What To Do If Your Apollo Scooter Tire Is Punctured And FlatUpdated 9 days ago

Apollo scooters use tubeless, self-healing tires filled with a special gel that automatically seals many small punctures in the center of the tread. However, they are not completely flat-proof; large punctures, sidewall damage, or bead/valve issues can still cause a flat tire. The typical resolution is to replace the punctured tire.

⚠️ WARNING: If you continue to ride the scooter with a flat tire, the self-healing gel will contact the hot motor, causing it to melt and ooze out. This creates a sticky mess on the tire, rim, motor, and surrounding components that is very difficult to clean and can cause permanent damage.

Important Safety First

If your tire goes flat while riding, stop using the scooter immediately. Riding on a flat can damage the rim, the tire bead, motor, and other components, turning a simple repair into a costly replacement.

Before doing anything:

• Turn the scooter off.
• Park on a flat, stable surface.
• Use the kickstand and ensure the scooter cannot roll.
• Never ride "just a bit more" on a flat or very soft tire – the gel will melt from motor heat and create a dangerous sticky mess.

How Apollo's Self‑Healing Tubeless Tires Work

Apollo's self-healing tires contain a gel-like sealant inside the tire cavity that automatically moves to seal small punctures in the central tread area where the tire contacts the road. The air pressure pushes the gel into the hole, forming a plug so you often never notice the puncture or only lose a little air.

Key limitations:

• The gel is mainly in the center tread, not up the sidewalls.
• Sidewall punctures often miss the gel and will not self-seal.
• Large punctures, cuts, or tears can be too big for the gel to fill quickly or completely.
• If air loss is rapid or continuous, the tire will go flat even with the gel present.

Because of these limits, a flat tire is still possible and must be inspected and usually replaced.

Step 1 – Confirm The Tire Is Flat And Locate The Leak

Use this section to figure out what happened and where air is escaping.

Check For Flat Symptoms

Look for:

• Tire visibly deflated or "squishy" when pressed with your thumb.
• Scooter pulling to one side while riding or feeling unstable.
• Hissing sound from the tire or valve after inflation.
• Tire that won't hold pressure or goes flat again soon after pumping.

Visually Inspect The Tire

• Look for nails, screws, glass, thorns, or other sharp objects stuck in the tread.
• Check the sidewall carefully for cuts, slices, or embedded objects.
• Inspect the valve stem for cracks or damage.
• Check the bead area (where tire meets rim) for gaps or visible damage.

Have soapy water:

• Spray or wipe soapy water on the tread, sidewalls, valve, and bead area.
• Watch for bubbles forming; this shows where air is leaking.

Step 2 – Understand The Type Of Flat

Once you've checked the tire, match what you see to one of the common scenarios.

1. Small Puncture In The Tread (Center Of Tire)

• Object may still be in the tire, or you see a tiny hole where it was.
• Leak is in the central part of the tread, not on the sidewall.
• Self-heal gel may already be visible as a sticky substance at the hole.

What this means:

• The self-healing gel may eventually plug small holes, but not always instantly.
• You may be able to reinflate and let the gel do its work for a short ride.
• The typical resolution is to replace the punctured tire for long-term safety, as Apollo recommends treating any punctured tire as compromised.

2. Puncture Or Cut In The Sidewall

• You see a nail, cut, or tear on the side of the tire.
• The hole is outside the central band that contacts the road.
• Air escapes quickly, often with a loud hiss.

What this means:

• The gel is not present in the sidewall area in significant quantity.
• Sidewall punctures will usually not self-seal.
• The typical resolution is to replace the punctured tire, as this is considered unsafe to repair.

3. No Visible Puncture – Leak At Valve Or Bead

• Bubbles appear around the valve stem or valve core when tested with soapy water.
• Or bubbles appear along the rim edge (bead area).

What this means:

• Valve core may be loose or faulty.
• The tire bead may have unseated from the rim, especially if ridden at very low pressure.
• Dirt or dried sealant might be preventing a tight seal.[web:1][web:8][web:14]

Step 3 – Immediate Actions You Can Take

If There Is A Small Tread Puncture

1. Leave the object in for now if you're not at home or a workshop. Pulling it out can cause rapid air loss.
2. Carefully transport the scooter (walk it, do not ride at speed) to a safe place to work or a service location.
3. Once safe, you can:
   • Remove the object.
   • Attempt reinflation to manufacturer-recommended PSI and see if the gel seals the hole.
   • Monitor pressure over the next 24 hours.

If the tire continues to lose air:

• This indicates the puncture is too large or poorly located for the gel alone.
• The typical resolution is to replace the punctured tire instead of relying on patches.

Some riders use an external tubeless plug as a temporary fix for small tread punctures to get back on the road without removing the tire, but this is not a permanent solution and should still be followed by proper inspection and likely replacement.

If There Is A Sidewall Puncture Or Large Cut

• Do not ride the scooter.
• The typical resolution is to replace the punctured tire, because the structural integrity is compromised and the gel does not protect this area.
• Arrange a replacement tire and, if needed, professional service.

If The Leak Is At The Valve

• Check the valve core (the small center pin inside the valve stem).
• A loose core can be gently tightened using a valve core tool.
• Once tightened, re-check for bubbles with soapy water and reinflate to recommended PSI.

If bubbles persist:

• The valve or valve core may be defective and should be replaced.
• If replacing the valve doesn't fix it, further inspection or tire replacement may be needed.

If The Leak Is At The Bead (Rim Edge)

• This usually happens when the tire was ridden at low pressure or after a strong impact.
• The included hand pump may not have enough airflow to re-seat a fully unseated tubeless bead.
• You may need:
  • A high-flow air source (compressor or quality portable inflator).
  • Soapy water to help the bead slide and seal.

In general:

• Completely deflate the tire, apply soapy water around the bead, and use a suitable technique (such as the "press & pump" or a strong, quick burst of air) to pop the bead back into place, then inflate to spec and check for leaks.

Step 4 – When You Should Replace The Tire

The typical resolution for a punctured Apollo scooter tire is replacement. For safety and performance, Apollo recommends replacing the tire in many flat scenarios rather than trying permanent patches.

You should plan to replace the tire if:

• There is any puncture or cut in the sidewall.
• There is a large or irregular tread puncture that will not seal.
• The tire continues to lose air even after the gel appears to have plugged the hole.
• The bead or casing shows visible damage.
• The tread is worn down or flattened, making future flats more likely.

Replacement options:

• Purchase the appropriate Apollo replacement tire for your model from the official store or authorized dealers.
• If you are not comfortable removing the wheel and installing a new tire, contact Apollo support or a qualified service center.

Step 5 – Preventing Future Flats

While flats can't be prevented entirely, you can greatly reduce the chances.

• Maintain correct tire pressure: Check pressure regularly and keep it within the recommended PSI range; low pressure makes punctures and bead issues more likely.
• Inspect your tires often: Look for embedded debris, cuts, or abnormal wear in the tread and sidewalls.
• Avoid road hazards: Steer around broken glass, sharp rocks, metal, and deep potholes when safe to do so.
• Replace worn tires in time: A worn, flat-profiled tire is more prone to punctures and should be replaced before it becomes bald.[web:3][web:12]

Quick Reference: What To Do When Your Tire Is Punctured And Flat

If you are ever unsure whether your tire is safe to ride, err on the side of caution and stop riding until it has been inspected or replaced by a professional.