With the right tools and know-how, you can easily change your mountain bike tire when the necessity arrives. With all the pounding that mountain bike tires take, it is smart to be prepared and practice changing the tire a couple of times before finding yourself with a flat tire on a mountain trail, miles from help.
Step 1
Stabilize your bike. The simplest and quickest way to do this is to invert your bike and set it on the handlebars and bike seat.
Step 2
Loosen the brake and open the quick release lever in order to remove your bike tire from the frame. To loosen the brake, find the slotted cable stop, often located where the top of the front tire meets the bike frame, and push both the arms in together until there is enough slack to unhook the cable from the slotted cable stop.
Step 3
Insert the tire lever between the tire and the rim and pull it around to break the seal so the tube may be removed. More than one lever may need to be used simultaneously.
Step 4
Check the inside of the tire for thorns or sharp objects that may have punctured the tube by carefully running your finger along the inside of the tire.
Step 5
Remove the black cap of the new tube and insert the stem into the hole in the wheels rim. Proceed to put the rest of the tube into the tire. Push the tire back into the rim using your thumbs and making sure that the tube does not get pinched between the rim and the tire. If it is pinched, it will pop when inflated.
Step 6
Put a CO2 cartridge into the CO2 inflator. Unscrew the valve at the end of the tube and attach the CO2 inflator. Release the CO2 into the tube. The tire will quickly inflate. Remove the CO2 inflator, tighten the valve and replace the black cap onto the stem. CO2 inflators are especially beneficial if you are out on the road or in the mountains because they are lightweight and convenient to transport. A CO2 inflator also requires little effort to use and tire inflation is fast. If the tire needs to be pumped up at home, a traditional tire pump may be used instead of a CO2 inflator.
Step 7
Replace the tire onto the bike by tightening the brake and closing the quick release lever. Spin the wheel to be sure that the rim is not rubbing against the brake and that the wheel spins easily.
Tips and Warnings
- Some people use CO2 cartridges intended for airsoft guns, but these often will not have the necessary force to completely fill the tire. Be sure to purchase CO2 cartridges intended for filling mountain bike tires. Be sure to carry multiple CO2 cartridges on your ride.
- When mountain biking, always carry a tube repair kit in case you get more than one flat tire. If not you may find yourself stuck walking your bike miles and miles. When pulling off the side of the trail or road, it is imperative that you find a safe spot where you can be seen and avoided by other bikers and motorists.
Things You'll Need
- Tire levers
- New tire tube
- CO2 inflator
- CO2 cartridge
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