Flat Tire

[dynk]

I have a new I 2 and last thursday got a flat tire:mad:

The dealer has no tubes or recommendations, I called Segway and got put on a "leave a message system"

No bicycle, motorcycle, or tire stores here will even attempt to take the tire off the plastic wheel.

Today I got an email from Segway telling me they do not sell tubes nor have recommendations either, and that I can purchase an entire wheel assembly for $133.95 :eek: ...........Expensive flat![:(!]

I was wondering what everyone here does when they get a flat tire?

[polo_pro]

Slime it (so you don't ever have to worry about a flat again) or pull the tire off yourself. It's not that hard since there's a deep wheel well for the tire to fall into. At least with Gen 2, you don't have to worry about seating the bead of the tire again like with Gen 1 (tubeless).

ps - I'm surprised the dealer didn't come to your rescue. Especially since you bought from him (right?)! I know many who'd have jumped at the chance to assist a customer who purchased from them. Most dealers view this type of servicing as the best way to build customer loyalty.

[Billy Kirkland]

If you can not get the tire fixed, give us a call, I have a bike store with my Segway store and we can help. You would have to ship the tire to us or we can get the tube you need.


Billy

[KSagal]

you have mail

[bentbiker]

Slime it (so you don't ever have to worry about a flat again) or pull the tire off yourself. It's not that hard since there's a deep wheel well for the tire to fall into. At least with Gen 2, you don't have to worry about seating the bead of the tire again like with Gen 1 (tubeless).

ps - I'm surprised the dealer didn't come to your rescue. Especially since you bought from him (right?)! I know many who'd have jumped at the chance to assist a customer who purchased from them. Most dealers view this type of servicing as the best way to build customer loyalty.
Steve,

Have you actually removed a Gen2 tire? Until Billy Kirkland stepped up, I had not heard a single dealer say that even they could do it. I failed miserably. The dropwell is on the outside of the wheel, so, do you remove it from that side and mess up the appearance? My attempts were from the inside.

As for Slime, have you successfully used Tube-Type Slime to PERMANENTLY seal a puncture on a Gen2? Because of the different mechanism in sealing, mine worked only as an emergency solution to get me home. It wouldn't really hold air for more than a couple days.

[cagatay]

Hello,
Recently, I had a flat tire as well. Stopped by a local scooter tire shop. I was worried a little bit about the rim, but I asked the guy to be extra gentle. I was with him for the whole process, it took only minutes to take tube out. Honestly, replacing the tube is not that scary, very smooth. The valve stem is a little bit different, straight out and longer but no harm. He charged me approx. 15 US dollars. (i am in Turkey)

The guy asked me whether the flat tube is an original. After I said yes, he asked again to confirm. He was kind of suprised and said that it is really low quality. I found that interesting...

[dynk]

I will be meeting up with Karl tomorrow, as he was kind enough to pm me with my flat problem. We will change the tube at his house and go for gliding. I am lookng forward to meeting him and gliding with him.:)

Thank you all for your responses.

Paul

[KSagal]

The tubes I use are very heavy duty, made for a much harsher motocross application... I did have one person comment that it was over kill, but why do it twice?

I believe that the reason that heavy duty tubes are not needed is the low pressure. At 15 lbs, almost anything will hold air. The tires and the tubes have the capacity for much more pressure and motocross has much more stress in jumps and hits than a segway will ever experience...

[terryp]

After only 1200 miles, or about 6 months of riding for me, the center groove on my i2 tires is almost flush. Judging from that, it's going to average about $1000 per year to keep good wheels on it. Yikes!

I'd sure feel better about this if I could replace just the tire or tube instead of having to throw the whole wheel away. Not very green for an otherwise green machine.

I'd like to enjoy the scenery, but I'll be watching the ground in front of me, knowing that one tiny shard of glass could cost me $133.

BTW - I called my local dealer to ask about the cost of replacements, and found that he doesn't stock them either. (I'll bet he stocks spares for his Vespas!)

[dynk]

I just finally spoke with a customer rep at Segway in New Hamshire, and he will call me tomorrow after he checks. It seems I am still under the 90 day warranty period and they may replace it for nothing.

Segway does not suggest the tires be removed, they want to sell the entire wheel and tire unit to us. I have to agree it is not a green solution for a green machine.

[gkorsgard]

Terry, I now have 50 miles on my machine. Should I buy a spare to keep on hand? You are right, not too green!

[dynk]

Terry, I now have 50 miles on my machine. Should I buy a spare to keep on hand? You are right, not too green!

Let's hope not, I have about 140 miles on my Segway. Hopefully this won't happen again.;)

[gbrandwood]

If I got a flat which couldn't be repaired, or my tires went bald, I'd definitely check out a pair of METTs, as mentioned elsewhere on the forum. Much cheaper than stock.

