How To Change A Mountain Bike Tire

Regular use of your mountain bike will without a doubt lead to some wear and tear. or punctures. An essential skill to learn is how to repair or change your bike tire.

It can save you money without the need to go to specialist tire shops for help. Rear tires need a little more skill and know how to replace, compared to front tires. If your tire is damaged internally you will need to replace the tube completely.

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Turn your mountain bike upside down and rest it on the seat and handlebars, on the ground. With the wheels in the air pedal your bike to check if they move freely If they do not undo the rear wheel brake.

With the brakes undone pull out the cable from the brakes to open up the pads and make room for the wheel to slide off. The tire is mounted to the axle by two nuts, using the Allen wrench loosen the nuts to remove the wheel.

Inset one tire lever between the rim and the wall of the tire, to disengage the tire from the rim. Slowly and gently lift the lever. Slowly and gently, lift the tire over the rim with the lever. Allow the tire to rest in front of the rim, then hook it to a spoke to keep it steady. Insert the other lever about two inches from the first. Use the lever to pull the tire over the rim again. Once the bead is loose enough to, slide off then pull the tube out.

To protect your tire from future damage, check that there is nothing else that can cause damage or a puncture. For example, nails, debris or thorns can hide inside or become trapped causing more undetected damage. Top tips for this step are:

Clean your tire and the tube carefully, once you have done this you should easily be able to tell where the damage is.

Now it is time to replace the tire start by pumping up the new tire, just enough to give a circular shape. Replace it back to the rim starting at the valve stem. Put the valve through the hole in the rim, then put the tube into the rim. You can use your hands, however, if this is difficult you should use the levers. Be mindful not to damage the tube.

Inspect the tube to ensure that it is fitted well, feel around the rim to make sure that the wheel is not bent. Next inflate the tire to the recommended pressure. Screw the nuts securely back on. Reconnect the brake cables and the chains. Check that the brake pads are properly installed and in the center. Finally, pedal the bike both clockwise and anti-clockwise to ensure it is running smoothly.

A front tire is easier to change than the back tire, this is because it is not connected to the brakes or chains. Remove the tires from the bike's frame. Again, you can use your hands or if your bike has a lever use this.

If your bike has nuts, then loosen these using the Allen wrench and hold the wheel axle to the frame. Once the wheel is removed from the frame follow steps three the five above. Once you have completed these steps, secure the new tire back to the frame. If your bike has nuts secure these back to the frame, then inflate the tire to the correct pressure.