What do I do about the tire on my daughter's bike?

KHALVE

New member
My daughter had 2 different used bikes that had the tires going flat. We replaced the tires several times and they always went flat. So we bought her a brand new bike for her birthday. She has had it for 2 months and the tire has gone flat already! What is going on? What can we do to make this stop?
 
Did YOU replace the tires or did a shop do it?

Yes, I know that replacing a tube is easy but many people forget to check to make sure the rim strip is intact, and to check inside the tire by FEELING for any protrusions (don't just look), to make sure the valve is straight, and to talc the tube so it moves inside the tire. A bike shop does all this. My first line of action after thorough checking is to replace the rim strip with one made of fabric, available under the brand name Velo.

Another possibility is the method by which the new tube is installed- tools, especially screwdrivers, should not be used to pry the tire on or off. Using a bit of muscle all but the most stubborn tires can be removed and installed by hand.

I suggest that you walk along the route normally ridden by your daughter and see if there are any places with sharp stones, thorn bushes, or other things that might compromise the tire and then the tube.

Finally, never repair a tube more than twice. The patch doesn't allow the tube to expand properly which stretches it abnormally and places stress on it.
 
If she is riding in the dirt she might be getting thorns, there are some tire liners that you can place between the tire and the tube that will help a lot.
 
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