By eHow Sports & Fitness Editor
Rate: (58 Ratings)
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.
eHow Sports & Fitness Editor
Comments
zaiquiri said
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 said
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.
Anonymous said
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.
Anonymous said
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).
Anonymous said
on 6/30/2006 If you're changing a flat or installing new tires, I would strongly recommend Tuffies. They are plastic strips that go between the tube and tire, and prevent almost all puncture flats. Purists poo poo them, but would you rather have a flat on a ride or add a few ounces to the weight of your tire?
Also, don't use screwdrivers to take a tire off or put one on. Screwdrivers can easily pinch the tube. Get a set of plastic spanners. The set is not expensive.