How to Remove the Rear Wheel Tire on a Multi-Speed Bike

A multi-speed bike is fitted with a rear derailleur, a mechanism for shifting the chain back and forth between gears. Removing a tire from a wheel first involves removing the wheel from the bike. The derailleur can sometimes cause problems during this process. The derailleur affects slack in the chain. Unless the chain is given full slack by the derailleur, it will snag the side of the wheel during the wheel's removal. Once the wheel is disengaged from the bike, the tire can then be removed.

Things You'll Need

  • Bicycle tire lever pair
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Instructions

  1. Multi-Speed Bike Rear Wheel Removal

    • 1

      Shift the rear gear shifter into top gear. Briefly raise the bicycle's rear wheel and turn the pedal crank forward. The chain will reposition to the outermost rear cog.

    • 2

      Determine how the rear wheel axle is attached to the bicycle frame. The axle will have a nut at both ends or it will use a quick release. A "quick release" is a skewer that passes through the axle. The quick release has a nut at one end and a lever at the other.

    • 3

      Use a 15 mm wrench to remove the bolts from both ends of the axle. For an axle with a quick release, loosen the nut at one end and open the lever at the other end.

    • 4

      Release the rear brake to give the wheel extra clearance. Road bike brakes typically have a lever on the side of the brake for this purpose. For mountain and utility-style bikes, press the sides of the brake together and raise the cable free of the brake.

    • 5

      Raise the back end of the bicycle. Using one hand, force the wheel down and forward to dislodge the wheel's axle from the bicycle.

    • 6

      Grab the wheel and separate it from the bicycle.

    Multi-Speed Bike Rear Tire Removal

    • 7

      Press the valve tip with a fingernail to release all air from the inner tube.

    • 8

      Work the spoon end of a tire lever beneath the tire's bead -- the "hoop" around which the tire is constructed. The other end of the tire lever has a hook. Attach the hook to a spoke so that the lever is standing straight up and down.

    • 9

      Fit the spoon end of another tire lever beneath the bead beside the other lever. Leave the hooked end unattached, however.

    • 10

      Run the second tire lever around the circumference of the tire bead, dislodging the bead from the rim of the wheel.

    • 11

      Reach inside the tire and remove the inner tube. If the inner has no puncture, it can be reused later.

    • 12

      Grab any portion of the tire with one hand while holding the rim with the other. Pull the tire and rim away from one another until the tire is free of the rim.