HOW TO remove & change an inner tube the right way: Tips from a Professional Bike Mechanic #2

Punctures are sadly a part of cycling so it's essential to know how to replace an inner tube. In this video Jim shows you the correct way to easily replace an inner tube along with lots of top tips such as how to remove and refit a stubborn tyre, check the tyre for wear and debris, and whether you need nuts and valve caps.
Jim The Bike Guy
www.jimthebikeguy.com
/ jimthebikeguy
Jim from Jim The Bike Guy is a professional Cytech level 3 qualified bike mechanic specialising in servicing, upgrading and repairing all types of bikes from his bespoke workshop in West Berkshire. He specialises in high-end road, cyclocross and gravel bikes as well as cross-country race bikes. In his spare time he enjoys riding and racing all types of bikes to an enthusiastic standard.
Follow me:
Instagram: / davidjarthur
Twitter: / davearthur
Facebook: / justridebikesvideo
0:00 Introduction
1:13 REMOVING THE TYRE
4:03 REMOVING THE INNNER TUBE
5:30 REPAIR OR TAKE OLD INNER TUBE HOME
6:54 FIND CAUSE OF PUNCTURE
7:31 CHECK THE TYRE
10:41 FITTING A NEW INNER TUBE
11:21 REFITTING THE TYRE
16:03 VALVE CAPS AND NUTS

[@allanadderley5397]

One of the best instructional videos I’ve ever seen on any subject. Excellent optics and close ups. Outstanding narration with confident, easy going style (being American, love the Brit accent, characterizations, and take on things) using only hand and body skills with no unnecessary props. Covered all the essential information without being too long or short. Love it, love it, love it!

[@Mrfireface2]

Had the exact same reaction. Very well made video, I watched the whole thing and my tires were working fine.

[@zorg1010tube]

Absolutely outstanding dedication and ability to pass the knowledge to even "totally inexperienced" people. I'm not a novice myself, but I wouldn't change one thing in your tutorial... Very valuable and useful, thanks for posting 👍🏻

[@rgande5922]

He's like a mature Harry Styles who is good at repairing bikes. Handsome AND Handy

[@DavidWarner-hu4le]

Absolutely agree!

[@stemcell2]

There are few people who can make you actually want to change a tyre, wonderful video!

[@howarda4227]

Thanks! squeezing the tire made all the difference in the world

[@Bmkc4]

THE only video to watch to learn to change a tire. I've been dreading tires for YEARS but after learning this I do it myself in under 10 minutes.

[@SuperStratification]

50 years of fixing flats and I still learn something new from this video. Really thorough presentation.

[@JayLato]

The Bob Ross of bike mechanics.

[@jimthebikeguy]

Best compliment i ever received.

[@leehargreaves7473]

Additional tip. Line the Tyre Logo ("Continental" in this case) up with the Valve. If the innertube is punctured, say 30cm from the valve, you know to check the tyre 30cm from the Logo for sharp objects. I've done thousands of miles on Audax rides. Soooo many punctures overnight in the dark, cold and wet. Anything to save time is a big help, and this tip helped me lots.

[@crabtrap]

i wrote the same suggestion logo/valve

[@stickymiky123]

This is vital. He realy should have mentioned it

[@joeswanderings]

Anything that helps with your 15 km h minimum average speed is a hit with me.

[@martinkrusellnielsen8395]

And.. it looks better ;-)

[@pwat3091]

Yes, What a shame he missed that simple point. Just relating the location of the hole in the tube to the relevant point on the tyre can not only save ages in locating the cause, it can save cut fingers! In all other respects, very good instruction. 9.5 out of 10!

[@TribusMontibus]

I’m an ex-racer, priding myself in 40 years of road bike experience. But when I’m honest I must admit that you just ironed out a few of my basic mistakes which I never realized I made. Here I thought I had already nailed this to perfection. Excellently composed instructive video, this one. Thanks!

[@connerkit6784]

Great video. I would like to add a small trifle of info from my years of being a bicycle mechanic. Many tubes have a reinforcement ring of rubber where the valve meets the tube. This can cause the tube to be pinched between the tire and the rim right near the valve. The trick it to simply push the valve up into the tire cavity before adding air. It will move the stiffer ring of rubber into the tire cavity.

[@molly104]

Great tip!!!!

[@smd2332]

David, by far the best and most informative tube change video I've seen. Demonstration and instructions are very thorough. Great job!