[bentbiker]

I just finally spoke with a customer rep at Segway in New Hamshire, and he will call me tomorrow after he checks. It seems I am still under the 90 day warranty period and they may replace it for nothing.

Segway does not suggest the tires be removed, they want to sell the entire wheel and tire unit to us. I have to agree it is not a green solution for a green machine.

Paraphrasing the old parable, Segway, by giving you a fish, . . . err new wheel, will get you back on the road for a day; if Karl shows you how to remove the tire, you are fixed for life. I offered to forego Segway's offer of tire and wheel if they'd tell me how to remove it, but they wouldn't/couldn't.

The other thing is cost per mile. Using Terryp's numbers, it costs about 22 cents per mile just to keep wheels/tires on these things if we can't replace just the tires themselves. That's about 20 times what it costs for a set of automobile tires per mile and more than the cost of gasoline to drive a car. And I thought I was saving money when I used the Seg to run an errand.

[bentbiker]

If I got a flat which couldn't be repaired, or my tires went bald, I'd definitely check out a pair of METTs, as mentioned elsewhere on the forum. Much cheaper than stock.

Gareth,

I take it you would give up the non-marring feature of the original tires? Most of the ETTs make for a less smooth and noisier ride as well. And of course they don't quite fit the fenders and aren't quite the same circumference, so mileage and speed readings are off. Torque is affected slightly by weight and diameter.

I share your frustration, but I'd much prefer that INC just address the problem and give us a wheel or changing procedure that allows us to change tires and tubes just like a bicyclist. I love the original tires when I'm on someone else's property and don't have to worry about leaving a big black mark if I turn sharply. It's not the cost of the tire itself causing the problem, it is INC's unwillingness to sell the tire itself. And then there is the little issue of installing either tire on the I2 rims. I gather INC considers them too fragile to withstand the pressures involved in changing tires.

[ryan_walters]

I put 900km on my first set of tires (i2). I couldn't see any noticeable difference in tread between them and a brand new pair. I wouldn't be surprised if I got 5000km pretty easy on a pair of i2 tires. I don't know why they'd be wearing so much for other people.

[gbrandwood]

Hi John

Good to see you posting again.

The non-marring benefits are minimal for me. I very rarely ride my Segway inside. I always push it inside and without the weight, I don't think the marring would be problem.

Noise wise, my i2 is very noisy. Not because of the rubber but I'm sure my gearbox is louder than normal. So again, noise isn't an issue (for me). Plus, I have my mp3 player plugged in quite often.

Mileage and speed - again, not accurate in my mind to begin with, unless you're the ideal weight with the ideal pressure etc. It's just an indication (a good one at that).

So, whilst I agree INC should make that info available (if it already isn't - I know there was a tyre replacement guide for the Gen1 on here a while back) and make the spares readily available, I'd probably choose a cheaper option for the greater traction and comfort. I had the pleasure to ride an original set of KETTs and they were supreme to my stock tyres. A cheaper, more convenient and available option for us peeps to consider.

[gbrandwood]

I put 900km on my first set of tires (i2). I couldn't see any noticeable difference in tread between them and a brand new pair. I wouldn't be surprised if I got 5000km pretty easy on a pair of i2 tires. I don't know why they'd be wearing so much for other people.MY other half does less mileage than me in her car, with the same tyres (make, size etc.) and she always needs them replacing much sooner than me. I'm sure it's because she abuses the power assisted steering but the rear ones also. I guess it's simply different driving styles.

If we could identify the ideal style, we could maximise the life. For most people though, it's probably overkill. In the past, on NiMh, we had to watch our gliding to conserve battery power, now on Li-ion, we can push our machines harder. So, we focus on tyres now instead!

[KSagal]

I only have one set of i2 wheels, but I have several sets of tires that will fit, including the original ones which only have 50 or so miles before I went to a more aggressive tire.

I have not pushed this for a while, but if anyone is truely interested in tire replacements for their gen 1 or gen 2 machine, PM me. I may have some cost effective alternatives.

I would even be very willing to consider some horse tradeing for some wheels for tires... I am always willing to help if I can, and that is to anyone who can glide, limp, or otherwize make it to my house...

[dynk]

I only have one set of i2 wheels, but I have several sets of tires that will fit, including the original ones which only have 50 or so miles before I went to a more aggressive tire.

I have not pushed this for a while, but if anyone is truely interested in tire replacements for their gen 1 or gen 2 machine, PM me. I may have some cost effective alternatives.

I would even be very willing to consider some horse tradeing for some wheels for tires... I am always willing to help if I can, and that is to anyone who can glide, limp, or otherwize make it to my house...

