1. Home
  2. Sports
  3. Bicycling

How to Change a Flat Tire

By David Fiedler, About.com

2 of 10

Remove the Tire from the Rim

Tire tool removing a bike tire.

Use a tire tool to remove the tire from your rim by wedging the tool underneath the tire and then lifting upward.

(c) David Fiedler, licensed to About.com

Using tire levers, remove the tire by wedging the tire tool between the tire and rim, and then prying upward to lift the tire away from the rim.

Keeping the first tool in place under the tire, repeat this step about four inches away with the second tool to pull more of the tire over and off the rim. Repeat this step as you work your way around the rim. The one edge of the tire you’ve been working on should start to come free of the rim quite easily. You can finish this step by simply sliding the lever underneath the tire the rest of the way around the rim.

2 of 10

Explore Bicycling

More from About.com

  1. Home
  2. Sports
  3. Bicycling
  4. Bike Maintenance
  5. How to Change a Flat Tire

©2008 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.