[@davidarthur]

Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for the appreciation 🙏

[@oopalonga]

Agreed. This SAVED me

[@keithsinclair2420]

Thanks good video. Just got back into cycling senior citizen.

[@sharkbluetony1]

Can’t wait to put this to the test (and save myself some money with ‘wasted’ tubes 🙂

[@jaws666]

​@@davidarthurshould i inflate the tube just a tad so it holds its shape before putting the tyre on or leave it deflated until the tyre is on?

[@massimoserafini8115]

I like to add just a little bit of air to the new tube before re-installing, makes it a little easier to keep it's shape.

[@2wheelsrbest327]

And me as I only recently managed to burst two brand new tubes because they got trapped under the tyre bead. 😣😣

[@enigma1000]

Agreed. Add a little air to the new tube before fitting it. I also remove the tyre starting at the valve not opposite the valve. I push the valve towards the tyre to reduce the risk of trapping the tube with the tyre lever. I use lock rings to give the pump something to push against. I use valve caps as I think they do help to keep the valves cleaner than without a cap. I have been known to oil the valve core thread but only a little…. I’d avoid using tyre levers to refit the tyre unless you really have no other option. For most tyres you can roll the last bit onto the rim using the heal of the hand. Lastly, spin the wheel with the refitted tyre, watching the bead to check it’s seated evenly.

[@SebSar-ef4zj]

Me too, yes just a little air great idea.

[@kevinstreet5709]

Standard

[@PaulGappyNorris]

Yep, standard, always put a little air in. The advantage of taking the tyre completely is to check for anything still penetrating the tyre. Takes a minute to put the tyre back on.

[@JeanSzymanski-ms9pt]

Watched it again. We get a lot of flat tires in New Mexico because we have A LOT of goatheads and pickers. Within a year, I should have this video memorized. It's the BEST!

[@devoncity]

Changing my girlfriends incredibly temperamental, slim, tight and awkward wheel. Was very difficult towards the end but couldn't have done it without your help. Much love.

[@ShinSuri]

As an old git, I have learnt something new... Subscribed.

[@tomkunich9401]

Me too. But the entire idea of the plastic valve cap is to protect the end of the valve so that it doesn't puncture your jersey pocket after you've removed the old tube and put it in your jersey pocket or puncture the tube or your other new tube in the saddle pack.

[@adriansmith38]

Put some air into the removed tube to find where the puncture was in relation to the valve. Then find the corresponding place on the tyre to check for the offending foreign body.

[@joelyons886]

this is why I always line up label to the valve and when I do get puncture I know where it is in relation to the valve on the tube. I do find it easier to completely remove the type from the wheel and inspect it

[@Paul58069]

exactly !

[@hextremelydesirable1648]

This is very helpful info thanks. Moving the label to the valve area to track the puncture. Here is some for you... HEX coin $0.13 pulsechain and pulseX coming soon. April 18 2022

[@elijaheccher3493]

Thanks Jim! Space creation and ENDing with the valve just saved me after about an hour of frustration

[@jpiii8887]

Works like magic

[@07madiaga1966julio]

This is my second time posting a comment on this video. I just could not help it. Greatest instructional video ever uploaded on You Tube on how to remove and install an inner tube on a clincher tire. First time I watched this was to refreshed my inner tube installing skills. I had a flat in the middle of nowhere and screwed up installing an inner tube. I used 3 brand new inner tubes, all failed and ended up, calling my sister to rescue me. Now, at present, I just rotated my front and rear tires, followed this instructional upload. Took me less than 30 minutes to do both tires. No failures. Thanks David for making this grand slam. No wonder, it is the most viewed video in the channel.

[@dmaze8457]

I’ve been biking for years. Changed many tubes and still I learned a lot from this well paced video. Thanks.

[@matthewrose9691]

David, that's the coolest, calmest & clearest inner-tube extraction ever. Just tried your techniques & you've sorted the many mistakes I've been making for so long. Thank you !!!

[@vidiia]

Really great, informative lesson. One thing I would add is to push the valve stem in when you're re-fitting the tyre, to make sure it's not trapped between the bead and rim.

[@mehmku]

Best instructional video I've seen in ages! Almost feel bad I don't have a flat at the moment to test it out.