Thanks again Karl

I will be there tomorrow with the wheel and the Segway. No limp but can't walk too far for too long due to the emphysema. (former smoker).

[polo_pro]

Steve,

Have you actually removed a Gen2 tire? Until Billy Kirkland stepped up, I had not heard a single dealer say that even they could do it. I failed miserably. The dropwell is on the outside of the wheel, so, do you remove it from that side and mess up the appearance? My attempts were from the inside.

As for Slime, have you successfully used Tube-Type Slime to PERMANENTLY seal a puncture on a Gen2? Because of the different mechanism in sealing, mine worked only as an emergency solution to get me home. It wouldn't really hold air for more than a couple days.

Oops...my mistake. I didn't realize that Gen 2 rims differ significantly from Gen 1 rim in their design. I knew they were slightly different due to the different orientation of the gearbox relative to the rim. But I assumed they'd keep some of the nice features of Gen 1 rims while adding tubes, hubcaps, etc.

[Billy Kirkland]

I will be getting in some more what we call a thorn proof tube and will be happy ship to anyone. With over 1,500 bike and 40 scooters in my rental company we have a lot of experience with flat tires. I have used the same slime for car tires in our I80 and I70 and it has work fine. I have 1,050 miles on one I2 and the tires look fine.

Billy

[Desert_Seg]

After only 1200 miles, or about 6 months of riding for me, the center groove on my i2 tires is almost flush. Judging from that, it's going to average about $1000 per year to keep good wheels on it. Yikes!

Wow, I have 860 miles (~1365Km) on my highest mileage unit and the tires are in excellent shape. I'd say I can easily hit 2,500 miles on them if not more (just a guess, mind you).

Steven

[Sharkie]

Steve,

Have you actually removed a Gen2 tire? Until Billy Kirkland stepped up, I had not heard a single dealer say that even they could do it. I failed miserably. The dropwell is on the outside of the wheel, so, do you remove it from that side and mess up the appearance? My attempts were from the inside.

It's really not that tough to get them off. Ryan_Walters has done it numerous times. He can probably give you proper instructions as to how to do it, but it's really not that tough. My old motorcycle was MUCH more difficult, and I was younger then!

Jim

[ryan_walters]

It's really not that tough to get them off.

Most of my experience is with removing and installing i2 tires. I have done 4 gen1 (180) tires too. I found the 180 tires harder to remove / install than the i2 tires. I've heard people find it the other way around.

I was working from the outside of the i2 rim instead of the suggested inside. The main reason is that the well in the rim is not centered in the middle. It is off to the 'outside' of the rim. This means there's less distance (less angle) if using the outside. This translates to less force required to remove / install the tire. I've found it takes such little force, I have no concerns about damaging a rim. Jim (Sharkie) was there when we put tires on 180 rims. They were 2-3 times harder to put on than my i2 rims. And even they weren't that bad.

I think with my i2, I could remove the tire from rim, and re-install in about 10 min. (not counting time to remove the wheel from the segway)

[bentbiker]

I was working from the outside of the i2 rim instead of the suggested inside. The main reason is that the well in the rim is not centered in the middle. It is off to the 'outside' of the rim. This means there's less distance (less angle) if using the outside. This translates to less force required to remove / install the tire. I've found it takes such little force, I have no concerns about damaging a rim.

Ryan,

Thank you and Jim. This is the answer I've been trying to get since 11/28/06. As noted above in my post to PLO, I was confused by the dropwell being on the outside while I was I was always being told to work from the inside because the outside is more fragile or at least more visible. Do you use glycerine or soapy water?

Dynk had promised earlier today to check Karl's technique and report the details when they work on Dynk's wheel tomorrow. Dynk -- I still look forware to hearing how Karl's procedure compares with this. Thanks.

[dynk]

Having gone withtout Segway for 6 days now while trying to find a way to get the flat repaired, I am really looking forward to my meeting Karl this evening and going gliding.

[terryp]

As bentbiker pointed out to me, I somehow threw in an extra factor of two when I came up with $1000 per year. And to be fair - without having measured the original depth of the tread, I can't really estimate what percentage I've used up.

I'd like to think that eventually dealers will have the means to replace tires or tubes on otherwise perfectly good wheels, but we'll see.

[cmonkey]

If anyone in Orange County CA needs help with a tire due to a flat, I'd be happy to help. I've pulled a few tires from both sides of the wheel with no problems. The toughest part so far has been breaking the bead on a gen I tire. Once the bead has been broken, getting the tires off an on again in the future is pretty easy. Personally I prefer to run tubeless because of the tubeless slime I use. It has rubber bits in it that seal the puncture quite well. I'm currently running some Gen I tires that had over 1000 thorns in each tire, and about 20 of them got pushed through (on each tire). As I'm riding, I can see spots where the slime is coming through and sealing the holes. I've barely lost any pressure (I've lost more air just checking the tire!)

