How to Replace a Rear Bicycle Tire

One guaranteed way to interrupt a wonderful bike ride is to damage a tire - especially if it's the rear tire. However, don't be intimidated by the chain and all of those gears. Replacing a rear bicycle tire is easier than you think.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• New rear tire
• Set of tire levers
• New inner tube (optional)
• Bike stand (optional)

Removing the Rear Tire

1. Inspect the rear tire before removing it from the bike frame. Slowly turn the wheel forward while looking for signs of wear, cuts or punctures. This may be an indication that you'll need to replace the rear inner tube as well as the tire.

2. Turn the bike over, so that it rests on the top of the handle bars and the top of the seat. If you're lucky enough to own a bike stand, fasten the frame clamp on the bike stand onto the downtube of the bike.

3. If your bike uses a derailleur, shift the gears onto one of the middle gears to make it easier to remove the chain.

4. Loosen the quick release skewer on the back hub. If your bike uses standard nuts to lock the wheel onto the frame, loosen the nut by turning it counter-clockwise using an endwrench or adjustable wrench. Pull the rear derailleur backwards and remove the wheel from the frame by sliding it forward.

5. Let the air out of the tire by removing the valve stem cover and pressing down on the center stem. If the valve stem uses a nut to secure the valve stem to the wheel, remove the nut.

6. Insert a tire lever underneath the bead of the tire and pry it off of the rim by pressing down on the end of the tire lever. Try to avoid starting in the area adjacent to the valve stem. Using a second tire lever, continue prying the tire off of the rim until you have worked completely around the rim. Remove the inner tube. Repeat the process on the other tire bead to completely remove the tire from the wheel.

Installing the New Rear Tire

7. Inspect the inside of the new tire to make sure that there are no sharp objects that could potentially puncture the inner tube.

8. Roll the bead of the new tire onto the wheel's rim. Continue working around the tire until the bead is between the inside rails of the wheel. If the bead is tight, you may need to pry the tire bead onto the wheel using tire levers.

9. Install the inner tube onto the wheel rim. Inspect the inner tube to make sure there are no twists or kinks in the tube.

10. Pry the other tire bead onto the wheel rim using your fingers. Slowly work around the wheel to ensure that the bead is seated properly. You may need to use tire levers on the last part of the rim. When seating the tire bead onto the part of the wheel that is adjacent to the valve stem, make sure that the tire bead is completely seated onto the rim and does not pinch the inner tube.

11. Rock the tire back and forth to ensure that the tire is completely seated on the rim. Work your way completely around the wheel.

12. Inflate the inner tube approximately 50% using a hand pump. Rock the tire back and forth, working completely around the wheel, to ensure that it is seated on the wheel correctly. Tighten the nut on the outside of the valve stem. Continue inflating the inner tube using a hand or floor pump.

13. Slip the chain over the middle gear in the gear cluster as you slide the axle onto the frame. Tighten the skewers or nuts on the axle.

Tips & Warnings

• Using a bike stand will make changing a tire easier. Take your time rolling the new tire onto the wheel. Inflate the inner tube 50% and inspect the tire position before fully inflating.
• Avoid using metal tire levers that can pinch or damage the inner tube. Do not fully inflate the rear inner tube before ensuring that it is completely seated.