How to Repair Road Bike Wheels

A damaged bike tire should be repaired before riding again. Even if there is some air, you run the risk of damaging the wheel's rims. Most of the time minor holes in a bike tire can be repaired with a patch kit. Keeping your bike in good condition will provide a more reliable form of transportation.

Things You'll Need

  • patch kit
  • wrench
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Instructions

  1. Removing the Damaged Tire

    • 1

      Turn the bike upside down and release any air left in the tire tube by pushing on the valve.

    • 2

      Remove the wheel. Some bikes have quick release, others will need a 15mm box wrench or crescent wrench. You may need to release the brakes to get the wheel to move through the brake pads by squeezing the brakes together and unhooking the brake cable.

    • 3

      Remove the tire over the rim with a plastic tire lever by sliding the lever around the rim of the tire. Pull the tire and tube off the rim.

    • 4

      Inflate the tire as full as you can, then listen for the air leaking to find the spot that needs repaired. If you have a hard time finding the hole, try putting the tire in a sink of water to see where the bubbles come out.

    • 5

      Mark the location of the hole by drawing a circle and an x on the exact point.

    • 6

      Decide whether to patch or replace the tire. If the hole is large or the valve is coming detached from the tube, the tube will need replaced. Otherwise, a simple repair should fix the tube using a patch kit from your local bike shop.

    Repairing the Tire

    • 7

      Release the air from the tire again. Using sandpaper or a metal file from the patch kit, scrape the hole area to help the glue have a stronger bond.

    • 8

      Apply the glue to the leaking area a little larger than the patch. Wait for about 5 minutes for the glue to dry.

    • 9

      Keeping the clear plastic on the patch, apply it to the tire. Apply pressure to the patch for at least 1 minute. Remove the clear plastic from the patch.

    Putting the Tire Back On

    • 10

      Fill the tube with a little air to give it form and put it back into the tire. Put the valve through the valve hole.

    • 11

      Work the lip of the tire onto the wheel rim on one side. Using the tire lever, put the other side on.

    • 12

      Put the wheel of the tire back on the bike. Tug on the wheel to ensure it is tight in place.

    • 13

      Inflate the tire, then let most of the air out again to help any places where the tube may have been pinched become loose.

    • 14

      Inflate the tire until firm and replace the valve cap. Reconnect the brake cable.