Sometimes a new tube is not enough. The tread is worn flat, the sidewall has cracked, or the same tire keeps puncturing. This guide helps you work out whether your wheels run inner tubes or a tubeless setup, when the tire itself needs replacing, and how to replace the tire and tube together. For a simple puncture, our flat tire guide is quicker.
Tube or tubeless: how to tell
- Inner tube (most e-bikes). The valve is part of a rubber tube inside the tire, and there is no liquid inside. Tubes are cheap, every bike shop has them, and a flat can be fixed at the roadside.
- Tubeless. There is no tube; the tire seals directly against the rim, and liquid sealant inside closes small holes as you ride. Both the rim and the tire have to be made for it, so look for a tubeless or tubeless-ready marking on each. If you shake the wheel and hear liquid moving, it is almost certainly tubeless.
Tubeless can be a good choice for riders who get frequent small punctures, but it needs the sealant refreshed from time to time and the first setup is messier. Never fit a tubeless tire without a tube on a rim that is not made for tubeless use.
When the tire itself needs replacing
- The tread is worn smooth in the center, or you can see the fabric of the casing.
- The sidewall has cracks, bulges or cuts.
- A cut goes right through the tire, so a tube could push out of it.
- You keep getting flats in the same area after removing everything you can find.
Replace it with the same size printed on the old sidewall: the same diameter and, ideally, the same width. If you change width, check that your tube covers the new width and that the tire still clears the frame, fenders and chain. A tire marked for e-bike use is worth choosing where one exists in your size.
What you need
Tire levers, the new tire, a tube that matches it, a floor pump with a gauge, and a rag. For a tubeless setup you also need tubeless sealant, a valve core remover, and either an air compressor or a high-volume pump to seat the tire.
Replacing the tire and tube together
- Turn the bike off and remove the battery, then take the wheel out. A rear hub motor wheel has extra steps, covered in our rear hub motor wheel guide.
- Remove the old tire and tube. Let all the air out, push both beads to the middle of the rim, and lever one side off starting opposite the valve. Then pull the second bead off so the tire comes away completely.
- Inspect the rim. The rim tape must cover every spoke hole and sit flat. Replace it if it has slipped or torn. Feel for sharp edges around the valve hole.
- Find the rotation arrow on the new tire sidewall, if it has one, and point it in the direction the wheel turns when you ride forward.
- Fit one bead of the new tire onto the rim all the way around.
- Put a little air in the new tube so it holds its shape, push the valve straight through the rim hole, and tuck the tube into the tire.
- Fit the second bead, starting at the valve and working both ways, finishing opposite the valve. Keep the tube out from under the bead.
- Inflate slowly. At low pressure, check that the molded line above the rim sits evenly on both sides. Then inflate to the pressure printed on the sidewall, never above the tire or rim maximum.
- Refit the wheel, tighten the axle nuts to the torque in your manual, check the brakes, refit the battery and test at walking pace.
Setting up tubeless: the outline
- Confirm compatibility first. Park Tool's tubeless guide starts with this step for a reason: the rim, tire and rim tape must all be made for tubeless use.
- Fit the tubeless valve and the tire. Check the rotation arrow, then mount both beads.
- Seat the beads. With the valve core removed, give the tire a fast burst of air from a compressor or high-volume pump until both beads snap into place.
- Add sealant through the valve in the amount the sealant maker recommends for your tire size, refit the core, and inflate.
- Spread the sealant by spinning and tilting the wheel, then check the pressure again the next day.
Safety notes
- Wear eye protection when seating a tubeless tire or inflating a new tire to full pressure.
- Do not exceed the lower of the tire and rim maximum pressures.
- If you have disc brakes, do not squeeze the brake lever while the wheel is out of the bike.
Not sure which tire size or width suits your bike? Our fat-tire guide explains the common sizes.