Flat Tire and Proper Air Pressure

Liberty Bicycles New York

 

Useful tools and supplies typically needed:

  • Air pump
  • Tire levers
  • Patches and/or replacement inner tube
  • Wrench for non quick release axles

A

pumpBegin by opening the brake quick release to make it easier to remove and later install the wheel back on the bicycle. Remove wheel by opening quick release lever or unbolting wheel using a wrench. For a rear wheel of a multi-speed bicycle, shift gears all the way to the smallest cog (high gear) before removing the wheel. Once the wheel is off the bicycle, push the tire bead into the center of the rim, do this all the way around the wheel. This step will make it easier to use the tire levers to remove the tire off the rim.

B

Use a tire lever to pry the tire off the rim. Insert tire lever straight down in between the tire and the rim sidewall, push it in deep enough to get under the tire bead. pumpFlip the tire lever down, this will lift the tire bead over the rim sidewall. You may have to use a second lever to pry the tire bead enough over the rim sidewall to be able to slide a tire lever around the rim. Sliding the tire lever around the rim will quickly lift the entire bead off of the rim sidewall.

C

Now grab the inner tube from inside the tire and pull it out, you should start from a point opposite the tire valve. Completely remove the tube from the tire. Carefully inspect the tire for any flat causing debris that might be embedded in the tire. While looking at the outer tire run your fingers slowly and carefully around the inside of the tire . If there is an object in the tire (small peice of glass, staple, tack, etc) you will probably feel it before you see it. Be careful. Pull or pry out the object or you my have to push it throught the tire to remove it. Once the object is removed you should also inspect the rim strip. The rim strip should completely cover the spoke nipples and/or the rim holes.

D

If you are going to patch the inner tube follow the instructions on your patch kit. To replace an inner tube, first inflate the new tube until slightly rounded. pump Push the air valve through the valve hole on the rim and begin pushing the tube into the tire. Working away from the air valve, push the tube into the rim and then begin to push the tire bead over the rim sidewall. The last section left off the rim should be opposite the air valve. To make it easier to push that last bit over the rim sidewall, push the tire bead into the center of the rim. Using both thumbs, push the tire bead over the rim sidewall. A tire lever can also be used to lift the tire over the rim sidewall if it cannot be done with your hands. Once the tire is seated onto the rim you can now inflate to the correct air pressure.

E

Having the correct air pressure in your tires is important. pump The following steps should make it easy to inflate the tire to the correct air pressure:

  • Rotate wheel so that the air valve is at the top pointing towards the ground
  • While pushing pump head onto valve press down on the top of the tire
  • Lock the pump head in place
  • Inflate a small amount, enough to round out the tire
  • Inspect the tire bead, make sure it is seated evenly on the rim sidewall
  • On the tire sidewall find the air psi, inflate using floor pump until you reach that particular psi
  • If a pressure guage is not available, inflate until the tire is firm when press on it with your thumb
  • When possible, use a pressure guage to check the air pressure of your tire