Removing a bike tire to make a repair or replace the tube is something all bike enthusiasts should know how to do. Long-distance or competitive bikers need this skill to make fast tire replacements on the road. A casual biker benefits by saving money on costly bike shop repairs. The cause of bike tube problems varies from a leaking valve stem to puncture to a complete tube blowout. Carry an extra inner tube and a set of tire levers with you to prevent being stuck on the side of the road with a flat tire.
Step 1
Flip the bike over so the wheels are straight in the air. Release the brakes by squeezing the brake arms and removing the brake harness from its cradle.
Step 2
Pull the quick-release lever open or loosen the nuts holding the axel bolt with two adjustable wrenches, one at each end. Use caution when removing the rear wheel to make sure you pull the rear derailleur out of the way of the gear cluster. Remove the wheel from the bike frame to make it easier to remove the tire.
Step 3
Deflate the tire by removing the valve cap and pressing down on the valve stem. Remove the nut holding a Presta valve stem in place if you need to replace the tire tube.
Step 4
Insert a tire lever under the tire bead and carefully pry the tire bead over the rim. Repeat the process about four inches away on the same side of the tire, and continue alternating tire levers until the bead comes over the entire rim.
Step 5
Pull the tire off the wheel and perform an inspection of the tire and tube to verify the cause of damage. Remove any foreign objects lodged in the tube that may cause future problems.
Things You'll Need
- Tire levers
- Adjustable wrenches
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