Introduction- How to Get Bike Tire Back on Rim?
Getting tires back to a rim is not as complicated as it looks, and even a complete beginner can do it. However, getting the last tight section on can be problematic for even an expert. Some opt for tire levers, which can cause rim, tube, and tire damage.
One way to minimize damage is by using your bare hands first to fit on most of the tire. If the last section is still causing problems, you could then consider using a tire lever. In this article, you will learn about how you can change your bike tire without using any tools.
Installation Tips
Here are some useful tips for placing the tire back on its rim.
- During installation, ensure that the rim strip or tape lays flat inside the rim. You need to make sure that it does not interfere with the tire when putting it on. Furthermore, the less thick your bike’s rim strip or tape is, the better.
- Watch out for the valve. Ensure that it does not get stuck under the tire edges (tire beads). You need to place the beads next to the valve.
- When fixing a tube tire, ensure you inflate the tube to round it out before you stuff it in the tire neatly. With this method, the tube will not be under the tire edges and will make installation easier.
Here is a video which will demonstrate some of the hacks for fitting your bike tire to the rim (courtesy of Global Cycling Network):
Installing A New Tube and Tire
These are the steps to install a new tire on its rim.
- Lay the new or reused tube out on the table.
- Inflate the tube to take its shape. As mentioned in the other section, you don’t have to fill up the tube fully to make it easy during installation.
- Place the tube in the tire.
- Push the valve stem into the rim’s hole.
- Push the tire’s side into the rim and ensure you are putting the tube between the sides of the rim.
- Continue this process until both the tube and a side of the tire are in the rim completely.
- From the opposite valve stem, pull the remaining side of the tire up and over the rim’s lip. Sometimes, you have to apply some force to make this work, but once a few inches are done, the rest will be smoother.
- Place the new nut on the valve stem. This helps to make the tube stay as close to the rim as possible.
- Inflate your tire to the recommended PSI (pounds per square inch) pressure listed on the side
Note: Avoid over-inflating tires as it can cause an increase of stress on the tube when biking. This, in turn, causes blow-outs during rides.
Conclusion
Getting a flat tire is an unavoidable part of cycling, no matter your riding experience or the type of riding that you do. However, it is not impossible to fix a flat bike tire- all you need are basic tools and plenty of practice!