How to Put Air in a Scooter Tire?
This step-by-step guide will show you how to put air in a scooter tire quickly and easily. All you need is a pump and a few minutes, and you’ll be ready to ride again.
Electric scooters, kick scooters, and kick scooters are similar to bikes in that they are pumped. This process is identical to that of bicycles. How to Put Air in a Scooter Tire is a very simple and direct process. The steps for pumping the scooter are described below.
Step 1: Locate the nozzle
It is first necessary to determine which nozzle you should use for the tire you wish to inflate. Each scooter comes with a specific type of nozzle. However, most of them have the usual cap attached to them. You will need to remove the cap from the pump.
Step 2: Connect the air pump to the nozzle
You will need a hand tire pumper or an electric air pumper for this. If it is electric, then you will have to plug it into an electrical outlet and then connect it to the pump nozzle and tire nozzle. You should then push the lever on the pump to lock in the nozzle.
Step 3: Pump
Fill up the tire by pumping until it reaches maximum pressure. Squeezing the tire with your finger allows you to check for damage. As soon as the tire becomes full, it will be impossible to squeeze.
Step 4: Replace the cap
When the tire is inflated, you can put the cap back on. Be sure to tighten it in such a way that the air does not escape.
Using this method, you can pump most of the scooter’s tires. In the case of tiny tires, the hand pump would be very difficult to fit into the tire’s nozzle. Using a nozzle extension will assist you in reaching the wheel in such situations. Besides the usual nozzle wheels, you can also use an extension made from nylon.
The pumping process for smaller scooter wheels generally doesn’t take much time. It only takes you a few pushes to fill them.
What is the correct tire pressure for my electric scooter?
When inflating your tires, it’s important to consider your weight, the type of terrain you ride on, your tire size, the weather, and the balance you desire between speed and traction.
Generally, you can find out how much tire pressure you should use by following the following two steps:
- Make sure you read your scooter’s instruction manual
- You can check it by checking the tire itself. Check the pressures on the tires themselves, they tend to be written on the side of the tires
Manuals and tires themselves may sometimes suggest different values. In such a case, the manual should be considered as the authoritative source. Despite tire manufacturers’ expertise, it is more likely that scooter manufacturers have tested those tires on that particular model of scooter. This will ensure that the recommendations are thorough and tested for real-world use. On top of that, the tire pressure indicated on the tire is typically the maximum pressure allowed, not the recommended tire pressure.
The Importance of Air Pressure
Avoiding Accidents
When your scooter tires have the right air pressure, they can handle properly on the road and respond appropriately, which may prevent serious accidents. Turning corners is especially dangerous when the scooter tires are too low in air pressure.
Saving Money
When you keep your scooter tires properly inflated, they won’t wear down as quickly, and you won’t have to replace them as often. You’ll save a lot over the life of your scooter by keeping them properly inflated. Even though scooters are fairly economical on gas, by making sure you get better gas mileage by having the correct tire pressure in your vehicle, you can save even more money.
Recommended air pressure for scooters
You don’t need to pump air into the tires if the scooter has solid rubber tires, as we discussed previously. nevertheless, it is important to regularly check the air pressure of your tires and maintain it for a smooth ride.
If you read the user manual that came with the scooter, you should be able to find information on how to properly inflate the tires and what pressure to maintain.
If you purchased a used scooter or do not have the instruction manual, you need to check the tire itself. When riding e-scooters in snow, deflating a little is better to increase traction.
Some tires list the recommended air pressure. The mentioned air pressure is normally measured in PSI (Pressure per Square Inch). To make sure the air pressure is correct, you can use a pressure gauge.
Checking the Air Pressure
Never guess whether the scooter tires are inflated to the correct pressure. Good tire-pressure gauges cost only a few dollars and are well worth the investment. If you check the tire pressure before riding, rather than in the middle of the journey, always do it when the tires are cold.
To install the tire pressure gauge, remove the cap on the valve stem. You can then use the gauge to check the tire pressure. Adding air to the tire is easy if you use a foot pump or visit a service station. This is an addition way of Troubleshooting An Electric Scooter.
Tire pressure and the weather
The tires’ pressure rises naturally when they are exposed to excessive heat. Typically, this occurs after prolonged riding or during warm conditions.
