How to Change a Flat Tire on a Road Bike

Changing a flat on a bike tire is completely different than changing a car tire. The process is somewhat involved, but with persistence and patience, changing a flat is fairly uncomplicated. It's important to use care as a bike tire rim can be damaged easily with too much force.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

New tube Tire levers Allen wrenches
New tube
Tire levers
Allen wrenches

Step 1

Ensure the tire is actually flat. The tire may need only to be re-inflated. Re-inflate the tire and ride for a day. If the tire is still deflated, you'll need to change the tube.

Step 2

Remove the entire tire and rim from the bike frame. You may have a quick release lever that'll easily get the tire off. If not, you'll need to use Allen wrenches to unscrew the bolt holding the tire in place.

Step 3

Remove the rubber tire. Using the tire levers, scoop underneath the tire so that the levers hit the rim of the wheel. You'll need to use two levers, possibly, to successfully get enough leverage to remove the tire from the rim.

Step 4

Pull off the tire. Feed the fill valve through the hole in the rim so that you can take off the punctured tube. Carefully do this so as not to damage the fill valve.

Step 5

Feed the valve of the new tube through the hole in the tire rim so it's pointing into the center of the tire, not the other way around.

Step 6

Wrap the entire tube around the rim. Make sure it's comfortably secured between the rim walls--you do not want any rubber sticking out.

Step 7

Replace the tire. You may need the tire levers again to gain leverage and pull the tire over the entire rim. Once it's safely in place, you can inflate the tire.

Step 8

Inflate the tire to between 90 and 120 psi. Use a tire gauge if your pump does not give a psi reading. Make sure the brass knob on the fill valve is tightly screwed into place--this will ensure no air escapes as you ride.

Tips & Warnings

If you can find the leak in the old tube, you can patch it and reuse the tire.

Article Written By DB Jenkins

DB Jenkins is a professional freelance content provider. He has been running a successful freelance business for two years, and contributes regularly to many publications. His articles have appeared in "The Portland Alliance," "Portland Monthly Magazine," "in\ur Magazine," and The Tallahassee Democrat and Chronicle. He has a bachelor's degree in English from Clark University.

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