If you ride a road bicycle regularly, it is likely that you will experience the misfortune of puncturing a tire at some point. Before you will be able to safely use the bicycle again, you will have to remove the tire and fix the flat, which often requires the use of a special patch kit designed for such a purpose. The repair process is not overly complicated, but removing the tire will require some effort and the use of some basic hand tools.
Step 1
Remove the bolts securing the wheel's axle to the bicycle's frame. Disconnect the bicycle chain or brake system, depending on which tire needs replacing. Remove the wheel from the bicycle's frame. Locate the tube valve and remove the attached cap. Push down on the top of the valve to release any air still stored in the tube.
Step 2
Use the tire levers to gradually work the tire free of the wheel rim. Insert one lever at a time and clip each lever to one of the bicycle's wheel spokes before moving on to a new lever. Extract the tube valve from the wheel rim, then remove the tire from the wheel.
Step 3
Extract the tube from the tire. Fit the head of the bicycle pump onto the end of the tube. Push down on the end of the bicycle pump until the tube is fully inflated. Locate the source of the leak by inspecting the tube and listening for the sound of escaping air. Deflate the tube.
Step 4
Dry the area around the puncture, then use the sandpaper to clear away the upper layer of the surrounding rubber. Apply the glue from the patch kit onto the sanded area. Wait for the glue to dry completely before proceeding.
Step 5
Remove the backing from the patch material. Place the patch onto the glued area; avoid touching the part of the patch designed to come into contact with the glue. Push down on the patch until it is securely in place.
Step 6
Inspect the tire and remove the source of the puncture, if present. If the hole is large, cover it with the thin cloth or piece of rubber. Partially inflate the tube, then insert it into the tire.
Step 7
Fit the tire back onto the rim of the wheel, then reinsert the wheel back into the frame. Reconnect the chain or brake system, as appropriate, then bolt the wheel axle back into place. Inflate the tire tube fully to clear any bends, then deflate the tube and inflate it a second time.
Things You'll Need
- Tire lever
- Patch kit
- Sandpaper
- Bicycle pump
- Towel
- Thin cloth or flat strip of rubber
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