Tire Changing 101: Fixing a Flat

One of the greatest perks of your Ciclismo Classico cycling vacation is you never have to touch your bike pump.

Or change a tire.

For our team of expert trip leaders, changing tires is the easy part of the job. Sometimes we compete against each other in a friendly competition to see who can change a tire the quickest. This gets more entertaining the more bottles of grappa you involve.

However, on a recent trip to Andalucía this fall, I saw some guests changing tires in the most unique ways (yes, someone actually insisted on changing their own tire. And after 20 minutes, we decided to step in to move the group along).

Now that foul weather is coming, the chances of getting a flat at home increase.

We figured we’d give you the finer points on tire-changing 101.

It is a very handy skill to have when you’re on one of your home rides (and there is no guide around!).

Step 1: Take the wheel off the bike (the right way).

This is easy to do if you have a flat on your front wheel – there are no gears to worry about. But if the puncture is on your back wheel, you have that nasty gear cluster to consider.

Actually, its no worry at all if you know what to do. Before taking the wheel off, shift the chain into the lowest possible gear (smallest sprocket). This takes tension off the derailer and makes it easier to get the wheel back on again once you’ve changed the tube.

Step 2: Take off the tire, but just one side.

Bigger tires (32cc or bigger) are easier to get on some rims. Smaller sizes fit snuggly and are buggers to remove from the wheel.

Release all of the air from the tube (if there is any left) via the valve. And massage the tire back and forth, releasing it from the rim. If you need to use tire irons, get one of them underneath one side of the tire (you don’t want to take off the whole tire, just one side to remove the tube).

Once the tire iron is under one side of the tire, lock the hook to one of the spokes. Now get the other tire iron under the tire (using the first one as a guide) and slide it around the wheel opening one side of the tire, exposing the tube.

Now that you have the tire open, reach into the valve side of the wheel and pull out the tube by the valve.

Step 3: Find the hole and the reason behind the flat.

If you’re lucky, the puncture will be obvious. You’ll see a small piece of wire or a tiny shard of glass in your tire.

Unlucky? Well, then there is a deeper problem. Like a very small hole somewhere. Or maybe the tire or tube is very worn, leaking air slowly (if any of the threads are showing on the tire, it’s time to change it).

Take the “bad” tube and fill it with air from your bike pump or CO2 canister. Ideally, you’ll hear the air escaping from the hole. If not, run your hand around the tube until you hear or feel the air hitting your hand.

Make a mark at this spot. And notice how far you are from the valve.

Keep the wheel leaning against an object (a rock, for example) with the valve hole at the top. By remembering the orientation of the tube in the tire, you can locate where there may be a sharp object in the tire.

Locate the quadrant on the tire where the hole seems to have been on the tube. Inspect this area very carefully.

Hopefully, you’ll find an object here that needs to be removed.

Step 4: Analyze the puncture.

Is the puncture on the outside of the tube? That means you rolled over something. Is it on the inside? Could be a problem with the rim tape.

Two, small holes side-by-side (known as a “snakebite”) usually means you had a pinch flat. The tire pressure was too low when you hit some blunt object (like a twig) and the tire rolled onto itself creating a puncture.

Whatever the case may be, tubes go flat for a reason. Don’t put the new tube in until you’re positive you have found the culprit.

Step 5: Check the inside of the tire for stones and rocks.

Now that you have the tire partially off, pass your fingers around on the inside of the tire. Is there dirt or rocks inside? Get them out. The inside of the tire should be clean without any debris.

Step 6: Slightly inflate the new tube and insert it into the tire (not onto the rim).

This is one step people typically forget.

Don’t try to put a new, deflated tube into the tire. It will simply pinch on itself as you inflate it and burst.

Do inflate the new tube a little bit, enough to give it some shape. Insert the new tube into the tire (Push it into the channel of the tire first before attempting to get it on the rim).

Step 7: Release air from the tube and put the tire fully on the rim.

Once you have the partially inflated tube seated in the tire, release the air in the tube. This makes it easier to get the side of the tire back onto the rim.

Start at the valve hole again and slowly work your hands up both sides of the wheel simultaneously, snapping the tire into place.

The last 10 centimeters of the tire will be under tension. This part will need a lot more elbow grease to snap onto the rim.

If you can massage the tire back and forth with your hands to get the last part on, you’re doing great. Make sure all of the air is out of the tube to be successful at this.

Try not to use the tire irons to get the tire on if possible. The risk of folding over the tube and getting another pinch flat increases with tire irons.

Step 8: Make sure the tire seam is even all around the rim.

Another step that is often forgotten in the process is making sure the tire is uniform all the way around the rim.

Check that the seam on the outside of the tire is at a uniform distance around the rim. This will decrease the possibility the tire pops off the rim once you start inflating it.

Step 9: Fully inflate the tube and put the wheel back on the bike.

Inflate the inner tube all the way to the recommended pressure on the outside of the tire.

When putting the front wheel on, make sure the quick release is on the left side of the bike.

If you are reinstalling the rear wheel, make sure to get the skewer nut in the middle of the chain. Then put the chain on the first (little) cog.

Don’t forget to tighten down the skewer before you start riding.

And there you have it! New air in your tires.

But if you don’t want to do this yourself, sign up here for one of our new 2020 departures and let our guides do it for you!