A bike tire is most likely to wear out after a while due to the constant contact with the ground. Even the road bike tire, which often rolls on smooth pavement, is also prone to wear and damage. Since replacing a bike tire is inevitable even for a road biker, it will be life-changing if you know how to change a road bike tire on your own.
If you are looking for tips on an easier way to get your road bike tire changed, then you might want to stay on this page a little longer and keep scrolling through this article. Discover what other factor makes you have to change your road bike tire and how you should be doing to change it. Without further introduction, here is the information we have summarized for you. Have a good read!
Reason Why Change Road Bike Tire
Your road bike tire is the only bike part that directly connects your bike to the ground. The conditions of your road bike tires will directly affect the performance of your bike and compromise your safety during the rides. Here are a few signs that alarm you that it is time to change your bike tire:
The Tread of Your Tire Has Been Worn Out
Most road bike tires have small grooves cutout and indentation around the tire that allows it to increase grips in the corner and wet conditions. This small groove is also known as tire tread. If this tread becomes shallow, it will make your tire slowly worn and become smooth or even bald.
If this happens, your bike will lose grip over the road and become slippery, affecting your control, ride quality, and safety. Hence, if you notice your bike tire is not as reliable as before, it’s time to closely inspect it and see if there’s any sign of a worn-out tire and change them immediately.
Your Tire Get Punctured
Frequently getting a punctured tire is typical for the rider that has put their bike tire in a worn-out situation resulting in riders not only losing the safe rides but also discouraging from hitting the road and joining the group of cyclists around you thanks to the problem and distraction caused by the worn-out tire.
The Tire Has Deteriorated
The frequency of bike tires’ exposure to corrosive chemicals like gasoline or cleaner may cause them to “rot.” If you put your bike tire in this situation, you will probably experience a tire failure and get into a potentially dangerous position. Hence, it is imperative to have your tires checked to avoid any dry rot by immediately changing the tire and tube.
Tips on Changing Road Bike Tire
A punctured and pinched bike tire is not the only cause that forces you to change your tire into a new one. A bike tire can deform over the riding time. It doesn’t matter if you have the most durable bike tire installed on your bike or not. As long as you use your bike for a ride, then changing a bike tire after a while is inevitable, so here are the tips for you:
Get the Proper Tool
As a starter pack, you will need to get the necessary equipment prepared. Here is some essential bike tyre removal tool that you need to get your bike tire replaced:
Additionally, you may consider preparing:
- Screwdriver blades;
- Patch kit;
- Tire Levers;
- Bike stands.
Frequently Check Your Tire
Inspecting your bike tire and closely checking on it before starting a new cycling journey is necessary. If you notice any sign of your tire degradation, it is a sign that you should have your bike tire replaced, mainly when you can spot cuts, holes, or abrasions.
Besides, if you think your bike tire has started to provide suboptimal performance and if you have been getting the flat tire more than you usually would, consider having your bike tire replaced immediately.
Seek For Help When Necessary
Although changing the bike tire can be very simple, however, if you are afraid of damaging your bike wheel during the process, looking out for “bike tyre change near me” on the internet and having your bike handled by a professional team is also a great idea.
If you have been strolling around the Jurong East or East Coast area and notice that your bike tire needs to be replaced immediately, you can bring your bike to Rodalink’s one-stop cycling shop and have them removed by the professional team there.
How to Change Road Bike Tire
If you decided to change the bike tire on your own, here are the steps you should be following:
Flip Your Bike and Remove The Wheel
Carefully put the bike upside down on the bike’s seat and handlebar with the chain facing upright to get stable access. If you are afraid of damaging your bike by flipping the bike upside down, you can put a piece of cardboard on the ground before setting your bike on top, or you might consider getting a bike stand to put it on.
Once done, you will have to loosen the wheel. For a bike wheel with a quick-release axle, you will only have to look for the quick-release lever at the center of your bike wheel and pull it up, then turn it 180 degrees to loosen it before removing the lever from the axle and setting it aside.
For a bike wheel with a thru-axle, you will need to use a wrench and hook it onto the but before turning and loosening it. Keep this step going until the nut comes off so you can remove it. Look for the tensioner on the brakes that allows you to release the tension, so the tire is easier to remove.
