We're missing what should be on the first picture- a very careful look for whatever
might have caused the flat. It's very important that you remove whatever is in the
tire or figure out what on the inside surface of the rim might have damaged it (for
example, a spoke hole that's become uncovered by a broken our out-of-place rimtape).
In all cases this requires complete removal of the tire & tube from the rim.
The photo on the left shows a new rimtape being applied.
Now take your new tube (or your old patched tube) and inflate it with enough air that
it takes shape. This is so that you can more easily place the tube inside the tire
without getting it caught between the edges of the tire bead and the rim.
Next step is to place one side, and only one side, of the tire over the rim.
Now locate the valve hole and temporarily move the front part of the tire over with
your hand so that you can place the tube's valve into the hole (as shown in the picture
below).
Here we see the tubes valve inserted into the hole in the rim.
Now we bring the tire back up over the tube. Not shown is the very important
procedure of pushing the tube up into the tire all the way around the rim, without pushing
either the tire or tube over the rim. The thing to keep in mind here is that we do
everything one step at a time.
Here we've slid the tube down over the top of the rim, but have not slid the second
side of the tire down over the rim yet.
The fun begins! Starting at the valve hold, and moving away from it in both
directions, move the second side of the tire up over the rim. When you get about as
far as is shown here, make sure the tire isn't causing the valve to bind- you do this by
pushing up on the valve from the bottom, making sure that it moves freely.
We're gradually moving down around the wheel, getting that second side of the tire
over the rim. Because we have some air in the tube so it has a shape, we're not
likely to trap it between the tire and rim (a major cause of tubes damaged during
installation).
And yes, it is beginning to get a bit tougher as we head towards the home stretch!
Here's a secret that will help get a stubborn tire on! When you're about 3/4
finished, go around the wheel and squeeze the tire inwards from the sides. This
helps move the tire into the bottom part of the rim, which will free up some much-needed
slack so that the final part goes on more easily.
This is as far as your thumbs will safely take you! That's right, you do not use
your thumbs to get the last part of the tire over the rim...unless, of course, you're
trying to remove your fingerprint by tearing off skin! It will be much easier if you
roll the last part of the tire over the rim with your palms! Your palms are much
tougher than your thumbs.
And now, for the finale, work the last part of the tire over the rim using your palms.
Slowly work inwards just a little bit at a time and it will be much easier than you
think. Note that we aren't using tire tools for this...you should virtually never have to
use tire tools to install a tire, but frequently need to when you're removing one.
If the tire's a tight fit, you may need to release the small amount of air you put into
the tube.
Now you're ready to check your work. Check once more to make sure the valve moves
freely, and then check the tire, one side at a time, and look for any visual evidence of
the tube poking out underneath the tire. Once you're sure everything's fine, pump it
up to about 1/3 normal pressure and check for any high spots, an indication that the tire
is trying to leave the rim. If so, let the air back out and try to figure out if the
tube is trapped between the rim and tire bead, or maybe you just need to re-seat the tire
more evenly so the tire bead grabs on the lip of the rim better.
If all is OK, inflate to full rated pressure and you're back in business!
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