[@DilbertMuc]

Excellent video. BUT: Don't pull out the inner tube at the valve. Leave it in with valve still in place and inflate it half way and then check for the puncture. Put a finger on the puncture and look where the puncture corresponds to the tire. Take 2 fingers and carefully feel on the inner side of the tire. You'll instantly feel the thorn, or sharp shard of flint or broken glass. Your fingers are safe, btw. That's much faster to fix the puncture on the side of the road! The loosly tightened lockring is important if you want to pump up the tube because the Sclaverand valve is being pushed inside the tire and the hand pump has nowhere to push against to force the valve into the pump's seal ring. Without a lockring as a stopper it is a pain in the ass! ;)

[@sharksharkey7485]

Thanks. Great tips

[@andrewmurray5542]

Very useful comment and something that I do too. At least this gives you a rough idea of where to look in the tyre for the cause of the puncture.

[@hextremelydesirable1648]

@@andrewmurray5542 very useful indeed.. HEX coin $0.12 pulsechain and pulseX about to launch in weeks.. all 3 same founder. might find HEX useful too andrew

[@silentdogfart4892]

Definitely agree about the lockring when there’s low pressure in the tube. But to find the cause of the puncture I find it easier with the tube removed so you can inspect it more thoroughly, then just lay it on the rim with the valve in the right spot to find the cause.

[@przemp.9869]

@@silentdogfart4892 Exactly. This is the right and only way to do this, fast and efficient. I don't know why we should keep tube attached or waste time watching the tire.

[@GH-bg5jw]

I always coat the tube and the interior of the tire with baby/talcum powder. It lets the tube and tire slide against each other as the tire flexes. It also keeps the tube from sticking to the tire. Ever notice how when you have a tube that has been inside the tire for a long time that there is a grittyness? That is the tube grinding against the tire interior. You won’t have that with baby powder.

[@alanplatt6481]

I was taught to do that when I was a kid, I wasn’t sure if it was still a thing! I always talc my tubes.🙂

[@mgm2008]

Very detailed and good info! I even like people's comments!

[@michelbesedin7081]

good tubes came from the factory coated with talk already, but if you installing latex tube - you gona need some additional powder

[@sBentonfamily]

40 years of changing tubes. Always use talc. I carry a spare tube in a zip lock bag that has been talced. Tubes and tires install more easily and they smell much better with Johnson’s Baby Powder ! Also, cut my thumb badly sweeping the inside of the tire finding a glass shard after 39 yrs of being lucky. I am 72, but not too old to learn.

[@davidgatzen1543]

Most baby powders you can buy today in the United States use cornstarch instead of talc. Lawsuits over the talc-based baby powder's alleged link to cancer and respiratory problems are ongoing and number in the thousands, and J&J has paid millions of dollars in settlement money to people who alleged the powder caused their cancer. The talc used in the infamous bathroom staple, the claims go, has a chance of being contaminated with asbestos, a known carcinogen that can lead to cancer or health damage with long-term use. In May 2020, Johnson & Johnson discontinued sales of its talc-based powder in the US and in Canada, citing declining use in North America due to "misinformation around the safety of the product," according to a 2020 news release from the company. The talc-based powder continues to be sold in other countries. Baby powder made with cornstarch instead of talcum is still available in US stores.

[@jmorenoparedes]

It is impressive helpful. Before this video, it took me ages to change an inner tube, now just minutes. One of the best tutorials ever. Thank you

[@davidbraunstein382]

Seems so basic, but checking the tire and rim for sharp objects is such a solid tip. All the other tips were equally helpful. I find my Contis to be super tight and creating space as shown is a tip I've never seen before. Thank you!

[@JoshHarrisPhotography]

Great video. 1) If you line up the tube’s valve with logos on the tire, you can use that as a frame of reference for finding the puncture. Put air in the tube, listen for the leak (or put the tube in a bucket of water and look for bubbles) then find the same spot on the tire. 2) If you put just a little bit of air in the tube to give it some shape, it’s much easier to mount it on the rim under the tire. Also helps avoid pinching the tube between the tire and the rim. 3) I try to rest the rim on the top of my bent leg, rather than set it on the ground. I don’t like the tube making contact with the ground and picking up any foreign objects. 4) Important to point out, when you’re using a lever to get the tire back on, the hook faces out.

[@granthaller9544]

Several of the points I was going to make!

[@HOLLASOUNDS]

Always find the worlds smallest little thorn hardly visible.

[@zk4929]

Does the hook the face inwards when taking tire off?

