How to Change a Bicycle Tire

Want a fun way to change the character of your bike? Change the tires. A set of smooth tires on your mountain bike, for example, will give a much faster ride on pavement. Tires also wear out, of course, and learning to replace them will save you money. Because tires come in many sizes, take your old tire with you when purchasing a replacement, to make sure you get the size right.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Replacement Tire
• Tire Pump
• Adjustable Wrench
• Set Of Three Tire Tools (tire Irons)

Removing the old tire

1. Remove the wheel from the bike. Most bikes now have a quick-release lever on each axle. Simply flip one of the levers to loosen the wheel. Once loose, the wheel can be pulled free.

2. Older bikes usually have two axle nuts holding each wheel in place. Use an adjustable wrench to loosen one of the nuts, thus allowing the wheel to come free.

3. Completely deflate the tire.

4. Slide the rounded end of one of the tire tools between the tire and the rim. Working slowly and taking care not to pinch the tube, pry the tire away from the rim by locking the free end of the tire tool into the spokes.

5. Slide a second tire tool between the tire and rim. Work this tool around the rim until the tire pops free (see A).

6. If the tool gets stuck, lock the free end into the spokes and begin working with the third tire tool.

7. Remove the tire and inner tube from the rim.

Installing the new tire

8. Take a new tire and slip one edge of it all the way around the rim. It should be possible to do this by hand, although you can use one of the tire tools if necessary.

9. 

   Place the inner tube completely inside the new tire, taking care to line up the inner tube valve with the valve hole in the rim (see B). Push the tube as far into the tire as possible. It might help to inflate the tube very slightly.

10. Using your hands, push as much of the second edge of the tire onto the rim as possible. Continue pushing the tube into the tire as needed.

11. Insert a tire tool between the rim and the portion of the tire that is not yet installed.

12. Slowly lever the tool upward and force the tire over the rim edge. Use a second tool to push the tube into place if necessary.

13. Gently roll the tire into place over the rim edge. Work slowly and avoid snapping the tire into place as this tends to pinch the tube and cause air leaks.

14. Inflate the tire to the recommended pressure written on the side of the tire, and replace the wheel on the bike.

Tips & Warnings

• There are two types of valves used on bicycle inner tubes: Schrader valves and Presta valves. Schrader valves are identical to the type used on car tires and can be inflated at most gas stations. Presta valves are smaller and lighter and require a special pump.
• You can't change your tire diameter, but you can consider a change in width. A wider tire can give a more comfortable ride and better traction. A narrower tire offers easier pedaling and better speed.
• Keep a spare set of inner tubes on hand. They are fairly cheap, and punctures are common.

Who Can Help:

• Tired of Being Tired? Fight Fatigue and Try FRS for FREE!

[Baja]

on 9/7/2008 Before trying to pry the tire off the rim, UNSEAT THE TIRE BEAD WITH YOUR THUMBS ALL THE WAY AROUND FROM THE RIM. This makes it 10X easier to pry the tire off and will save many scraped knuckles (against the spokes) when trying to push the levers apart.

[zaiquiri]

on 5/16/2008 I think that a better method of installation starts by nestling the wheel inside the tire all the way around. (Just put the wheel inside, you're not trying to seat the bead onto the rim at this point).

Then work your way around one side of the tire, PULLING the bead up and over onto the rim. If you are doing this the right way the inside surface of the tire should be sliding up and over the outside surface of the rim as you work your way around seating the bead.

Once you have the bead on one side seated all the way around, put the slightly inflated tube inside the tire, making sure it's smoothly seated, with no twists or kinks, then -pull- the bead on the other side of the tire up and over the rim just as you did on the other side, with the additional caution of being careful not to pinch the tube as you go 'round.

If you've never done it this way before, you'll be amazed

[gixxer]

on 7/11/2007 As a qualified bicycle mechanic with years of experience, I have literally changed thousands of bike tyres and tubes. I would recommend to ignore the suggestion in steps 4-6 to use tools to install the second edge of the tyre. Use only your thumbs to do this as using tools will pinch the tube 99% of the time. This will take persistance as it will be difficult and may even require some form of lube for the last little bit but practice makes perfect and it will save your tube.

on 8/30/2006 Many fully inflated tires will not fit between the brake calipers, therefore I have learned to inflate only enough to position the tube in the tire, then re-mount the wheel before inflating it completely.

on 8/8/2006 This really is as easy as it sounds. When they say bike tools, they're probably talking about spanners (those flat wrench things) and such, but really any two flat objects will do. If you're reading this, your tires probably have a quick-release, so you don't even need a spanner. Don't think you need to go out and buy tools for this operation. I got my tire off with a machete and a screwdriver (and of course a tire pump, that is the one necessary bike tool).