There are four parts of a bicycle wheel that people often confuse: the tire, inner tube, rim and wheel itself. These parts are related but not synonymous. The tire is the rubber part of the wheel that touches the ground and is called a “clincher” if it has an inner tube or a “sew-up” or “tubular” if it does not. The inner tube or “tube” inside a clincher tire is the part you replace when you have a flat tire. The rim is the metal part of the wheel that holds the tire. The wheel encompasses the tire, tube and rim as well as spokes and hub.
Remove the Wheel
Step 1
Release the brakes by pulling the metal brake cable casing or “noodle” out of its bracket on a hybrid or mountain bike or by flipping a lever on the brake calipers on a road bike. If you skip this step, the tire won’t have enough space to clear the brake pads.
Step 2
Open the quick-release lever that holds the wheel onto the frame and loosen the bolt on the opposite side.
Step 3
Remove the wheel from the frame. The front wheel comes off easily, but to remove the rear wheel, you will need to turn the bike upside-down and pull the chain free of the gears.
Clincher Tires
Step 1
Unscrew the valve cap and release all the air from the tube.
Step 2
Insert the rounded shovel end of the tire lever under the lip of the tire and use it to pry the tire lip outside the rim. With the shovel still under the lip of the tire, affix the hook on the opposite end of the lever to a spoke.
Step 3
Insert the second tire lever under the lip of the tire and push it away from the first lever to release the tire from the rim all the way around.
Step 4
Pull the tire off of the rim and remove the inner tube.
Tubular Tires
Step 1
Remove the valve cap and depress the valve to remove all the air from the tire.
Step 2
Locate the point opposite the valve stem—180 degrees around the wheel. Because the valve stem goes all the way through the rim, you have the least leverage there to unstick the tire from the rim. Thus the opposite side of the wheel is the easiest place to start.
Step 3
Work the tire back and forth in the rim with a firm grip until you can break the seal of the glue that holds the tire in place. The triathlon bike experts at "All 3 Sports"recommend that you use a tire lever if you are having trouble breaking the seal with your bare hands.
Step 4
Pull the rest of the tire free of the glue around the remainder of the wheel. You will need to use some force, so don’t be bashful.
Step 5
Pull the valve stem out of its hole and remove the tire from the rim.
Tips and Warnings
- Save used inner tubes. They can be reused if they don’t have a leak and patched if they’ve been punctured.
Things You'll Need
- Two tire levers (optional)
References
- Bicycle Universe: How to Fix a Flat Tire on a Bicycle
- "Bicycle Maintenance Manual"; Eugene A. Sloane; 1977
- YouTube: All 3 Sports TV: Change a Flat Tubular Tire
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