How to Change a Flat Tire/Replace your Tires.

Things you’ll need:
• Tire levers – Recommend Park TL-1/TL-4 Levers
• Air pump- At the House/Car Recommend Floor Pump Park PFP-4/PFP-3
• Air pump- On the Road Recommend CO2 Ultraflate Plus 16g CO2
• Patch kit- Park VP-1 ( Glue ) or Park GP-2 ( Non Glue ) (only for emerg)
• Spare tube – proper valve style for your bicycle
• New Tires if Appropriate

 

1. Remove the Wheel and deflate the tire.
Deflate the tire. (See illustration. 1) If the tire is not completely flat, then remove any excess air that may remain. Remove the wheel from the bike at this time as well by using your bike's quick release feature or loosening any bolts/nuts securing the wheel. (See illustration. 2)

Illustration 1.. , Illustration 2 ..

2. Removing the Tire
Take the tire off of the rim. This is usually the hardest part for many, since bike tires are meant to stay securely on the rim. To aid you in this step, use tire levers. These small, plastic devices hook under the tire to help you get it off. Keep flipping the tire levers over until the tire is disengaged from the rim. (See illustration 3)

Illustration 3 ..

3. Removing the Tube from the Tire
Remove the tube. (See illustration 4) Your bike's inner tube is found underneath the tire. You'll have to either patch the hole of the inner tube or replace it completely to fix the flat tire. I recommend replacing the tube, however if you have a patch kit and do not have a tube, then inflate the tube slightly to locate the hole. If you have access to a bowl of water, a stream or something to submerge the tube into, you can do that. It will help locating the hole if it is too small to visibly see or feel air coming out of. Once the hole is located depending on the type of patch kit you have, you can patch the hole.
For patch kits using no glue, sand the area slightly with the provided sandpaper and apply the self stick patch so that the hole is centered under the patch.(See illustration 5)
For patch kits using glue (a vulcanizing compound) use the provided sandpaper to rough up the area of the hole. Then apply a light coat of glue per the instructions. Use the patch that best fits the type hole you have and apply the patch.

Illustration 4 ..,

Illustration 5 ..

4. Check Tire for Foreign Objects
Once the tube is removed from the tire, to locate the source of your hole, visually inspect the tire, looking for any foreign objects protruding from the tire. You can also run your fingers along the inside lining of the tire to feel for any protruding objects that are not visible from the outside. If any objects are located remove them prior to reinstalling the tube into the tire. (See illustration 6)

Illustration 6 ..

5. Installing Tube into Tire
Inflate the new or patched inner tube slightly and then install the tube back inside the tire. (See illustration 7).

 

Illustration 7..

6. Installing Tire on Rim
Use your hands to manually place the tire back on the rim. (See illustration 8) Once it is in place, you can inflate the inner tube the rest of the way using your floor pump or CO2 cartridge kit (if applicable) to the recommended tire pressure, usually found on the sidewall of the tire ( see illustration 9). Return the wheel to the bike and secure it with your quick release lever or nut/bolts securing the wheel. (See illustration 10)

Illustration 8 .. Illustration 9 ..

 

Illustration 10 ..

** For Tire replacement follow the same steps with the exception of replacing the tubes or patching.