Tube Replacement Pro-Tips
1. Deflate The Tire
First, you need to remove the wheel from the bike. If the tire isn’t already fully deflated, let the air out of the inner tube by loosening the small barrel at the top of the Presta valve slightly and then pressing it down. Now unscrew and remove the knurled collar at the base of the valve.
If you’re working on a kid's bike or mountain bike with the car-style Schrader valve, then depress the pin in the centre of the valve to let the air out.
2. Unseat The Tire
With the innertube deflated, squeeze the tire inwards to push the bead into the center of the rim. Do this all the way around the tire on both sides so it feels baggy on the wheel.
3. Remove The Tire By Hand
If the tire is a loose fit, you can lift the whole wheel by the tire and give it a shake to get all the slack to one place. Otherwise, you’ll have to collect that slack manually by pushing the tire around the wheel in both directions simultaneously, aiming to make it as baggy as possible when your hands meet again at the bottom of the wheel.
If there’s plenty of slack or you’re just feeling strong, push the edge of the tire off the rim with your thumbs. This isn’t just about flexing your skills and tendon toughness, it also removes any chance of trapping the inner tube between the rim and the tire lever, and puncturing it. It’s worth persevering if you can.
4. Using Tire Levers To Remove The Tire
Don’t be ashamed if you need to use tire levers. Sneak both levers under the bead about 2cm/1inch apart with the spoon side hooking under the bead of the tire.
Press one of the levers down to hoist the tire edge over the rim, then press the second one down to pull a longer section of the tire clear. Hook one of the tire levers around the nearest spoke to keep the tire from creeping back onto the rim.
If the tire is really tight then you might need to use both levers simultaneously to pry the tire over the rim. If you're using two levers to work away at a very tight tire, be careful, as there's often a risk of things going flying. Watch yourself and keep the danger zone away from valuables.
5. Removing The Inner Tube
Now work around the whole tire with the levers until it’s completely off the wheel all the way around. Leave the far side of the tire in place and push the valve back through its hole before gently pulling the inner tube out.
6. Inspect The Tire
With the inner tube removed it’s a good time to check the tire for any damage or splits in the tread. Check for thorns, nails etc. that might have penetrated through to the inside and remove them, otherwise they’ll puncture the fresh inner tube as soon as you put it in. Be careful if you’re running your finger around inside the tire without looking first, as you don’t want to puncture yourself! Check the rim of the wheel for cracks, dents or sharp edges too.
7. Fit The Tube
To reduce the risk of pinching, inflate the inner tube enough for it to take some shape. Remove the threaded collar, keeping it handy for later, and then push the inner tube valve through the rim. Massage the inner tube into the belly of the tire, so it doesn’t push out over the rim edge. Be mindful as you do this, and avoid twisting or pinching the inner tube.
8. Fit The Second Side Of The Tire
Starting opposite the valve use your thumbs to start persuading the tire back onto the rim. If you're working with tight tires, remember how you moved the slack of the tire into one place before removal, and try to emulate that movement as you push the tire back onto the rim. You want to be left with as much slack as possible for the last part of the process. Be super careful not to trap and puncture the inner tube between the bead and the rim.
9. Carefully Inflate The Tire
Once the tire is on, double-check that there are no bits of inner tube poking out. Push the valve back into the tire to check that it's not trapped and then thread the lock ring back onto the valve to secure it into the rim. Keep checking all the way round as you gradually inflate the inner tube, watching for any inner tube hernias or weird bulges and bumps in the tire. Increase pressure until the tire pops into place all around the wheel, using the line on the bottom edge as a guide to check it’s properly positioned all the way around.
10. Final Checks
With the tire up to the right pressure, remove the pump and spin the wheel to double check alignment both side to side and vertically. If there’s anything weird going on, deflate and massage the affected area to re-center the tube and tire before re-inflating.
Once you’re happy that everything is settled, you’re ready to ride. Make sure you check the tire frequently on the first couple of rides, in case something sneaks out of place. Finally, always check both tires for pressure, damage or debris after every ride.