How to Change a Tubular Bike Tire

If you ride mountain, road or hybrid touring bicycles, chances are good your tires use inner tubes. Inner tubes are the round rubber "balloons" that inflate the tire. No matter how hard you try, if you bike long enough you are going to have a flat and need to change the tube. Change out the inner tube yourself to learn valuable tire skills as well as saving money versus taking it to a repair shop.

Things You'll Need

  • Replacement inner tube
  • Bicycle pump
  • Tire levers
  • Baby powder (optional)
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Instructions

    • 1

      Remove the wheel from the bicycle. Most bicycle's use quick release levers that turn counterclockwise to dislodge the wheel from the housing. Make sure to unlock your brakes before removing the wheel. If you have cantilever V or U brakes, pinch them together and pull the cable out of the cradle to release the brake.

    • 2

      Insert a tire lever at the rim of the wheel where the tire sets into the rim. Get the lever between the tire and rim and then go around in a circle with the lever to pry the tire off the rim.

    • 3

      Unscrew the nozzle cap off the inner tube. Gently tug the flat inner tube out of the tire. Run your finger around the inside of the tire to feel for any shards, thorns or sharp items stuck in the tire that will deflate any other tubes placed in the setup. Remove the items if present.

    • 4

      Pour a little baby power onto the inside of the bicycle tire. This provides viscosity when pushing the new inner tube into the tire. Unscrew the nozzle cap and remove from the new inner tube. Pump the new tube up 1/4 full. Push the new inner tube into the tire and align the nozzle with the rim hole for the nozzle to stick out from.

    • 5

      Push the tire back onto the rim, enclosing the inner tube in between the tire and rim. Inflate the inner tube fully using the bicycle pump. Screw the nozzle cap onto the tube.