EGO Mini Bike Supermoto Conversion: Street Tires, Smoother Ride, and the Mods I’d Do Next
April 29, 2024
I’ve been slowly turning the EGO Power+ Mini Bike into a more street-focused, supermoto-style mini ripper—and the biggest “feel it immediately” upgrade so far has been ditching the knobby-ish stock tires for proper street rubber.
I took the bike over to Detroit Moped Works and had Alex and crew help me get a set of Michelin City Grip 2 tires installed. The goal wasn’t speed. It was smoother road manners, less tire noise, and a more confident feel on pavement.
Here’s how it went, what changed on the first ride, and what I’d recommend if you’re considering the same setup.
A quick look at my latest mini bike mods
Before the tire swap, I’d already done a handful of changes that pushed the bike closer to “mini moto” than “yard toy.”
RunPlayBack orange body panels
I pulled the plastics and repainted the panels in our RunPlayBack orange. It takes time, mostly because prep is everything.
What worked for me:
Scuffing/sanding enough for paint to bite (I started rougher, then went finer)
Multiple light coats (I did five coats of color)
Clear coat on top (two coats)
Letting everything dry fully (I even used a space heater to help it along)
It completely changes the vibe of the bike. It looks more like a “project” now—something you’re building into your own, not just riding stock.
DNM adjustable rear shock
I swapped the stock rear shock for a DNM adjustable mono shock. The main reason I wanted it was adjustability—being able to tune rebound and compression makes a mini bike feel less like a pogo stick and more like something you can actually dial in.
Fitment note: I had to use washers at the eyelets because the DNM shock eyelets were slightly narrower than the stock EGO hardware. Without taking up that side-to-side slack, it’s the kind of tiny movement that can turn into annoying clunks or premature wear.
Why I wanted street tires on the EGO mini bike
With the stock tires on pavement, the loudest thing on the bike was the tires themselves. That constant tire roar makes the bike feel rougher than it is, and it subtly pushes you to ride slower because everything feels busier.
My goal with the Michelin City Grip 2 tires was simple:
Smoother ride feel on asphalt
Less noise
Better “street” traction feel when leaning and cornering
Potentially a little less rolling resistance (and maybe slightly better range)
No, this isn’t a “make it faster” mod. The bike is governed, so street tires aren’t going to magically unlock top speed. What they do change is how the bike behaves getting there.
Detroit Moped Works install experience
I like having a shop handle certain things not because I can’t do them, but because the right tools and the right experience save a ton of frustration—especially on tight little wheels with stiff tire sidewalls.
The rear wheel is the real challenge
The front wasn’t bad. The rear was a fight.
On the rear wheel, the motor wiring and the general “hub motor wheel” reality make the whole job more awkward. You want room to work the tire around the rim, and you don’t have the same flexibility you’d have on a simple non-powered wheel.
We ended up needing two people and multiple tire levers to muscle the rear tire on.
Tubeless tires can be extra stubborn
These tires are tubeless. That’s great once they’re on, but it can add a complication: seating the bead.
Sometimes you need a serious burst of air to get that bead to seal around the rim. If you’re doing this at home with a small compressor, plan ahead. Worst case, you may need access to a stronger air setup to pop the bead into place.
Small cosmetic reality check
Because I had areas coated with Plasti Dip, some of that got scuffed during the wrestling match. No paint damage, and Plasti Dip is easy to touch up, but it’s something to keep in mind if you’re precious about your finishes.
If you’re going DIY: have extra tire spoons and a second set of hands ready.
First ride: the street tire difference is immediate
The moment I rolled out, the bike felt extremely smooth.
Not “a little smoother.” Tangibly smoother.
It’s almost funny—bumps I’d normally ignore became more noticeable, not because they got worse, but because the baseline vibration from the tires was gone. With the tire noise and tread buzz reduced, the bike feels calmer and more refined on straight pavement.
Cornering feel
Leaning into turns, the bike feels more planted and more predictable. The Michelin street tread gives a more consistent feel on asphalt, and I noticed the tires feel a bit wider when cornering—more contact, more stability.
