Most bicycle wheels are comprised of three components: the rim, the inner tube and the tire. The tire is the outer piece of treaded rubber that makes contact with the road or trail. Bicycle tire aficionado Sheldon Brown says that tires should be changed when the tread is worn thin enough that flats become a regular occurrence or when the radials become damaged and there is a "lumpy, irregular appearance" somewhere on the tire.
Step 1
Squeeze the brake of the tire you want to replace. Unhook the brake line from the pads so they become disengaged. Turn the bike over so it is balanced upside-down on the handlebars and seat.
Step 2
Hold the quick release lever on both sides of the wheel and turn the lever counter-clockwise. If your bike does not have a quick release lever, use a wrench or socket to loosen the dropout bolt. If you are removing the rear wheel, adjust your shifter to the smallest sprocket to loosen the chain. Remove the wheel from the bike frame.
Step 3
Deflate the inner tube by pressing down on the center of the valve stem with your finger. Insert a tire lever between the tire and the rim of the wheel. Pry the lever toward the wheel center until the tire pops up over the rim. Insert a second tire lever approximately two inches to the left of the first and pry it up to free the next section of the tire. Repeat the process until the tire is freed from the groove of the rim.
Step 4
Pull the deflated inner tube out of the tire. Discard of the old tire properly. Inflate the inner tube with a bicycle pump just enough that it holds a circular shape.
Step 5
Insert the inner tube into the new tire. Consider the application you will be using your bike for before installing it on the rim. If you have asymmetrical tread and will be using your bike mainly for road use, the orientation of the tire tread is generally fine in either direction. If you will be using the bike for off-road use, consider turning the tread on the front tire in a way that will assist braking and the back tire in a way that will assist traction.
Step 6
Line up the valve stem with the valve hole in the rim and insert it. Push one bead of the tire into the rim's groove on that side. Lay the wheel on your working surface and place your thumbs together at any point on tire bead that is outside of the rim. Push down on the bead to insert it into the rim's groove. Repeat this process until both tire beads are in the rim.
Step 7
Inflate the inner tube to the recommended pressure setting. Check to make sure there are no unusual bulges in the tire. Apply a small amount of lubricant to the skewer rod that goes through the wheel's center before placing the wheel back in the forks.
Step 8
Replace the bicycle chain if you removed the back wheel. Replace the quick release lever or drop out bolt and tighten to hold the wheel in place. Turn the bike over and reconnect the brake cable to the brake pads.
Things You'll Need
- Wrench or socket
- Tire levers
- Air pump
- Lubricant
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