaomi Tires are Infamously Hard to Change
Unlike bicycle rims, which are flexible and have deep wells, scooter rims are made of cast aluminum (or steel hubs for the motor). They are highly rigid, and the tire bead has to sit in a very narrow lip. Because 8.5-inch tires have very stiff sidewalls, getting the rubber over the rim edge requires leverage and technique.
The Golden Rule of Tire Installation
The only way a tire can slide over the rim edge is if the opposite side of the tire bead is pushed down into the deepest, center-most channel of the wheel hub. If the opposite side is sitting up on the bead seat, the tire is physically stretched too tight to mount. The zip-tie hack forces the bead into the center channel.
Preventing Future Flats: Valve Stem Rubming
On front motor wheels, the valve stem passes through a sharp metal hole in the hub. If the tire slips slightly during acceleration, it pulls the valve stem at an angle, tearing it at the base. Ensure you align the valve straight and tighten the mounting collar correctly, and keep tire pressure high to prevent tire slippage.