Braking and control
The hydraulic disc brakes stop the bike promptly, as they should. With the smoother rolling street tires, the whole bike feels more “on-road” in the way it responds to small inputs.
If you’re mostly riding streets, paved paths, or smooth neighborhood laps, this is one of the highest value changes you can make.
Supermoto mindset: the setup that makes the EGO mini bike make sense
I like this bike as a compact EV lifestyle machine—something you can move easily, stash easily, and rip around without the drama.
With street tires, it leans harder into that role:
Quieter ride feel
Smoother cruising
More confidence when you’re carving around corners on pavement
It also gave me a helpful “practice run” for bigger future work. Now that I’ve had the plastics off and dealt with the wheel removal/reinstall rhythm, I feel way more prepared for the next phase.
What I’m planning next
I’m working toward a more serious power build that involves a custom battery and a controller upgrade. I made a cardboard mockup of the battery space and shipped it off to Powerful Lithium to start the conversation around a custom pack that fits.
This next step is not a small mod. It’s the kind of project where you’re essentially gutting the bike and rebuilding it around the new power system. The tire day was a good reminder: once you’ve done a job once on this bike, the second time will go a lot smoother.
What We Like
Michelin City Grip 2 street tires make the bike feel dramatically smoother on pavement
Noticeably quieter ride with less tire roar
More stable, confidence-inspiring cornering feel on asphalt
Tubeless setup feels like a more “modern” wheel/tire experience
Detroit Moped Works made the install straightforward and handled the stubborn rear tire battle
Things To Consider
The rear tire install can be a serious wrestling match without the right tools (and a second person)
Tubeless tires may require a strong burst of air to seat the bead
If you have Plasti Dip or delicate coatings near the work area, expect some scuffs during install
Street tires won’t increase top speed on a governed bike; the win is smoothness, noise, and road feel
Final Thoughts
If you ride your EGO mini bike primarily on streets, this is the tire swap I’d recommend doing early. The bike instantly feels more refined and more “mini moto,” and it complements the whole supermoto direction: smooth, planted, and way more enjoyable on pavement.
It also clarified something for me: the best mods aren’t always the flashy ones. Sometimes the most satisfying upgrade is the one you feel every second you’re rolling.
Links
Detroit Moped Works: https://detroitmopedworks.com/
EGO Power+ Mini Bike: https://amzn.to/3UhIidy
EGO Power+ 56v 12ah Battery: https://amzn.to/3TZqXVu
EGO Mini Bike Modders: https://www.facebook.com/groups/egominibike
Michelin City Grip 2 Tires: https://amzn.to/3UeO7HE
Pitbike Foot Pegs: https://amzn.to/44o1lqo
DNM Rear Mono Shock: https://amzn.to/4dcRI1H
Pecron Power Station: https://amzn.to/3U65QAV
Pecron Solar Panels: https://amzn.to/3U7nqoi
Side Mirror: https://amzn.to/4b4JQNA
Surron Fender: https://amzn.to/4d4ahVD
Tactical Storage Bag: https://amzn.to/447sm0W
Quad Lock Phone Mount: https://amzn.to/3UoPwg6
ABS Plastic for Disc Cover: https://amzn.to/49M7UDS
Plasti Dip: https://amzn.to/3xLG2Td
Tail Light: https://amzn.to/3w33oDm
Side Lights: https://amzn.to/3QdDlA7
Fork Lights: https://amzn.to/49MnKi5
20 Gauge Wire: https://amzn.to/4d8nqgw
12v Fuse: https://amzn.to/3W5m93x
Flasher Relay: https://amzn.to/4d8nsVG
Turn Signal Switch: https://amzn.to/3Qc8dRQ
Bell Super 3R MIPS Bike Helmet: https://amzn.to/3TJ1vTR
Fox Racing Bike Gloves: https://amzn.to/40P5SyQ
Veeape Electric Air Pump: https://amzn.to/3LPLTf9
Onvian Wireless Bike Alarm: https://amzn.to/42KUgyE
RunPlayBack Merch: http://shop.runplayback.com/