How to Change a Bicycle Tubeless Tire

Made for high pressures and to prevent flats, tubeless mountain bike tires function much like normal car tires. The tire casing itself is sealed to the rim of the mountain bike wheel and then pumped to a high air pressure. However, with tubeless systems there is a greater chance of damaging a rim due to the ability to run low pressures without flats, and changing flats is difficult.
There are two basic scenarios when dealing with flat tires on tubeless systems. Either you have run over a sharp object and punctured the tire casing, in which case you need to use a tube to fix the flat. However, if your tubeless system fails due to the tire lip popping off the rim, you can normally just reglue the rim and be on your way.

Things You'll Need

  • Tire iron
  • Tube for your rim
  • Rim glue
  • Pliers
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Instructions

    • 1

      Remove the flat tire from the rim by placing one tire iron under the lip of the tire and pressing the iron towards the center of the wheel. Use the second tire iron to slide underneath of the lip of the tire all the way around the rim, releasing one side of the tire from the rim. Repeat the procedure on the second side of the tire.

    • 2

      Turn the tire inside out and examine the inside of the tire for thorns, chunks of glass, or other debris that might have caused your flat. If you find a puncture, you need to place a tube in the tire as the tire casing will now allow air to escape through the hole. Use the pliers to dig the object out of the tire. Use the tire irons to slide one side of the tire back onto the rim and then slide a tube onto the rim under the tire. Slide the other side of the tire onto the rim and pump the tire up to pressure.

    • 3

      If you do not find a puncture, reglue the lips of the tire to the rim. In most cases this indicates that the tire popped off of the glued rim, allowing air to escape. If you reseat and reglue the tire, you should be able to continue to run tubeless. Spread a thin layer of rim glue along one side of the tire and slide that lip into place against the rim. Repeat for the opposite side and allow to dry for 10 to 15 minutes. Pump the tire up and see if it holds pressure.