>>Is there a correlation between the lesser rubber on of course the rear tire and flats?<<
Yep.
>>Is there a better inner tube than the one I can purchase at the locat moped shop?<<
Yep - go to Walmart and buy BELL Self-Sealing Tubes, and if you can buy them 1"-2" oversize...which would be 17" or 18" for the Tomos 16" wheels, that gives you a bit more rubber and makes them easier to install, cause you have to stretch the 16"s to get em to fit the Tomos rims.
They're technically bicycle tubes, but they're very tough, and can self-seal anything up to a major gash, and prolly mostly seal even that, I have nothing but praise for em, and I should know.
>>What tire brand should I consider... original or some "motorclycle" that the local shop has offered me?<<
The OEM Tires that come on a Targa, plainly...SUCK!
Doubly so if you live in michigan....those half-slicks are good only for fully-paved, smooth, even surfaces, which you just don't get around here...and they're suicide on snow, mud or grass.
Go buy yourself some Cheng Shin tires, accept no substitute, they're the real-deal.
Try to get the "A" Tread design if you can, but any Cheng Shin tire is pretty damn good.
Your performance in cornering and braking should also improve.
The tires will run you $18-$24 each dependin on where you get them, and the tubes are $6 a pop, so total damage is around $48-$60...which isn't that bad.
I also reccommend a pair of heavy tire spoons, bicycle ones techically might do, but I've had no luck with the, they tend to snap in half while changing Tomos tires.
Most cycle shops will have a pair, figure $10-$15 for a set of two.
Hope alla that helps,
-R