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How to Change a Flat Tire

From David Fiedler,
Your Guide to Bicycling.
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Take the Tube Out of the Tire

Remove the old tube from the tire.
Remove the old tube from the tire.
(c) David Fiedler, licensed to About.com

Remove the tire and tube the rest of the way. You can usually do this easily by hand, but if you have trouble getting the edge of the tire completely over and off the rim you can use the tire levers again. Once the tire is off, pull the old tube out of the tire. You can then either discard the old tube or attempt to patch it.

If your tire is flat because of a puncture that came from hitting a road hazard, after you remove the old tube check the inside of the tire thoroughly to make sure whatever caused the flat -- glass, a piece of metal, etc. -- is not still lodged in the tire to play a nasty trick on you and pop a second tube.

  1. Remove Wheel From Bike
  2. Remove the Tire from the Rim
  3. Separate the Valve Stem from the Rim
  4. Take the Tube Out of the Tire
  5. Put the New Tube in Your Tire
  6. Replace Tire on the Rim
  7. Seat the Tire Snugly on Rim
  8. Inflate The Tube
  9. Put the Wheel Back On Your Bike
  10. Test, then Ride!

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