For those with slime (for tubeless), when you see a wet spot, inflate the tire to about 40-50PSI, and let it sit for an hour. The hole will get plugged faster by the little rubber bits; and when you go back to normal pressure, you'll probably never see any moisture from that spot again.

[bentbiker]

I only have one set of i2 wheels, but I have several sets of tires that will fit, including the original ones which only have 50 or so miles before I went to a more aggressive tire.

I have not pushed this for a while, but if anyone is truely interested in tire replacements for their gen 1 or gen 2 machine, PM me. I may have some cost effective alternatives.

I would even be very willing to consider some horse tradeing for some wheels for tires... I am always willing to help if I can, and that is to anyone who can glide, limp, or otherwize make it to my house...

Karl,

You have a PM.

[dynk]

Thanks to Karl. He took the tire off the rim from the ouside of the rim and replaced the tube than snapped the tire back with 3 plastic spoons.

We then went gliding through his neighborhood for a half hour, it was grand gliding with someone else for a change.

Thank you again Karl. I will give the new tires some thought.

[ryan_walters]

Having gone withtout Segway for 6 days now while trying to find a way to get the flat repaired, I am really looking forward to my meeting Karl this evening and going gliding.

This is the 6th week I've been without a usable machine. 4 weeks since INC approved a hotswap. It arrived at my dealer yesterday. They're not 'open' until the weekend, so I'll probably pick it up then.

[bentbiker]

Dynk,

Were you able to find the cause? Glad for the outcome. Do you think you could do it next time around?
Thanks to Karl. He took the tire off the rim from the ouside of the rim and replaced the tube than snapped the tire back with 3 plastic spoons.

[glen_d]

Have you actually removed a Gen2 tire?

Hmmm . . . guess I'll have to pull a tire off my i2 and add that to my mount / dismount instructions that I originally did for the i180.

Kudos to Karl for helping dynk fix his problem.

Glen

[dynk]

Dynk,

Were you able to find the cause? Glad for the outcome. Do you think you could do it next time around?

There was a pinhole in the tube so the tack/nail did penetrate it. I am sure I will be able to do it the next time around.:cool:

paul

[polo_pro]

I'd think segfests should have several seminars supporting DIYers. This "changing a tire" seems like a perfect candidate. However, I will point out that for any of this to happen, it'll take knowledgeable folks stepping forward early on in the planning process.

I'll also add that I encountered NO obstacles whatsoever when I approached the Segfest organizers about doing a "Long Distance Gliding" seminar. They were quite supportive, and the only thing I'd encourage folks considering this would be to be "flexible". As a presenter, you need to be ready to accomodate other speaker's schedules and the demands of the day.

[macgeek]

About halfway to work, one of my KETS went flat, it wasnt a "blowout" more like a 2 minute hiss, As I was gliding I noticed my seg started pulling to the right, I got off to inspect and after a minute or two, the tire was flat.

I 'limped' to a tire store, after they finished teasing me about my 'ride' and that I needed struts, balencing, white walls, and a new muffler. they patched the tube for $15.

Jonathan

[dynk]

About halfway to work, one of my KETS went flat, it wasnt a "blowout" more like a 2 minute hiss, As I was gliding I noticed my seg started pulling to the right, I got off to inspect and after a minute or two, the tire was flat.

I 'limped' to a tire store, after they finished teasing me about my 'ride' and that I needed struts, balencing, white walls, and a new muffler. they patched the tube for $15.

Jonathan

You were lucky, I tried 5 different tire stores locally and they refused to even look at it. Even Goodyear (had a "We fix all Tires" Sign) said they would not work on plastic rims. I think they were all afraid of the rim and tire size having never seen one before.:(

[terryp]

You were lucky, I tried 5 different tire stores locally and they refused to even look at it. Even Goodyear (had a "We fix all Tires" Sign) said they would not work on plastic rims. I think they were all afraid of the rim and tire size having never seen one before.:(
I had a similar problem. I called a motorcycle dealer and asked if they could patch a Segway tire. They said 'Sure - bring it in', but when I got there, they saw it was on a plastic wheel, and said they wouldn't touch it for liability reasons. The local Les Shwab took care of it for me, but somewhat hesitantly.

[terryp]

:( Actually, I didn't hear a thing.

The one part of the Segway that's not redundant...

I was about 1/2 mile from work this morning when, just after going up on the sidewalk, I noticed that something didn't feel right. It felt like the LSF was leaning too far forward or something. My first thought was that it had lost its sense of level. Then it seemed fine again, and I thought maybe it was just my imagination. But soon the weird feeling was back, and it seemed to be pulling to the right. After almost being dumped at one point, I finally realized my right tire was flat, and apparently binding on the fender. Since the last two blocks to work are a very steep uphill, I had to chose between walking VERY slowly with it in RBM or pushing/pulling it up the hill. Oh, the humiliation!