Lastly, pull out the tire off the forked slot that supports the bike. You might need to lift the bike when attempting to remove the tire.
Remove The Old Tire
When doing the 700c tire replacement or any other bike tire, you will first need to let the remaining air out from the old tire so you can easily remove it off the rim. Loosen the cap on the air valve and release the air using the method according to the valve type, such as:
- For the Presta valve, you can unscrew and then pull up the valve cap to release the air;
- For the Schrader valve, you can use a wrench to press the plunger inside the air valve and let out the air.
In case your tire has nuts at the bottom of the valve stems, you will need to remove this as well before pulling the tire to the opposite side of the valve stem. After that, pull back the tire and slowly slide a screwdriver between the tire and the rim. Now, use your non-dominant hand to hold the screwdriver and pull the screwdriver towards you while making sure the tire edge is being pulled up over the lip of the rim.
Continue pulling the tire over the lip until the tire edge is entirely over the lip of the rim. Slide the screwdriver completely under the tire and tube while ensuring it slides under the side of the tire that is still in the rim. Once it is under the tire, use it as a lever to push the tire up and over the rim. Pull down the tire around the rim to free it from the wheel.
That is how to get road bike tire off rim. You can also use the same method to remove another tire from another type of bike tire off the rim. If you have a bike tire lever, it will be best to use this instead of a screwdriver. Of course, you can also learn how to change a road bike tire without levers and a screwdriver, but you will have to put more strength to pull the tire off the rim.
Install New Tube and Tire then Reinstall the Bike Tire
Lay the tube out and prepare to install it back on the wheel. Some cyclists may prefer to inflate the tube with a bit of air to get it in shape so it will be easier to reinstall it. But if you don’t find it necessary, you can skip this step and directly slide the tube into the tire by pushing the valve stem into the hole in the rim.
Then, push the side of the tire into the rim and put the tube between two sides of the rim. Push the same side of the tire into the rim and work your way around. You must ensure the tube and one side of the tire is entirely in the rim.
From the opposite of the valve stem, pull the remaining tire side up and over the lip of the rim. You might need to use a bit of force when doing this. Once you have done this completely, place the new nut on the valve stem, then inflate the tire according to the recommended PSI based on your riding style and weight. Spin the wheel over to ensure the tire has appropriately seated on the wheel.
Once the new tire has been properly seated on the rim, you can reinstall the bike wheels to your bike. Loosen the axle bolts while ensuring both sides are even in the frame before tightening the bolt back down, then repeat it until the wheels are straight.
Conclusion
Cyclists, especially those who are riding a road bike for daily commutes, it is inevitable to get a flat on your tire or have to change your tire due to excessive worn. Hence, learning to change a bike tire may be handy in an emergency. Most of the tools you need to replace a bike tire are easy to find; you may even have it all in-store at your garage.
However, if you are a newbie and afraid to mess with your bike and prefer to get your bike tire replaced by a professional, make sure to bring your bike to a trustworthy bike shop like the Rodalink one-stop cycling shop. Here at Rodalink, you will get your bike inspected and handled by a professional and experienced team. In case you need a replacement for any parts of your bike, you will directly get the original parts installed for you.
Besides bike service and maintenance, at Rodalink, you will find a wide range of bikes, accessories, apparels, and parts—including the Polygon road bike tire, for example— selection from the world’s renowned brands, all within competitive price offers. You can also register to be part of the Rodalink member community to get the latest news of new arrival for Polygon bikes and any other brands, as well as special deals and events exclusively tailored for members only.
Rodalink community members also get a special price for every bike maintenance, so you can save some money while getting the best services for your bike. If it is your first time thinking about riding a road bike and looking for a suitable one for your riding style without having to break your bank account to compensate for the price, you can consider investing in a Polygon road bike.
Most of the bikes are built in a lightweight material like Aluminum Alloy that has undergone strict quality control and is equipped with high-quality components such as the Shimano groupsets and FOX suspension with the best price tag compared to other competitors that cane with the same bike components offer. So what are you waiting for? Visit Rodalink today and directly purchase your dream bike to start your cycling journey.
