Bike tire maintenance, setup, and repair

No matter how much or how little riding experience you have, it’s inevitable that at some point in time you’ll get a flat or need guidance with a repair. The good news is that maintaining, replacing, or repairing your bike tires or tubes is not difficult and can easily be done at home with the right materials and know-how.

Watch: How to inflate a bike tire

Having the right tire pressure can make a huge difference in the quality of your ride. When your tires have the right amount of air, you’ll feel more comfortable and have better grip and handling. But if the pressure’s too low, you risk pinch flats, increased rolling resistance, and quicker wear on your tires. If the pressure’s too high, you risk a harsh, bumpy ride with less traction. We’re here to help you find your tire pressure sweet spot. Watch our video below to make pumping your tires a breeze.

Watch: How to fix a flat tire

When your bike tire goes flat, it doesn’t have to mean the end of your ride! There are a few different types of roadside fixes you can do to get back on your bike. Having a bike tire tube repair kit is essential and consists of spare tube, patch kit, tire levers, and a small pump. The best option is to carry a spare tube on every ride and replace the inner tube if it goes flat. If you don’t have a spare tube, a bike tire patch kit is the next best option. Patching a bike tire tube will allow you to get back home in a pinch, but it isn’t a long-term solution as patches generally aren’t very durable.

When to replace a bike tire

You may be asking yourself, “is this bike tire dead”? Some tires have built-in wear marks—when the tread is worn down to those marks then it’s time to replace the tire. On tires that don’t have wear marks, look for dry-rotting rubber (rubber that looks dry, faded, or cracked), any internal threads starting to show through the rubber, or any leveling-off of the tread.

Bike tire tread direction

Most tires are meant to roll in a specific direction to ensure the most efficiency, longevity, and speed. When installing a bike tire, be sure to check the tire’s sidewall for an arrow which will point to the direction in which the tire tread is meant to roll forward.

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