Having a lower tire pressure is better in hotter weather. When temperatures outside are 32°C / 90°F or higher, you should reduce your tire pressure by 2-3 PSI.
When it’s colder, your tire pressure doesn’t change as much. You may want to increase your tire pressure by a few PSIs, but you must also consider the fact that you will likely ride in the winter, which means ice, snow, wet pavement, etc. This requires lower tire pressure for better traction, which is also more important for your safety.
Furthermore, you probably want to avoid inflating or deflating your tires every day based on the weather.
It is generally recommended to lower tire pressure by 2-3 PSI at the beginning of summer, and to increase it again at the end of summer if you live somewhere with hot summers. If you are looking for more information about electric scooters, check out the summer guide to electric scooters and the best electric scooters for the summer.
Inspecting Tire Wear
Whenever you check your tire pressure, you should also inspect the wear of the tread and the condition of the tires. It is important to replace a tire right away if it has any bulges on the side. The tread should wear evenly across the tire. Replace the tread if it looks low. Use a tread-wear gauge to check. Some people with upper-tier scooters such as the Kaaba Wolf warrior, rarely check the tire. The reason is that such scooters have off-terrain tires that are meant to have extended life-span.
You can buy a flat repair kit or have your scooter serviced by a nearby mechanic if you need a flat repair or your tires changed.
What happens if the tire pressure is too low?
You will see the following symptoms if your tire pressure is too low:
- It is more difficult for you to turn and steer
- There may be some bents or damage on your rims
- You ride your scooter too shakily and it vibrates too much
Check your tire pressure if you notice any of these things. It may be necessary to increase your tire pressure. Low pressure also reduces the maximum range for your e-scooter. Check tips to increase the range of your scooter.
When the tire pressure is too high, what happens?
A properly inflated tire will help you avoid flats, but you can also get a flat if the tire is overinflated. As a result of the increased pressure, the tire can react to shock explosively, particularly if the scooter is being ridden by a heavy person. Tire pressure is especially important especially when scooter is design for heavy adults.
Furthermore, your traction will start to suffer as a result, which will give you less control over your scooter.
Front and rear wheels have different tire pressures
Some scooter owners, and even certain brands, recommend lower tire pressure on the front tires, and higher pressure on the rear tires. The recommended tire pressure for the front tire is lower than the one for the rear, as you can see in the Xiaomi example above.
Some recommend doing the opposite.
With single-motor scooters, such as the Hiboy S2 Electric Scooter, it usually depends on the location of the hub motor.
Tire pressure levels can be different between the tires to optimize performance. The increased tire pressure in the front tire after a long ride, for instance, maybe due to the extra heat generated by the motor in the front wheel.
You can buy a HiBoy S2 here.
PSI vs Bar
Pressure is measured using the Pascal (Pa) in the SI System (International System of Units), also called the metric system. Due to the small value of a Pascal in real-world usage, the official unit used is the Bar (Ba), which is equal to a hundred thousand Pascals.
In the Imperial System, this unit is called the Pounds per Square Inch (PSI). It would seem that the PSI is the more commonly accepted unit today of pressure, even though both the Metric and Imperial systems are used internationally.
As you probably noticed, I have used PSI exclusively in this article. However, Bars are also used in many places.
1 Bar equals 14.5 PSIs, and 1 PSI equals 0.068 Bars.
Here is a pressure converter that you can use to calculate simple pressures.
For a quick conversion, you can type in “45 PSI to Bar” or “3 Bar to PSI” in Google, and you will receive the result right away.
The presence of scooters with non-pneumatic tires is one reason why e-scooters are safe for children.
Conclusion
There are many types of scooters, each with its features. However, it is always your choice which scooter you choose. The scooters with inflatable tires are a good choice if comfort and regular use are your top and major priorities. It is easier to ride an inflatable tire scooter than a conventional one since the latter is smoother. Nevertheless, if the tires are not properly maintained, they can go flat at any time. Tires should be inflated regularly and as soon as possible to eliminate any kind of problems.
Throughout this article, we discussed how to pressurize a scooter tire. You should not have any issues putting air in your scooter tire if you follow the instructions above.
References
Kader, A. (2021, September 10). How To Put Air In A Scooter Tire – Proper Tire Pressure. Retrieved from https://scooterinsight.com/how-to-put-air-in-a-scooter-tire/