CyclePig

This is Part 2 in the series on fixing a flat tire. The full series is Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4.

Not all tires like to play nice! Occasionally you will come across a tire where it is almost impossible to get the last part of the tire onto the rim. Without the special tool mentioned in the Bicycle Tutor video you are going to have to rely on your own strength to get the job done.

Photo by tsackett

So how do you go about putting on a really stiff or stubborn tire?

1. Follow the directions in the Bicycle Tutor video to get most of the tire onto the rim
2. Now you need to make sure the bead is seated well - the bead is the loop made of steel or kevlar that forms the edges of the tire. To do this, pinch the sides of the tire together with a moderate amount of force using your index finger and thumb and run it around the wheel in both directions as far as possible. By doing this you are seating the beads close to the middle of the tire and minimising the distance the bead has to travel around the wheel - hopefully you will create some more slack at the final part of the tire.
3. Now grip on either side of the unseated part of the tire with each hand.
4. Stand up, and put the good side of the wheel against your stomach holding your hands and the other side of the wheel out away from your body.
5. Keeping your legs mostly straight, bend your upper body over so the wheel and your hands are pointing down towards the ground. This position gives you good leverage over the tire.
6. With you hands on either side of the unseated tire, grip your fingers over and around the tire, and run your thumbs along the tire pointing towards each other. Now roll your hands over the rim, while pushing on the bead with your thumbs. You may need to start far out and slowly move your hands together as the tire goes onto the rim.
7. If this is proving difficult, I find it helps to be ANGRY! The tire is not your friend.
8. As a final step, once the tire is seated be very careful to make sure that the tube is not caught under the beading. This will result in a ‘pinch flat’ when you next ride your bike.

The full series for everything you need to know about fixing a flat tire:

• Part 1 - The basics of removing your wheels and fixing a tire
• Part 2 - Dealing with stiff and stubborn tires
• Part 3 - Fixing a flat tire on the road
• Part 4 - Flat tires on a bicycle tour