1. Remove the old inner tube.
- Using tire irons of spoons, pry one tire bead off the rim of the wheel.
- You can start pry anywhere. Don't pry a tire bead off using spoons or tools that can easily get stuck in the inner rim of your wheel causing permanent damage.
- Continue prying with all spoons inserted between tire and wheel until the first tire bead is completely removed.
- Pull the tire off from the wheel.
- Pull the used tube out from the wheel and tire.
2. Inspect the tire for any damage.
- Look for any holes, cuts, or bulges in the tire.
- If you find any damage, you will need to replace the tire before you can install a new inner tube.
- Check for any holes, cracks or any other damage on the surface of the tire.
- Replace the tire if it is damaged.
3. Install rim tape on the wheel rim.
- Rim tape is a thin layer of rubber or PVC that helps to protect the inner tube from the sharp edges of the wheel rim.
- Wrap the tape around the rim, making sure that it covers all of the spokes and the valve hole.
4. Position the new inner tube inside the tire.
- Make sure that the valve stem is aligned with the valve hole in the rim.
- Pinch the inner tube between your fingers to create a small bulge. This will help to prevent the tube from twisting inside the tire.
5. Install the first bead of the tire onto the rim.
- Start by pushing one side of the tire bead into place.
- Use a tire iron or your hands to work the rest of the bead onto the rim.
6. Fill the inner tube with air until the tire beads set.
- Fill the tube until the tire begins to bulge.
- Use a tire gauge pressure to check the tire and add more air if needed.
- Check that there is enough pressure to set the tire bead on the rim. Set tires to the desired pressure when tire beads are fully seated on the rim.
- Ensure the tire and tube inflate evenly all around the rim so that the tire bead drops into the rim pocket in a uniform manner with no bulges or gaps to pinch the tube. Press down on the tire firmly all around to ensure the beads are fully seated in the rim.
- Reinstall the valve stem cap to be sure no dust or water gets inside the brand-new tube.
7. Finish installing the other bead of the tire onto the rim.
- Repeat the process of pushing the tire bead onto the rim, working your way around the wheel.
- Use the tire irons to help you with any difficult spots.
- Continue until both beads of the tire are fully seated in the rim.
8. Deflate the tire slightly to remove any wrinkles on the tire bead area.
- Do this by letting air out of the tube until the tire is limp and there are no wrinkles between the tire and wheel.
- Reinflate to the desired pressure then reinstall the valve stem cap to be sure no dust or water gets inside the brand-new tube.
Your tire is now ready to use!
