How To Fix Flat Tire

Step 1

Remove the wheel from your bike.

  • Depending on the type of bike, you may need to use a box wrench

Step 2

Inspect the outside of the tire for glass or anything else poking out. Remove if found.

Step 3

Deflate the tire completely by letting the air out of the tube

  • Press down on the tip of the tire’s valve to deflate the tire. Pressing down on the cap once it's loose will release the air from the tire

Step 4

Opposite the valve, wedge two tire levers (not a screwdriver) next to each other between the tube and the rim

Step 5

Hold one tire lever in place and slowly work the other lever away from you, prying one side of the tire off of the rim.

  • The edge of the tire you are prying against is called the bead.

Step 6

When one side is removed, remove the tire levers and pull the other bead off the rim.

Step 7

Inspect the inside of the tire for glass or anything else poking out. If there is a large hole in the tire, such that the inner tube can poke through, you may consider replacing the tire.

Step 8

Inspect the band of rubber, plastic, or cloth tape on the rim. Make sure it is covering the spoke holes on the rim.

Step 9

Put one tire bead back on to the rim. Inflate the new or patched tube a bit. This will make the next steps easier.

  • If you need to patch your tube, follow instructions given with your patches

Step 10

Put the valve through the proper hole on the rim.

Step 11

Slowly work the tube inside the tire and on to the rim

  • Put the other bead of the tire back on the rim. If possible, do not use tire levers to do this. Use your hands instead.

Step 12

Once both beads are on the tire, using your hands, pry between the rim and the tire and make sure the tube is not sticking out anywhere. Do this on both sides of the tire.

Step 13

Inflate the tire to the pressure range recommended.

Step 14

Re-install the wheel onto your bike

  • Make sure that your axles are in line with your dropouts and your chain does go around your cog system. 

  • Lift upward into the dropouts, pressing firmly against them and retightening the axle nuts to make sure they are secure.

  • Reattach the brake system by compressing the calipers and reattaching the line