[@JoshHarrisPhotography]

In. You want to get the hook under the tire bead.@@zk4929

[@HOLLASOUNDS]

@@zk4929 push the tire rim into the middle of the wheel then use one lever to open a gap and hold with left hand then push second lever into the gap and move to the right in the right hand, they only work one way round.

[@GerritLeman]

I lke watching bike videos during breakfast. I have seen other videos have to repair a flat tire. But yours is one of the best I have seen. Very calm and clear. Great job.

[@dalvira]

Where have you been my whole life? This video is extremely well done: informative, no lame jokes or funny voices, detailed...thank you!

[@adjusted-bunny]

I just fitted a new Continental tire and a new tube in less than 10 minutes. No bruises on the knuckles. It was easy peasy lemon squeezy. Your advice is invaluable. I saw professional mechanics struggle more than I just did (or didn't). It was an eye-opening experience. Almost orgasmic.

[@IanB17]

Some really good tips even for experienced cyclists. I could listen to this guy all day. Good series 👍🏻

[@jimthebikeguy]

Cheers Ian👍

[@hepgeoff]

Great video! I'm 70 years old and have ridden bikes since I was a kid, and always found it difficult to change a bicycle inner tube. Wish I knew this when I was a kid. Excellent information, thanks!

[@Elmero_mero]

I’ve fixed quite a few flats in my cycling life, and I am now glad to know I have followed most of David’s advice. Top job Sir

[@evelynmorgan1357]

That was the best video on changing and replacing a new inner tube. I wish I'd watched it before I attempted the job!! Thank you for all the great tips. Making space. Won't forget that.

[@joenoneoyobinnes4727]

Great tutorial, thank you David. One thing I would add: when you are checking the tyre for thorns, fragments of glass etc, I have found that looking isn't enough. I always run my fingers over the inside of the tyre. In this way I've often found fragments of wire that were effectively invisible at night, under overcast, or when one is getting on a bit and one's eyes aren't what they once were.

[@oldbikeguy411]

Coming from a medical education background, I will attest that we can sense through touch far finer aberrations that what we can sense through our vision.

[@christophergilbert7326]

I (mis)installed a trainer tire on my bike earlier today, then went looking for a guide on doing it properly when I came across this video. Redid the tire by following your instructions--much quicker and easier than my naive approach. Thanks for the video, you've helped me a lot!

[@albiondi4769]

At first I thought oh my god this video is gonna take forever but as I kept watching I realized that this guy mentions a lot of great tips that other videos overlook. This guy REALLY knows his trade…

[@mattfoley7881]

An all-around excellent video. Been cycling (and fixing flats) for 25 years and still learned a thing or two.

[@VictorElGreco]

Excellent, thorough video. The only thing to add is to check the rim *tape* while looking into the possible causes of the puncture. Old tape may have slipped out of place or gone dry and ragged.

[@markholm7050]

Yes! I helped a fellow several years ago with a flat. His wheel had the rubber rim tape/strip that is common on inexpensive bikes. The rubber had, somehow, slid to the side, exposing a spoke hole. I did not have spare rim tape with me, but I did have duct tape and a spare tube that was the right size. Had him back in motion in a few minutes. I told him those couple layers of duct tape would probably prevent a repeat puncture for several miles, but he really should replace it with fresh, good quality rim tape in both wheels before his next outing.

[@florianmartin9471]

@@markholm7050 I had this very problem some years ago suffering several nasty blow-out punctures on my front wheel preferably at high speed or in the bunch, did not understand what was going wrong until halfway into the season (withe the most annoying puncture happening 4k into a 600k audax leaving me with the lantern rouge for a couple of hours). A new rimtape and I was good as gold. Won’t happen again …

[@st_rocco1060]

2 flats riding my new road bike for the first month. Both caused by rim tape not quite exactly centered over the spoke holes on both wheels. Took me a while to figure it out but marking the tube to the tire before extracting it was the clue I needed to figure out the problem. Inspect your rim tape if you can before placing new tube into tire.

[@iandobson6538]

Excellent video thanks Jim. Nice to have confirmed that I am doing it right and an excellent point about taking care checking for the cause. I learnt the hard way and gashed a finger on a metal shaving sliding it around inside the tyre! A couple of things I would add... before inflating, check to ensure that the valve is pointing directly to the centre of the hub, i.e. perpendicular to the tube. If it isn't the valve stem will have fore or aft force exerted on it which will eventually tear it away from the tube causing total failure. Easy to adjust before adding air by moving the tyre back or forth until the valve lines up properly. Secondly if the hole is tiny and difficult to find (and you don't have a bucket of water to hand to look for bubbles) run the inflated tube past your lips. Much easier to feel escaping air as your lips are very sensitive. A little dab of spit on the spot will confirm the hole's exact location with bubbles.

