Bicycles: Fix Punctured Tires With These Easy Steps

To fix punctured tires, you just need a few skills, some simple easy-to-use tools, and a few small but amazing things. Follow these tips and easy steps on how to fix punctured tires and you’ll be back on the road in minutes.

1. It is best to invest in a spare inner tube as it is easier to change tube and fix punctured tires at home than on the road. To fix punctured tires, you will need tire levers, pump, puncture repair kit with sandpaper, marker, patches, and glue.

2. Stand your bicycle upside down. Undo its brake quick-release. To take off your wheel, use the quick-release lever on the hub. Or if your wheel is bolted on, undo using a spanner. For punctured rear wheels, pull back on the rear derailleur, lower the wheel down through the brake pads, and then forward slightly to clear your derailleur and your chain.

3. Slip the flat end of a tire lever between your tire and rim. Bend back and hook the lever onto one of the spokes. Take the next tire lever and do the same step about 2 inches further around your tire. Remove the first tire lever, move it further along your rim, and then use it to pry off your tire again until one side is free.

4. Take the inner tube out and then inflate it. Check for sharp pointy objects like thorns, small nails, glass debris, wire or anything that may have punctured your tire. Take your tire fully off your rim and then inspect inside and outside for debris. Also, inspect your rim to make sure no spoke ends have worn through your rim strip.

5. Hold your inflated tube to your ear or above your upper lip: you may be able to hear or feel air escaping. If you cannot find the punctured spot, hold part of your tube under water (from a river or puddle) and watch for bubbles. If you’re at home, get a small bowl with. Then slowly move your tube through the water. Once you spotted the puncture, mark it with crayon or chalk from your kit.

6. Dry the inner tube. Using sandpaper, rough the area around the puncture. Cover an area the size of a quarter around the hole with glue. Leave it until it gets sticky.

7. Place a patch centered over the hole. Smooth it out and see to it that there are no air bubbles. Leave it to dry for about 10 minutes.

8. Put one side of the tire back on your rim. Place your tube back inside your tire, starting at the valve and working around your tire. It must be slightly inflated.

9. Using the tire levers, start putting the free side of your tire back inside your rim. Start near the valve and work the tire levers around in opposite directions. Be careful not to pinch your inner tube.

10. When you are left with approximately 6 inches still loose, it may be hard to get your tire back on. Use 2 levers to keep each end of the loose bit of tire in place, then use the third one to pop your tire wall back inside your rim.

To be spared from hassles caused by punctured tires, consider getting a bicycle with slimed tubes with self-repairing flat prevention system, and with high tread count. Visit Zize Bikes, the maker of extra strong custom built bicycles for every body, including bicycles for heavy people that can support riders up to 550 pounds.