I can't find any sign of the tire being punctured, and I watch the ground very closely for glass and such when gliding, so I think the tube just gave out. I was hoping these tires would last longer than the 1300 miles they've seen, but I guess they're ready for the landfill unless I can get the flat repaired. Slime might patch it, but even if it did I'd worry that it could happen again. New wheels are on order. Maybe I'll find a way to mount the remaining good wheel to the front of the LSF as a spare.

[bentbiker]

:( Actually, I didn't hear a thing.

The one part of the Segway that's not redundant...

I was about 1/2 mile from work this morning when, just after going up on the sidewalk, I noticed that something didn't feel right. It felt like the LSF was leaning too far forward or something. My first thought was that it had lost its sense of level. Then it seemed fine again, and I thought maybe it was just my imagination. But soon the weird feeling was back, and it seemed to be pulling to the right. After almost being dumped at one point, I finally realized my right tire was flat, and apparently binding on the fender. Since the last two blocks to work are a very steep uphill, I had to chose between walking VERY slowly with it in RBM or pushing/pulling it up the hill. Oh, the humiliation!

I can't find any sign of the tire being punctured, and I watch the ground very closely for glass and such when gliding, so I think the tube just gave out. I was hoping these tires would last longer than the 1300 miles they've seen, but I guess they're ready for the landfill unless I can get the flat repaired. Slime might patch it, but even if it did I'd worry that it could happen again. New wheels are on order. Maybe I'll find a way to mount the remaining good wheel to the front of the LSF as a spare.
Sounds like you still had a little air in the tire; when I had my flat, there was no possibility of using RBM -- it was like wrestling an alligator until I got it turned off. And with 2.5 miles uphill, everybody wanted to tell me how funny I looked. I have questions:

1.) As a bicyclist who has surely patched/changed tubes before, did you attempt to patch the original flat using bicycle tire irons? As you may remember I failed miserably when I tried last year, but recent posts indicate that perhaps I would have fared much better if I'd worked from the outside rather than previous instructions pointing to the inside.

2.) Once you have your new wheels, will you try to get into the bad one? It would be nice to know whether these tubes are so cheaply made (as was reported by cagatay) that they can't be patched successfully. I had also reported last year that while attempting the patch, I discovered a 1/4" soft stone molded into my tire. I really wanted to see if something like that was on the inside of the tire, but of course I was never able. Also, I had a dealer tell me that INC found there had originally been a number of tubes installed with a twist, causing premature failure.

3.) Have you tried to buy the genuine tubes with their angled stems? Billy Kirkland reported earlier in this thread that he can get the tubes, but I've been unable to get a response via PM. Have you tried to find alternative tubes? I know Karl indicated he found a motocross tube that works, but I can't get Karl to respond to my PM either.

4.) Have you thought about carrying a bottle of Slime for emergency use just to get you home without having to pull the Seg? So far, I've found it works like most insurance purchases -- once you buy it, you don't get a flat. I'll probably regret having said that out loud.

5.) Did you have any kind of dialogue with INC as to whether they will help, or did you have to pay $133 x 2 for the new wheels?

6.) Instead of mounting your spare on the LSF, have you thought about putting it on a backpack -- kinda like the old Continental kits for the Lincoln.;)

[terryp]

I will try to remove the tire and patch the tube, but I get the idea it's going to be a bigger job than with a bike wheel! I'll also check with the dealer I bought the i2 from to see if he has replacement tubes, but I'd be surprised.

I ordered new wheels from him a couple weeks ago when I noticed that the tread was getting thin in the center of the tires, and would have them by now except that he says he opened one of the boxes to insert the invoice, and found the wheel and/or tire was already damaged (he didn't say how), and had to order a replacement from the factory before he could ship to me.

That leads me to believe that (1) there might be QC problems, and (2) he only had the two i2 wheels in stock. Hopefully that's not due to heavy demand from others getting flats.

BTW, as I mentioned, a fully flat tire rubs on the fender, so I believe a blowout could cause a sudden turn into traffic - an even better reason to watch for sharp objects than to avoid replacing a $130 wheel!

Carrying slime might be easier than carrying a spare, but if I do decide to carry one on my back, I'll go all the way and wear it over my butt, Nash Rambler style :D

[KSagal]

To any and all who may be waiting for a response to a Private message... Sorry.

My Computer picked up a nasty bug, and I have been fighting it for weeks.

I have been on this forum from work, but do not regularly open private windows on the company computer, even though I do respond to the main forum...

A couple points...