[@XxZephoraxX]

i literally pulled this up, sat down at my bike, and changed the tire tube. I've never seen it done before or done it myself. 10/10 instructor!

[@BigCrowsVideos]

Removing and putting back the tire itself was a task for me, that took about an hour, 3-4 tire levers and a lot of force. I just followed this tutorial and it took almost no force and time. Thanks man, now I can change a tire on the road too 🤘 I even put the tire back, without using any levers, which was unimaginable for me before

[@tmunk123]

You should put a little bit of air in the tube when you insert it. This allows it to seat better inside the tire helping to prevent a pinch of it when you pump it up. It also lets you tell if the tube is clear of the rim.

[@mygeekdom4414]

Thanks for this reminder. I heard the same thing and actually found it works better.

[@AndrewBlucher]

Your mileage can vary with this one. It's worth trying, but don't overdo it, especially with larger tyres.

[@markfeldman6509]

Watch and learn. We can always use a refresher course and pick,up new tips. Thanks so much.

[@AlwaysDrawing2012]

This is the best video I've ever seen on changing a tube. Thank you!

[@rollandjoeseph]

Clear, concise and fool proof with no rushing and fumbling . With that in mind, with a 20min video, changing a tire should take +/- 15min..great tips!

[@Snicker60515]

Wow! I'm floored by the sublime quality and execution of the explanation of something that is very simple in theory and execution, but that so many of us get WRONG, which is why I'm here this morning. I just ruined a brand new inner tube replacing my tire and I needed to be properly instructed as to how to do this, AGAIN. Now I know how to do it properly and this time, I won't ruin another inner tube by being hasty. Cheers to you! Thank you Jim for making an 18-minute video just fly by!

[@larrydaniels6532]

I guess you have more info now, but there are far better ways to change a flat.

[@hclapp219]

Another good bit of detective work to do, especially after multiple unexplained flats, is to inspect the rim bed. Make sure the rim tape is in good condition, and that there are no wayward spokes poking your tube.

[@whazzat8015]

BIG TIP! Overlooking this common problem is the most common internal puncture

[@barryauskern9417]

Well done. I had always been "afraid" of what would happen should I encounter a flat. This video helped me through the steps and gave me a ton of confidence. And in fact, by following his advice, the process was much easier than I had feared.

[@andybilling448]

Thanks David & Jim - that was informative, precise & thorough. You've helped me confidently replace both tubes & tyres on a bike that's been idle for ages. The space creation tip was a revelation

[@dcee604]

I usually use the lock ring on my valves, because then it prevents the knocking noise of the valve against the edge of the valve hole in the wheel every time I go over a bump. I also use the valve caps also. I'm not too worried about water & grit, as I usually only ride on dry days. Also, the plastic cap can be hacked into an emergency 'shrader' valve, if it came down to that. Cut the tip off, invert it, screw it back on the valve. There's a video on KZbin to show what I mean.

[@2wheelsrbest327]

Haven't looked at video but I know what you mean. Great idea.

[@glennoc8585]

Electrical tape around the valve stem gets rid of the knock sound.

[@pauljeffries5678]

Great video as many others have said. My only suggestion is that I tend to line up the name of the tire with the valve stem location. Then, when I find the hole in the tube, I can more consistently find the potential puncture location on the tire based lining up the tube outside the tire with the valve stem location. This may be excessively OCD, but it has never failed me in finding the sources of tire punctures caused by foreign objects.

[@jasonpeckman472]

Good idea! It may only mean saving a few seconds but that is time my fingers are not unduly freezing because I can't find the damn sharp object in the tire without removing my gloves.

[@unclefester610]

Line up the Pressure Rating instead. If you own multiple bikes thats what you want to know when you go to pump up the tire.

[@vaughntonkin539]

My autism at work, have done this with car and bike tyres for years

[@DrDonO]

I used to mark Valve Location onto Tire with Chalk in order to align punctured tube with where to search tire for sharp object. Going forward, i'll: "Line up the Pressure Rating instead." Thanks!

