Chicago Bike Routes
How to Install A New Road Bike Tire and Tube
Objective: At some point, you may want to replace a worn out road bike tire. This post is a written and visual step-by-step guide for one way to install a new road bike tire onto a wheel rim using tire levers.
Why Replace a Tire: Over time, a road bike tire will become worn down. Eventually debris will start to create holes in the tire that will make the tube inside prone to puncturing, causing frequent flat tires. You may also wish to install different tires for different purposes (thicker vs thinner tires).
What Tire Size to Buy: When buying a new tire, you should check the size of the old tire to know the size that you need. Tire dimensions are usually printed somewhere on the tire itself. An example for a road bike tire is 700x25c, which indicates that the tire has a diameter of 700 millimeters and width of 25 millimeters.
What Inner Tube Size to Buy: If buying a tube, you should request one that is specified to fit your new tire. Tubes come in packaging that states the tire dimensions compatible with that tube. It is also important to choose tubes with the proper valve for your wheel rim (such as presta or schrader), otherwise the hole in the wheel rim meant for the valve may not fit properly. Valve length should also be specified (a valve that is too short may not fit your pump when inflating).
Caution: If you are unsure or have doubts about choosing or installing tires and tubes, consult a local bike mechanic for help.
- Road bike wheel (has old tire and tube)
- New tire
- Tire levers
- Air pump
Road bike wheel and materials for installation
Section 1: Removing the Old Tire and Tube from the Wheel Rim
1-2. Insert a lever between the rim sidewall and tire. Make sure the lever hooks under the tire bead.
3. Push the lever down. This should cause the hooked portion of the tire to come over the rim sidewall.
4. Hook the lever onto one of the spokes to keep it in place. Otherwise, hold the lever down to keep it in place.
5-6. Use a second tire lever to hook under the tire bead near where the first lever is positioned. Push the second lever along the length of rim to prop out more of the tire from the rim.
Steps 1-6
Section 2: Putting the New Tire and Tube in line with the Rim
7. Remove the new tire from the packaging. The tire might be flattened (see picture).
8. If you put the new, flattened tire on the rim, you will notice that the tire appears to be very wide compared to the rim.
9. Grab a new bike tube and inflate it a bit (2 or 3 pumps), which gives it enough shape to make installation easier. While the rim is loosely in the tire, insert the valve stem of the tube into the hole in the rim made to accomodate it.
10. Insert the rest of the tube in between the rim and tire, making sure to have the tube within the rim sidewalls. If the tube is not staying in place, it make help to inflate it a little more and try to insert it again.
11-12. At this point, the tube is sitting in between the rim and tire, but the tire beads are still outside of the rim sidewalls. Focus on one side of the tire and push the bead within the rim sidewall with your fingers. Do this along the length of the rim. Once you almost go around the entire tire, you may find it difficult to push the last little but over the rim sidewall (go to next section for futher instructions).
Steps 7-12
Section 3: Putting one side of the New Tire within the Rim Sidewall
13. At this point, you have inserted most of one side of the tire within the rim sidewall but the last little bit is difficult to get over the wall.
14-16. Grab a tire level and insert it between the rim sidewall and tire, making sure to hook the rim sidewall but not the tube within (hooking the tube may puncture it). Push the lever up, which should push the last bit of tire of the rim sidewall.
17. One side of the tire should now be completely within the rim sidewall.
18. During the previous few steps, the bike tube may have partially popped put from in between the rim and tire. Gently push the tube back in position between the rim and tire so that it sits between the rim sidewalls. Make sure that the bike tube does not become pinched anywhere or else it might puncture when inflating.
19. With the tube in position and one side of the tire within the rim sidewall, inflate the tube a bit, which will curve the tire a little and make it easier to insert the other side of the tire within the rim sidewall.
Steps 13-19
Section 4: Putting the other side of the New Tire within the Rim Sidewall
20-22. Grab a tire lever and insert it between the tire and rim sidewall, making sure to hook the rim sidewall but not the inner tube within. Turn the lever up to push the tire bead within the rim sidewall. Hold this position.
23-24. While holding the first lever in position, insert a second lever between the tire and rim sidewall somewhere near the first lever, making sure to hook the rim sidewall but not the tube within. Turn the second lever up to push more of the tire within the rim sidewall.
25. Remove the second lever from the rim, and the tire bead should stay in place within the rim sidewall. Continue using the second lever along the length of the rim to insert more of the tire bead within the wall (repeat motions in steps 23-24).
26. After inserting most of the tire bead within the rim sidewall, you may find it difficult to insert the last little bit. For this part, it may be help to use both of your palms to try to roll the bead over the rim sidewall or carefully use a tire lever to push the tire in (be carefull so that the inner tube is not pinched).
27. The tire is now fully installed on the bike wheel and you can install the wheel on your bike and inflate it.
Steps 20-27
