How to Change a Bicycle Tire With Household Tools

There is nothing worse than having your only means of transportation unavailable because of something like a flat tire. The task may seem overwhelming at first if you have never changed a bicycle tire before, but its possible even without specialized tools. Read on to learn how to change a bicycle tire with household tools.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Two or more flathead screwdrivers
• New tire tube, of the appropriate size for your bicycle
• Air pump
• Monkey wrench or socket wrench for loosening wheel bolts

1. Remove the wheel from the bicycle. To do this, you will need to loosen the bolts on either side of the wheel. Don't remove the nuts completely, just loosen them enough to allow you to slip the wheel free of the bike chassis. If you are dealing with the back wheel, be sure to dislodge the chain, first, by pushing the wheel forward, before pulling the wheel out.

2. Deflate the tire tube completely, if it isn't already completely flat. A tube with air in it is difficult to work with. Do this by pressing down on the small piece of protruding metal inside the valve stem. You may need to get a small stone or use the tip of a screwdriver in order to reach in well enough to press it down. Hold it down until all the air is out of the tube.

3. Remove the tire itself by first wedging one flathead screwdriver in between the rim and the tire edge. Pull the tire edge out over the rim, and keep that screwdriver in place. Do not remove it.

4. Wedge another flathead screwdriver in under the tire edge close to the first screwdriver. Move it some inches away, and use it to pull the tire edge out over the rim as you go. Take out the first screwdriver, and wedge it in under the tire edge a bit further down from the second screwdriver. Again, pull the tire edge out and move the screwdriver down some inches. Repeat this process, alternating the use of the screwdrivers until the tire edge is completely free of the wheel rim.

5. Remove the tire. It will be easy to remove once the edge is over the rim all the way around. Remove the old tube, and put the new one in its place. Be sure that the inflation valve goes through its corresponding hole on the rim before you put the tire back on.

6. Replace the tire by putting the tire edge into the rim. Work your way around with your fingers and, as needed, with the screwdriver, in order to get both sides of the tire back into the rim. You will notice it is much easier to put it back in than it was to get it out.

7. Inflate the tube either before or after you put the wheel back onto the bicycle. Check the recommended PSI (pounds per square inch) on the side of the tire so as not to over-inflate your tire.

Tips & Warnings

• Be careful when you change the tire that you do not pierce the new tire tube with the tip of the screwdrivers.
• Be sure to tighten well the bolts that hold the wheel to the chassis, after checking that the chain has the appropriate tension to hold it on the wheel.

Resources

• Clear Description of How to Change a Flat Tire
• Beginner Athlete Website for Bike Tips

[yarnm]

on 9/15/2007 To better prevent pinching and puncturing the tube when removing the tire from the rim:

Use the handle end of a 6" to 10" crescent wrench, or a similarly blunt tool, to replace the second screw driver (you will still need screw drivers to get the tire started. Use the largest blade screwdrivers you have). Then leaving the first screw driver in place, hold the wrench (or other tool) as flat (parallel to the spokes) as possible, and gently but firmly slide it along the rim to do the rest of the job. Watch that the tube dose not get pinched between the tool and the rim.

When re-setting the tire on the rim, push it in place as far as you can with your hands, working in opposite directions. Then using the wrench handle again, pry the last bit of exposed tire edge back into place.