[@unclefester610]

@@DrDonO Write back in a few and tell us how you like it!

[@michaeldaniels1269]

Brilliant tutorial sir, I will recommend this for our clubs as there are many misconceptions. My only addition would be to check for rim deformations as well as the source of puncture. I had a hard “bump” (I am a Clydesdale) and it actually caused the aluminum rim to internally spur. Rare, but took me three flats to sort out. Again, great videos as always!

[@themightymoose5047]

I spent 30 minutes trying to wrestle my tube back in following other videos - watched this and did it in 2 minutes. Thank you!

[@beverleygibson1394]

Thanks so much for this! I have been looking for ever on the internet to try and find such an in depth instruction on changing an inner tube. This is exactly what I have been looking for. I have subscribed to your channel. I ride long distances and this is such a help. The next thing I would like is instruction on taking the rear wheel off and on when replacing an inner tube. I know it might sound elementary to some but I am afraid I am a novice at this and want to make sure I get it right if needed on a long ride to change an inner tube. Thank you again!

[@greggthorne697]

I use to get frustrated changing out tubes and tires, after watching this video and applying what he taught I actually look forward to now! Thx so much! Plus how refreshing to watch a presenter who’s just being himself. Not trying to impress or be a hyped up actor. Great job!!

[@forestdweller3210]

Thank you for this very clear and thorough video David. I've just changed two old and worn inner tubes and the whole process was very straight forward thanks to your instructions. This has given me a renewed interest in bike maintenance. Much appreciated.

[@mickyfinn1948]

That was brilliant, David - as someone who's struggled with tackling punctures, this as answered a lot of questions that are rarely covered so comprehensively - well done!

[@FlatSpinMan]

What an excellent tutorial. I’ve changed quite a lot of tyres by now but last time I put Continentals on it was a nightmare. This video made remarkably easy. I was genuinely surprised at the difference the technique of creating space made.

[@Tntdruid]

I have always started at the vaulve, now I know the correct way. thanks for this very nice guide 👍

[@yorbalindason]

I think its wrong to finish at the valve. That’s where the tire is most tight and the bead competes with the valve. I changed 4 tires for friends over tbe weekend and have to disagree on the end at the valve idea. Also, you don’t need more than one tire lever. Just sit on the tire and use leverage to push downward.

[@futran7497]

This is one of the best videos on how to change a tyre. It’s so clear, lots of good tips and has made a big difference!!!

[@jonasholmberg140]

Best ever! Thought I knew everything about switching tyres, but I learned something new! Thank you!

[@DominicBurford]

Been changing inner tubes for 20 years and still learnt something new. I'm guilty of over-tightening my lock rings. I've had many punctures where the valve failed, and I suspect my habit of over-tightening the lock ring was the culprit. Thanks for pointing this out.

[@AndrewBlucher]

Yes, it's amazing how much we can learn when we revisit a task we "know" how to do.

[@siguureinartraustason8564]

I learned a lot from this video man. It's the best video about punctures I've seen. I had a puncture last summer and found out that my tires needed to be replaced. Without the puncture I would not have known that. It's a fantastic tip.

[@stefwood116]

I’ve changed quite a few flats but the extra tips around making space and where to start we’re game changers for my flat today! Thank you!

[@brentmillercopywriting]

Thanks for making my first inner tube change a cinch! I appreciate your slow, clear explanations, and I love your tidy workshop:)

[@davehollingworth5537]

I thought this was really helpful and Jim is simply excellent! Thank you.

[@chrishebert5672]

Besides coating the inside of the tire and the tube with baby powder to prevent the tube from sticking to the tire (coat your spare tube in baby powder and store it in a ziplock bag), I have another suggestion. Carefully remove the punctured tube from the tire and lay it down on the tire precisely in the same position that you removed it. Now, add air to the tube and check for where the puncture is. Upon finding the puncture, look inside the tire for any debris that caused the puncture. You'll often find a piece of glass or metal sticking through the tire at the puncture site. Pull out the debris before putting a new tube back in. Alternately, you could run your fingers around the inside of the tire to feel for debris, but my method avoids a punctured finger as well as a punctured tire, and the debris may not be sticking far enough through the tire to be felt by your finger.

[@larrydaniels6532]

We, as cultured men, could possibly arrive at an answer to "punctured fingers", maybe using one's fingers in a manner that would be unlikely to puncture said finger. Using the slightest bit of caution, perhaps?