When I replace DYNKs tube a couple weeks ago, I seem to recall finding that it was twisted. He may be able to recall this better than I.

I have found two tubes that work for me. One is made by 'BikeMaster' and is sized @ 2.75/3.00 - 14. It is part # 37-0143

The other is made by Cheng Shin, is the same size, and seems to have the part number of 06-0098.

Both are motorcycle or motocross or ATV style tubes, and seem to weigh about twice the weight of the original. I consider this to be simply a heavier weight rubber.

Now I have something I would like to offer for consideration...

A couple people have mentioned recent flat tires, one made the comment that it is the only thing that is not duplicated on the segway...

I know that you can get a self sealing compound to put in your tubes. I suspect that this works well, yet some people are still getting flats. Has anyone gotten a flat, even with good reason, like a nail or tack, with that goop inside?

In order to add tubes to my gen one wheels, I have drilled holes in the rim for the valve stem...

I have thought of possibly putting two tubes in a wheel. If equal air volume were to be put in each, and the tire inflated to 18 pounds, then even a puncture would not end in a flat tire. Possibly and under inflated one, but the on the road repair would to just be to inflate the undamaged tube to full pressure...

Has anyone heard of something like this?

[Sharkie]

Slime for tubeless tires seems to work fairly well, however, the same can't be said for the stuff made for tubes. A buddy tried some on a motorcycle tire, and it not only was a waste of money, it made a mess that was very difficult to clean up.

Removing the tire is NOT that big of a deal! Patching a tube is NOT that big of a deal, getting over the mindset that you can't fix a flat SEEMS to be a big deal. I don't know why, as a kid I fixed flats on a lot of bicycles. A Segway tire might be a LITTLE tougher to get off the rim, but come on, it's not like it's impossible. The toughest part is what is called "breaking" the bead. Just like a tubeless tire on your car, the tire sits on a "shelf" at the edge of the rim. In order to get at the tube, or remove the tire, you have to push the tire off this shelf and into the "well" in the middle of the rim. Once you get the tire into the well on one side, it's not that tough to get the other side over the edge of the rim. Ryan uses **PLASTIC** pry bars, and they bend just a little as he applies pressure to lever the tire over the rim. With a little care, it's not tough to change the tire at all, and it's not likely to damage the rim if you use plastic tire levers. It's a manual job, so it's not likely that any place that deals with metal rims will touch it. They don't remove tires manually, they use machines, and these would quite likely damage the rim. Anyone wanting to throw away a flat tire should contact me, and I'll be quite happy to pay reasonable shipping to get the tire and save room for something else in a landfill.

Jim

[Billy Kirkland]

Segway just send me some free tubes so if you need one email me back with your adress and I will send you one.

Billy
Segway of Sanibel




I will try to remove the tire and patch the tube, but I get the idea it's going to be a bigger job than with a bike wheel! I'll also check with the dealer I bought the i2 from to see if he has replacement tubes, but I'd be surprised.

I ordered new wheels from him a couple weeks ago when I noticed that the tread was getting thin in the center of the tires, and would have them by now except that he says he opened one of the boxes to insert the invoice, and found the wheel and/or tire was already damaged (he didn't say how), and had to order a replacement from the factory before he could ship to me.

That leads me to believe that (1) there might be QC problems, and (2) he only had the two i2 wheels in stock. Hopefully that's not due to heavy demand from others getting flats.

BTW, as I mentioned, a fully flat tire rubs on the fender, so I believe a blowout could cause a sudden turn into traffic - an even better reason to watch for sharp objects than to avoid replacing a $130 wheel!

Carrying slime might be easier than carrying a spare, but if I do decide to carry one on my back, I'll go all the way and wear it over my butt, Nash Rambler style :D

[KSagal]

Machines are just devices that do what our hands do, with a mechanical advantage.

If you have good control over the machine, I do not understand why people are so timid. The levers that people use on the tires are machines.

I have a small tire machine. IT is simply a post with a way to secure a wheel to it (designed to work on small wheels, wheel barrows, golf carts, from 8 inces to 18 inches in diameter) From this center vertical shaft, an number of arms and levers can be attached. I have used this mechanical machine to help break the bead.

I bought this device years ago from JC whitney Co., an auto parts catalog company...

anyway, I can change most any tire on small wheels with this device, from snow blowers, to carts, to segways.

Care and atttention to detail is important, but the rest is easy...

[GlennO]

Jim - are these plastic pry bars available at bicycle shops? Got a picture? Please!?

Glenn

[terryp]

Jim - are these plastic pry bars available at bicycle shops? Got a picture? Please!?

Glenn
They are - usually in sets of three.

[Tarkus]

Jim - are these plastic pry bars available at bicycle shops? Got a picture? Please!?

