Bike tyre maintenance, set-up 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 tyres 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 tyre

Having the right tyre pressure can make a huge difference in the quality of your ride. When your tyres 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 tyres. If the pressure’s too high, you risk a harsh, bumpy ride with less traction. We’re here to help you find your tyre pressure sweet spot. Watch our video below to make pumping your tyres a breeze.

Watch: How to fix a flat tyre

When your bike tyre goes flat, it doesn’t have to mean the end of your ride! There are a few different types of roadside fixes that you can do to get back on your bike. Having a bike tyre tube repair kit is essential and consists of a spare tube, patch kit, tyre 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 tyre patch kit is the next best option. Patching a bike tyre 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 tyre

You may be asking yourself, 'is this bike tyre dead'? Some tyres have built-in wear marks – when the tread is worn down to those marks then it’s time to replace the tyre. On tyres 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 levelling-off of the tread.

Bike tyre tread direction

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

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