[@visitken]

I have literally (British English haha) watched more than a dozen videos on this topic and I can genuinely say this is the most informative and useful of them all. Well done!

[@AntoineThisdale]

Came back here for yet another tube change. Thanks again for the amazing tutorial. Super helpful.

[@janmonster4984]

I grew up in The Netherlands and my bike was my primary mode of transportation until age 28. I have patched many tires over the years. Still I learned so much from this video. It was a masterclass. Very well done! Thank you.

[@kirklarson5781]

Great video. I’ve seen the “pinch the tire into the well” method explained many times, but never seen it demonstrated so well. I see improvement in my technique in the future. Thanks. I’d like to agree with several other commenters that an examination of the tire before removing the tube can oftentimes tell you where the puncture is and save time looking for it on the tube itself. Adding some air at this point can help. With a little luck you can find the puncture and the offending object in one go. Also, I like to install the nut on the stem when re-inflating the tire with a mini-pump. It holds the stem out and in place, leaving both hands free to work the pump. It can be removed after, if you like. I don’t find this particularly necessary when using a track pump or compressor though.

[@user-tr9xn9fp1n]

Really helpful video. The first time I’ve been able to get Continental tyres back on without having to ask for help. Thank you!

[@recstoppauseplay]

Thanks for a super amount of help. I had to change a tire and tube recently and had a frustrating painful time getting the new (tight) tire on the rim. After watching and learning from your video, I went back to the project and followed your advice on space creation and introducing slack. 'Had to go around a number of times but eventually the tire went home in the rim with just a little help from a tire lever. It's been three days now and it hasn't lost even a single PSI of air - success! Now I'm getting used to this. In my last 6 rides, I've had 4 punctures from raspberry thorns. (nasty little things that they are and obviously hard to avoid).

[@georgeemil3618]

Before you start removing one side of the tire from the rim, mark it where the valve is. When you find the puncture on the tube, the mark on the tire will help you locate where it punctured the tube.

[@paulclark9968]

Where's the Talcum powder ? always dust my inner tubes with Talc , as this will stop the inner tube sticking to the inside of the tyre , and helps as a dry Lubricative , As the tyre rolls along the ground it squash the tyre wall out along with the inner tube, which can offer resistance , so to over come this use talcum powder, is an old racing cycling tip , also wet a tissue and wipe around inside the tyre , this will find any thorns or bit sticking though the tyre straight away.

[@chipmack7]

David, thanks so much for preparing a proper ‘How To’ video. Just as important on the how to, are your what not to do cautions. Much appreciated. My tire and tube reinstall came off quite nicely. Thank you.

[@monicawhite5352]

A very thorough & complete inner tube changing video. Thank you David!

[@timothytim1053]

Really helpful video. I went from changing a tube in like 60 minutes to 20 just from watching this clip. Changed my tires the other week to more puncture resistant ones, and that was also really easy when following the tips in this video. Thanks!

[@AndrewBlucher]

Next target: 10 mins. Then 5. Then 2. At that point you can show off to your mates :-)

[@Swarfega79]

One thing I do is check the tyre before removing the tube. If you can locate a thorn, note where it was and pull it out. You can then just pull that part of the tube out and put a self hadisive repair sticker on hole. Much quicker than removing the whole tube.

[@simonpowell2559]

With an obvious puncture you can get away with leaving the wheel on the bike.

[@josephmcloughlin2008]

I'm with you on that. I also pump up the tyre if I can't see the obvious and then spin the wheel slow, pouring water on from my bottle to find th puncture. PS Park tools patches are the best I have used

[@robertparker7243]

Really solid, professional video, using modern training methods to provide a really clear and reliable method and most importantly an understanding of what is happening, so that different methods can be considered and evaluated later. Really good job.

[@nordfarsi980]

Amazing! Excellent advice for someone that struggled a great deal. Thank you so much David.

[@angelprincess4414]

Great video., great tips. I could have used these when I lived in Alamogordo, New Mexico. For some reason, there were a lot of puncture inducing elements in that environment. Goathead thorns were the worst, as well as quite a number of tiny wire bits from radial tires. I could not go two days without getting a flat. I am in Las Vegas, Nevada and find it much easier to ride for several weeks before something punctures a tire.

[@glennoc8585]

I've got similar tyre levers that had sharp edges that I sanded back to reduce the risk of cutting into the tube. Chris Hall doing maintenance vids now😄

[@stephanieforsey7830]

Thanks for helping me change my first inner tube. I liked how you went slowly and explained things so clearly.

