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Step 1
Remove the bicycle wheel from the frame.
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Step 2
Release the air if the tire is not flat.
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Step 3
Insert the thin end of a tire lever between the tire and the rim.
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Step 4
Pull the lever down, and clip the hook end to the nearest spoke.
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Step 5
Move over two spokes, and repeat with a second tire lever.
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Step 6
Move over two spokes more, and repeat with a third lever.
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Step 7
Take the first lever out, move over two spokes from the third lever, and repeat.
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Step 8
Work around one side of the wheel in this way until one side of the tire is free.
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Step 9
When one side of the tire is completely off the rim, pull the other side off with your hands.
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Step 1
Pull out the old tube with your hand and discard, or save it to patch later.
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Step 2
Run a hand lightly over the inside of the tire to find the cause of the flat and remove it.
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Step 3
With a bicycle pump, put one or two strokes of air into the new tube.
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Step 4
Put the new tube in the tire.
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Step 1
Find the hole in the rim for the inflation valve; this is the piece of metal attached to the rubber tube into which air is pumped.
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Step 2
Pull the valve through the hole in the rim, and pull the tire over the wheel.
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Step 3
Working around the wheel with your fingers, push one side of the tire onto the rim. The tire's edge will seat itself along the inside edge of the wheel's rim.
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Step 4
Once one side of the tire is onto the rim, check that the tube is not pinched between the edge of the tire and the rim. If it is, gently pull the tube out from the other side.
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Step 5
Turn the wheel around once one side is complete.
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Step 6
Push the second side of the tire onto the rim with your thumbs. When the tire is nearly all on the rim, it will become taut and will require a last hard push with your thumbs.
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Step 7
Reinflate the tire to its recommended pressure as printed on the side of the tire.
Comments
archrenov8 said
on 5/30/2009 Jeff left out an important step. After removing the flat tube, you must carefully run your fingers around the inside of the tire, to find what caused the flat in the first place. It is often a sliver of glass, a piece of metal, or a stiff piece of wire, so be careful not to cut yourself. Once you find it, you must remove it from the tire, or it will likely just cause another flat.
huttarl said
on 8/8/2008 Before remounting the tire, you should check the rim strip (a.k.a. rim tape) that covers the spoke nipples. If it's broken, it will need to be replaced, or else the nipples or recesses can puncture your new inner tube.
I changed an inner tube last week, found that the rim strip was falling apart, and had a hard time finding out what the thing was called so I could get another one! Tried to buy one at a bike store and later found out it was a tire liner. Most how-to articles (like this one) don't mention the rim strip.
See http://www.ehow.com/how_2122394_install-bicycle-rim-tape.html for more details.
lsblankenship said
on 7/14/2008 Just what I needed. Many Thanks!
JohnMCollett said
on 7/6/2008 After step 6 before you inflate the tube make sure the stem is perpendicular to the rim. If not just move the tire and tube together until stem is lined up perfectly with the rim hole. If you ride on a underinflated tire this can also cause the tube to rotate inside the tire causing the stem to bend to one side. This can cause damage to the stem if it allowed to continue this way.
JohnMCollett said
on 7/6/2008 Install a tire liner such as Mr. Toughy's before step 4 of changing the tube. This will save you from fixing flats caused by rams horn thorns. this is especially needed for mountain bikes since much of your riding is in dirt.