Glenn

http://home.gci.net/~glen/segway/tire2/tire2.html

Be Big,
Alan

[Sharkie]

Jim - are these plastic pry bars available at bicycle shops? Got a picture? Please!?

Glenn

I don't have a picture, but pretty much any decent bicycle shop should have these available. They are about 4 inches long, and usually nylon reinforced plastic or something similar. I think you'd be hard pressed to spend more than a few dollars to buy a set of three. They're really nothing special, but something along those lines is a necessity. Once you've done one, you'll probably wonder why so many people seem to be scared to try and do it themselves.

Jim

PS Tarkus posted a link to a thread on this has VERY good instructions as to how to do this.

[PeteInLongBeach]

Instead of mounting your spare on the LSF, have you thought about putting it on a backpack -- kinda like the old Continental kits for the Lincoln.;)

OK, now I'm hoping that someone who reads this will develop a spare tire mount that actually attaches to the machine... maybe dual mounts on the cargo plates? The continental kit sounds very cool....

[KSagal]

If you hang enough spare wheels around the seg, you may be mistaken for a tug boat!

http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/f/fc/North-shore-tugboats.jpg

[GlennO]

Karl - that was so - so bad! Now, how do I stop laughing?

Anyway, thanks all. I had never seen one of those, so I think I'll pick up a set, along with a repair kit If everybody (all at once, of course) asked their dealers for a spare inner tube, do you think that Inc. would hear it?

I'm guess that if I buy everything and I'm ready, I'l never get a flat. I did run over an industrial sized staple about a month after I got my 170, and it went right through. That was my first - and my last - experience with Segs going flat.

Glenn

[gbrandwood]

OK, now I'm hoping that someone who reads this will develop a spare tire mount that actually attaches to the machine... maybe dual mounts on the cargo plates? The continental kit sounds very cool....

http://forums.segwaychat.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11814/normal_XXXT.JPG (http://forums.segwaychat.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11814/XXXT.JPG)
(Click for larger)

[KSagal]

I've been caught! LOL

I don't think a single flat tire or 3 will make much difference on this rig...

[joe]

Jim - are these plastic pry bars available at bicycle shops? Got a picture? Please!?

http://forums.segwaychat.com/gallery/albums/userpics/13972/normal_topeak_tire_lever.jpg (http://forums.segwaychat.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=104)

I bought these after researching quite a lot. Most bicycle levers seemed to small and/or not strong enough to me. The big black one is metal reinforced (and badly needs that). :cool:

--
Johannes

[Sharkie]

Actually, they DON'T need to be metal reinforced! If you are requiring that much force, you don't have the opposite side in the well properly. The ones Ryan uses are not metal reinforced, and are only about 4 inches long. They do the job nicely, and with something like that, it makes sure you aren't going to harm the wheels. With a metal reinforcement, you could easily damage a wheel.

Jim

[Tarkus]

I also prefer all plastic.

Don't be fooled, if you take just a little care the wheels can take a good deal of pressure.

I would avoid tools that don't "give" a bit though.

Be Big,
Alan

[Segway Future]

Well, with just a little more than three weeks of ownership, I have my first flat tire on my i2. Very disappointing. I'll contact my local Segway dealer tomorrow first thing, but after reading the posts on this thread, I'm not getting the feeling that they will be able to do anything more than to sell me a new wheel.

I've patched countless bicycle tires in the past but this seems a bit daunting. One topic not covered in this thread is how to remove the wheel from the i2. Could anyone give me any pointers if I need to patch the wheel?

Thank You,
Todd

[bentbiker]

Well, with just a little more than three weeks of ownership, I have my first flat tire on my i2. Very disappointing. I'll contact my local Segway dealer tomorrow first thing, but after reading the posts on this thread, I'm not getting the feeling that they will be able to do anything more than to sell me a new wheel.

I've patched countless bicycle tires in the past but this seems a bit daunting. One topic not covered in this thread is how to remove the wheel from the i2. Could anyone give me any pointers if I need to patch the wheel?

Thank You,
ToddTodd,

You have a PM. My flat (first and only so far) came after only 17 days.

Joe has provided a pretty detailed tutorial:
http://forums.segwaychat.com/showpost.php?p=145045&postcount=7

[joe]

I've patched countless bicycle tires in the past but this seems a bit daunting. One topic not covered in this thread is how to remove the wheel from the i2. Could anyone give me any pointers if I need to patch the wheel?

Ehm, remove the nuts? :D The hubcab removes very easy (almost a miracle that it stays in place normally), just press on one edge (try to figure where "the edge" is :D). The nuts are 13 mm. I marked the current position relative to the hub with a permanent marker because I know there's no wobbling in this position. I believe the torque (Nm) for re-attaching the wheels are listed in the manual.

