Modern Buddy

Heading home from work last week I noticed that the Buddy was rolling a little slow. When I stopped at the next light, sure enough, my heels touched the ground. Flat rear tire. There was a gas station at that intersection where I filled the tire - which seemed to hold the air and started out. This worked for about half a mile.

I had a non-negotiable, gotta be there, family obligation to make. Okay, it was stupid, but I rode the remaining 3.5 miles home at a very careful 20 mph (much to the chagrin of the cars behind me). Actually, I finally pulled off and pushed it on the sidewalk for the last 4 blocks. I checked on the scoot about 5 minutes after I got home and the rear tire was still quite hot compared to the front tire.

I pulled the wheel on Saturday and had it plugged. Some kind of nail or staple had punctured the crown. (BTW having to remove the exhaust pipe to remove the rear tire is a pain). It's holding air just fine.

Driving in to work this a.m. I don't know whether it was just my heightened sensitivity or if something was up but the rear end just didn't feel right. It felt a little "quavery." Nothing major just different.

QUESTION - 550 miles on the tire. Buddy 50 ~190 lbs, Me ~190 lbs. Riding on the flat tire for about 15-20 minutes. Have I ruined the tire?

Comments or opinions?

That could have very easily hurt something inside the tire that you can't see from the outside.

I'd consider the cost of a new tire vs. getting hurt if it let's go while at speed. Tires are cheap in comparison.

DO3 wrote: I'd consider the cost of a new tire vs. getting hurt if it let's go while at speed. Tires are cheap in comparison.

+1. New tires aren't very expensive, especially when compared to the potential costs that could result from a bad tire!

Plugging a tire is probably best viewed as a temporary fix anyway, because the integrity of the tire will likely not be the same afterwards.

Never plug a motorcycle/scooter tire. For safety the tire needs to be replaced. The tire was no good as soon as you got the puncture.

Mike @ NoHo Scooters wrote:Never plug a motorcycle/scooter tire. For safety the tire needs to be replaced. The tire was no good as soon as you got the puncture.

Got it. Is buying online a decent option? I'm pretty sure my dealer doesn't have much of an inventory of tires.

Edit: Also I've heard people talk about Continental Zippy 1 and Michelin S1 and S 83 tires. Any thoughts on preference for non-agressive city riding?

rablack wrote:Also I've heard people talk about Continental Zippy 1 and Michelin S1 and S 83 tires. Any thoughts on preference for non-agressive city riding?

If you're going to change brand/type of tire, do be sure and replace both front and rear together! Different tires will have different handling and grip charactersics, so it's not wise to mix-and-match unless you know what you're doing.

Since you're not looking specifically for a higher performance tire, why not just stick with the stock for now? Then when this set wears out you can try something else. Just a thought, as that way you won't end up replacing a perfectly good front tire...

Why not call your dealer and see what they have in stock? You're planning on having them change the tires, right?

The slow-leaking puncture is one of those benefits of tubeless tires! But, yeah, best to get it replaced.