[@gary-northshore_mtb]

the best instructions I've seen so far on tube replacement

[@cafeteropiper2811]

Great tips and bravo for your environmental concern! I carry a piece of chalk for 2 reasons: marking the puncture for ease of patching the tube and after patching to go over the patch and glue avoiding it sticking to the tire.

[@martinkroutil]

Well done video. Clear demonstration, really good tips for beginers. Good work :)

[@davidarthur]

Thanks Martin

[@franciskhoury4288]

I'm an occasional, low-mileage rider who is about to change a tube by myself for the first time. I've let myself remain mystified about tube changing for decades - until this video finally shined the light. David, you have a knack for teaching; this video was clear and answered all my questions. I'm am on the same page as you as well, regarding preventing litter and plastic waste. I think the world is way to desensitized to all that, even though it gets lots of lip service.

[@imzzaudae]

Hello Jim. I'm Ron. I'm about a year away from retirement. A week from opening my own small town home bicycle repair shop. Of course I have been doing my own service for 50 years, I am still doing my homework and I have to say "Thank You"! This is the first video that I watched that you produced. Of course I have now watched many of your other videos several times. World class instruction in every video that you produce. I cannot thank you enough.

[@mus2106]

For years I struggled to fit tyres as I always started at the valve. Just managed to fit GP5000s (which are notoriously tight) to my Winspace Hypers using only my hands/thumbs. Who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks! 👍🏽

[@Panos_Sfa_Gr]

nice video and great way of explaining - congrats for your great representing style - cheers

[@peterstone6548]

Excellent instruction! Thanks, Jim!

[@igold8035]

I am an older guy and have been changing my own (MTB) tires for years. I always thought that the technique was just being able to do it. Everything you said makes great sense. Great video and I can't wait until I have to replace another tube just to put your training to use. Thanks!!

[@CeeD33Bee]

After being an absolute dunce and damaging a brand new inner tube earlier, your calm and clear instruction on how to do it properly came well needed for the 2nd attempt. Thanks so much, learnt a lot here 😁

[@adambell3430]

He should have mentioned that when using the tyre levers, a good tip is to use the other end to hold one against a spoke whilst you then insert the next tyre lever and work your way along. Makes it much easier. Also, it's easier to remove the inner tube by starting OPPOSITE from the valve first. That way when you get back to the valve, there's more slack in the tyre making it much easier to remove the valve. Once you've removed the old inner tube, pump it back up to find out where the hole is, and then provided you remember where the valve was in relation to the tyre, you can easily line it up to find where the thorn/glass/flint is on the tyre. When putting a new tube back in, as others have stated, always put a little bit of air into a new tube before fitting which avoid pinch punctures. Contrary to what he said, when you're putting a new inner tube back in, generally it's best to start at the valve, as that way you can pull the valve down to hold the edge of the tyre in place. And finally, especially on narrow tyres like 700x25 tyres, always work your way round by pushing the beading in a few places around the wheel, and checking you can see the rim tape rather than the inner tube. That also avoids pinch punctures when you then inflate the tyre.

[@Belfreyite]

Yes, the Park TL-4.2 has notched wings on either side to hook around a spoke.

[@adambell3430]

In fact, all tyre levers have some sort of hook, to hold onto a spoke.

[@markcuskelly]

Easily the best puncture repair “how to” video on KZbin by a mile 👏🏻👏🏻

[@maramagornitsky1173]

Clear instructions that make sense. Thank you!

[@hArtyTruffle]

It’s been 47 years since I last had a bike and fixed a puncture. I was so nervous about getting a puncture and making a right mess of it. This really helps add to my confidence that I can do this. Thankyou 👍🏼

[@alangeorgebarstow]

It is certainly true that you are never too old to learn. I am 70 and have cycled nearly all of my life (and have repaired a fair number of punctures in that time). I just wish I had known your technique of pinching the tyre all around, especially on those "rainy lay-by" occasions. Thanks for teaching this old dog a new trick! 👍🏻😊

[@jimthebikeguy]

👍👍👍

[@kymketcham4832]

Very clear and informative. Thanks Dave! Because of you , I am now going biking today !

[@pindeed]

This was so nice, quiet, extensive and professional tutorial that I have nothing to add from my experience and I’m motivated to subscribe :)