--
Johannes

PS: If you meant "remove the tire" instead of the wheel, see the other thread

[aviators99]

I've had my i2 for a few weeks now, and was riding to work this morning when I got a monster screw in my left tire.

My local dealer suggested "patching" it, but that didn't seem to be a good idea (especially after reading this thread). I tried a couple of local (auto) tire places and they didn't even want to talk about fixing it.

I called INC and they suggested going to a motorcycle shop. I ended up at a Kawasaki shop in Bellevue, WA (Bellevue Kawasaki), and they did a fabulous job replacing the tube for me. The service technician (Ian) understood my nervousness and did everything very carefully and by hand. All in all, I was only without my i2 for a few hours.

[bentbiker]

I've had my i2 for a few weeks now, and was riding to work this morning when I got a monster screw in my left tire.

My local dealer suggested "patching" it, but that didn't seem to be a good idea (especially after reading this thread). I tried a couple of local (auto) tire places and they didn't even want to talk about fixing it.

I called INC and they suggested going to a motorcycle shop. I ended up at a Kawasaki shop in Bellevue, WA (Bellevue Kawasaki), and they did a fabulous job replacing the tube for me. The service technician (Ian) understood my nervousness and did everything very carefully and by hand. All in all, I was only without my i2 for a few hours.
Aviator,

If you go to http://www.segwaytoday.net/SegwayToday/DIY/Entries/2007/7/1_Segway_Tire_Repair.html Todd offers a video of our own cmonkey showing how to do it yourself next time.

[aviators99]

Aviator,

If you go to http://www.segwaytoday.net/SegwayToday/DIY/Entries/2007/7/1_Segway_Tire_Repair.html Todd offers a video of our own cmonkey showing how to do it yourself next time.

Thanks...

Unfortunately, I have learned the hard way not to trust anything I do myself when it has a mechanical element to it. I've blown up more computers than I care to remember...I certainly wouldn't trust something I worked on to carry me around at 12MPH. I'm sure it's easy for many, but it's just not for me. :-)

[KSagal]

Thanks...

Unfortunately, I have learned the hard way not to trust anything I do myself when it has a mechanical element to it. I've blown up more computers than I care to remember...I certainly wouldn't trust something I worked on to carry me around at 12MPH. I'm sure it's easy for many, but it's just not for me. :-)


I have always said that it takes a wize man to know what he knows and a wizer one to know what he does not know...

[SEGsby]

I eventually got new tires (tread was gone anyways) and put offroad ones on the old rims...

SEGsby

I have a new I 2 and last thursday got a flat tire:mad:

The dealer has no tubes or recommendations, I called Segway and got put on a "leave a message system"

No bicycle, motorcycle, or tire stores here will even attempt to take the tire off the plastic wheel.

Today I got an email from Segway telling me they do not sell tubes nor have recommendations either, and that I can purchase an entire wheel assembly for $133.95 :eek: ...........Expensive flat![:(!]

I was wondering what everyone here does when they get a flat tire?

[Sal]

I have always said that it takes a wize man to know what he knows and a wizer one to know what he does not know...

Socrates: So I withdrew and thought to myself: “I am wiser than this man; it is likely that neither of us knows anything worthwhile, but he thinks he knows something when he does not, whereas when I do not know, neither do I think I know; so I am likely to be wiser to this small extent, that I do not think I know what I do not know.” Plato, Apology

[KSagal]

Socrates: So I withdrew and thought to myself: “I am wiser than this man; it is likely that neither of us knows anything worthwhile, but he thinks he knows something when he does not, whereas when I do not know, neither do I think I know; so I am likely to be wiser to this small extent, that I do not think I know what I do not know.” Plato, Apology



I do say it, but I do not say that I was the first to say it! LOL

Thanks for the quote. I do like these old greek guys. Diogenes is one of my favorites...

[sribas]

I am having the same problem 1300 miles in 4 months....and a flat tyre.
I will replace the tube, and look for other type of scooter tyres I can use on my I2.
900 €/year for tyres, ends up with my petrol savings.

[wwhopper]

We have found a couple of good sources for tubes for Segway I-2 tires.

Now just to find some flats to fix!

[bentbiker]

I am having the same problem 1300 miles in 4 months....and a flat tyre.
I will replace the tube, and look for other type of scooter tyres I can use on my I2.
900 €/year for tyres, ends up with my petrol savings.Probably no need to replace the tube unless the stem broke off or something like that; just patch it with a bicycle tube patch, and it will be as good as a new one, with the proper angled stem. I'd like to say it is easier, but if your tire is as tight on the wheel as mine, you probably can't pull out the tube by just breaking the bead -- you'll probably have to pop the outside wall of the tire from the wheel.