Have you ever stared at your bike’s flat tyre and wished to know how to replace it? It’s a dreadful situation to be in, and that’s why mastering the bike tyre replacement skill is worth every second.
Whether you're a seasoned rider or just starting, having a flat tyre during a journey is a common sight. While you could always take it to your trusted mechanic, DIY - bike tyre replacement has its benefits.
Learning to change a tyre can save you time, money, and the hassle of waiting for a mechanic. So, let’s walk you through the step-by-step two-wheeler tyre change process.
Whether you have a flat or it's just time to upgrade, bike tyre replacement can be a breeze! With these simple steps, you can swiftly remove your old tyre, fit your new one, and hit the road in no time.
Before starting the bike tyre replacement, keep every bike tyre-changing tool handy. You may need lubricant spray, a jack or stand, tyre irons, a valve stem tool, a bead breaker tool, etc. Now, let’s check the easy steps on bike tyre replacement at home or outside.
Always remember first to find a safe place to park your motorbike. If you’re in the middle of the road with a punctured tyre, it’s ideal to drive further, away from running traffic.
Even at home, find a flat and hard surface to park your bike to keep it stable while changing the tyre.
Now, engage the parking brake, and if you have a centre stand, use it to raise the wheel off the ground. Otherwise, use a motorcycle jack or stand to lift the wheel.
Carefully remove the wheel by loosening the brake callipers and sliding out the axle. Now, detach all the elements like nuts, washers, chain tension indicators, bushings, and alignment collars.
Note the order of the items you removed so that you can reattach them correctly. It’s time to detach the wheel from the rim.
Slowly remove the valve core to deflate the tyre. Next, break the bead or loosen the seal between the tyre and the wheel.
If you have a bead breaker, it will make the job easier. Position it against the edge of the tyre and press down to break the bead. You can use your tyre irons if a bead breaker is not available to gradually pull the tyre off the rim, working around its circumference.
Try applying the lubricant spray to loosen the grip and prevent the tyre bead from re-sticking to the wheel rim.
You can use a tyre puncture repair kit to fix a flat tyre fast. If you have a spare tyre or after repairing the punctured one, you need to replace tubeless tyre on the wheel rim.
Start by smoothening the inside of the new tyre’s bead with the lubricant. It will make it easier to slide onto the rim. Now, place one side of the tyre onto the wheel rim, ensuring the arrow points toward the rotation direction.
Before fully seating the tyre on the rim, inflate it just enough to give it shape. Avoid overinflating the tyre, as the tyre may pop off the wheel rim.
The last step is to refit the wheel onto the bike. Once you mount the wheel, use a valve tool to tighten the nuts and bolts to the specified torque settings for full-proof safety.
Now, adjust your chain or belt tension if your motorcycle has one. Lastly, double-check the tyre pressure and adjust if necessary.
Bike tyre replacement is usually not a difficult task. But it’s ideal to keep the instruction manual handy for replacing the flat tyre properly.
After practising a few times and getting the hang of the process, you can gain enough confidence to change tyres like a pro. As you successfully replace the bike tyre, hit the road and get those wheels rolling!
