changing tires & tubes

When I'm riding, I always carry at least one spare tube, a pump and a tire lever. Flats happen to the best of us, but if you're prepared for them, they can be quickly repaired. Here's how you replace tires & tubes.

To do this you'll need:
  • tire lever [s]
  • pump









Remove the wheel from the bike. If the tire is not deflated, deflate it. Remove and set aside any valve nuts that may be present. Starting at the valve area, use a tire lever to pry the tire's bead from the rim. Pry the bead up and over the rim and continue doing this all the way around one side of the tire. This will give you access to the tube inside. Remove the tube.



If you've flatted and are changing the inner tube, you should check the tire for any foreign debris that may have punctured the tube and may still be present. Thorns, shards of glass, nails etc can be lodged in the tire's rubber just waiting to puncture your new tube!

To install the tire onto the rim, you'll need to work one side of the tire bead into the rim's lip. Leave the other side free. Once one side has been installed, partially inflate the new tube and insert the valve through the valve hole in the rim. If you're using a presta valve, install the valve nut at this time.





Starting at the valve work the tube inside of the tire. I prefer to stand and bend over with the wheel leaning against my legs. This allows you to use your left hand to work your way around the left side of the tire towards the bottom, and use your right hand to work in the right side. If you've partially inflated the tube too much, you'll need to deflate a little. When you've just about got the tube all the way inside of the tire the last bit of tire may be difficult to pop inside of the rim. Grip it firmly and roll your wrist over the rim; the tire should pop in place.

Lastly, inflate the tire and check to see that the bead on each side of the tire is evenly seated in the rim. If it is not, you can either deflate and try to reposition the tire within the rim, or you can inflate to a higher PSI and pry the tube with your hand so that it pops into posistion.