How to Remove Old Bike Tire & Tube | Bicycle Repair, by Howcast on YouTube. 2 min 27 s.
- Video length
- 2 min 27 s
- Time to do it
- 10 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Let all the air out of the tube. On a Presta valve, unscrew the small nut at the top so air can escape. On a Schrader valve, press the pin in the centre.
Start away from the valve. Push the hooked end of a tire lever under the tire bead and clip it to a spoke, or hold it in place.
If the tire is tight, use a second lever a few inches along the rim to get more leverage. Work the levers until one side of the tire pops off the rim.
Hold the lever at about 90 degrees to the rim and slide it along the rim to free the rest of that side of the tire.
Reach in and pull the inner tube out. If a small nut holds the valve to the rim, unscrew it first.
Pull the other side of the tire off the rim by hand. It should come off easily once the first side is free.
Find the hole by inflating the tube slightly and listening or feeling for escaping air, or by dipping it in water and looking for bubbles.
Patch the tube or fit a new one, then refit the tire and tube, seat the bead, and pump to the pressure printed on the tire sidewall.
Tips and common mistakes
Check the inside of the tire for the thorn or glass that caused the flat, or the new tube will puncture too.
A folded dollar bill placed between the tube and a small cut in the tire can get you home until you reach a bike shop.
Line up the tire label with the valve so you can find the hole again more easily next time.
Do not use sharp metal levers on the rim or tube, as they can pinch and tear the rubber.
Questions
What is the difference between a Presta and Schrader valve?
Presta is the thin valve with a small unscrewable nut on top, common on road bikes. Schrader is the wider valve with a pin in the centre, the same as on car tires.
Do I need special tools to remove a bike tire?
No. Tire levers are the main tool, and many multi-tools include them. Your hands can do the rest once one side of the tire is free.
Can I reuse the old tube after a flat?
Yes, if the hole is small and you patch it properly. Replace the tube if it has large cuts, several holes, or a torn valve.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
