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How to Install Antique Bicycle Tires

Installing a new pair of tires on a bicycle is a fairly straightforward process. Installing older tires is a different matter. Though they install in the same way, tire rubber degrades over time and antique tires can present unique challenges to installation. The biggest concern is to ensure that the tire is safe for use before it is mounted on the rim. Otherwise, it could give out while riding and put the rider at risk.

Things You'll Need

Inner tube
Pump
Tire levers

Instructions

Assessing the Tire
- 1
  Look at the tire's sidewall. This is the area in between the tread and the bead of the tire. If it appears dry, or if it has a crisscross pattern, the sidewall may be degrading and could burst if inflated. If this is the case, you probably should not use the tire.
- 2
  Look at the tire's tread. If it appears worn down and smooth on the center portion of the tire, it should be used with caution. A worn-out tire will not have as much grip when riding.
- 3
  Check the tire's bead. If the covering around the bead is frayed, exposing the bead, then it is unsafe for mounting. A well-preserved bead, the liplike region around a tire that seals it to the rim, should be sturdy and fully covered in rubber. It should not feel weak or brittle. A weak bead can give way while inflating, destroying the tire.
Installing the Tire
- 4
  Inflate the inner tube to 10 pounds per square inch using your pump then put the tube inside the tire. Align the valve stem of the tube with a marking on the tire, such as the tire's label. If the tube is punctured while riding, this will help you locate whatever caused the puncture. You do this by finding how close the puncture on the inner tube is to the valve stem, then looking for whatever caused the puncture in the corresponding area of the tire.
- 5
  Mount one side of the tire on to the rim with your hands. Use your hands in a rolling motion to push the tire's bead over the rim. Make sure the valve stem of the inner tube is put through the hole in the rim.
- 6
  Close up the other side of the tire using your hands. You may need to deflate the inner tube fully or use tire levers to do this. Use you hands in a rolling to pull the tire over the rim, or push from the other side of the rim using the palms of your hands.
- 7
  Rock the tire back and forth on the rim using your hands. This will help seat the bead on the rim and ensure that the tube is not trapped under the tire's bead. If you deflated the tire, inflate it back up to 10 PSI before doing this.
- 8
  Inflate the tire slowly to its recommended pressure. Stop as you inflate the tire and inspect the rim and the bead of the tire. If you see the tube bulging from the rim, stop inflating and deflate the tire, then try to seat the tire by rocking it back and forth with your hands. Do not exceed the maximum air pressure printed on the side of the tire.

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