Changing a Tire

Here we go.  This is a visual primer.  Follow these steps and take your time, and you will be able to replace the tube in a bicycle tire.  I strongly suggest you buy about a half a dozen tubes, and practice this multiple times.  (Get that many tubes because you need to carry a couple of spares, and you are going to puncture several as you learn.)  With just a bit of practice, you will be good enough to get yourself out of a lfat tire situation in a few minutes.

These are tire levers.  Do NOT use a screw driver.  And yes, you do need three of them.

Begin at the valve and press the bead of the tire away from the rim, toward the inside.  Get both sides of the tire.  Work from the valve, in both directions, all the way around the tire.  This will give you more room to lever the tire off the rim.

Now start by inserting the tire levers between the tire and the rim.  The scoop shaped part of the lever goes inward, just as if you were dishing ice cream.

Notice how we've hooked two levers around spokes.  This holds the tire out from the rim while we instert the next lever.  In this fashion, work "hand over hand" gradually advancing two levers around the rim, and working away from the valve.

Once you have one side of the tire completely off the rim, go back to the valve.  Lift the tire out of the way, and ease the valve up out of the wheel.  Then ease the tube out of the tire, working in both directions, away from the valve.

Once you have the tube out, inflate it until is stretched out like a big sausage.  Now inspect it carefully.  Find the hole.  That tells you where to look on the tire.  Check the tire to be certain that the offending thorn, piece of glass, or sharp metal bit is out.  You really don't want to have to do this again, do you?

Now, inflate the new tube until it has just enough air in it to give it some shape.

Insert the valve into the wheel.  

Begin placing the tube up inside the tire, again working in both directions, away from the valve.

Now use your thumbs and fingers to begin rolling the tire bead back inside the wheel.  Be careful not to pinch the tube between the tire and the rim.

As you approach the point opposite the valve, it's going to get a bit more tricky.  Keep tucking the tube up inside the tire.

Getting close.  Time to reach for the tire levers.

Use the lever, in the reverse direction (scoop facing the wheel), to slip the lever under the edge of the tire.  You can then lever the lift the tire over the edge of the rim.  Keep checking to be sure you are not pinching the tube.

Now, inflate the tire, but only give it a bit of air.  About 20 to 30 pounds.  Check to make sure the bead is seating all the way around on both sides, and that there is no inner tube pinched.  If you pass that, you are ready to continue inflating.  take it up to ride pressure, install the wheel in the bike, pick up your trash, and continue to ride.