How do I fix an uneven bike tire?

Question

My front and back tires both have low and high spots as the tire encircles the rim. The rim is a perfect circle but the tire is more of an oval. It is very noticeable when I am riding down smooth roads yet my ride is still bumpy. I have tried pulling the parts of the tire that are low in the rim but it still makes another low spot on another part of the tire.

Answer 1

First, make sure your tube isn't being pinched under the tire bead. This usually happens at the valve stem. Deflate the tire and push the stem all the way into the rim. Then push from the tire side to make it stick back out again and re-inflate.

If that doesn't fix the problem, try coating both beads with a mixture of dish detergent and water. That will help the bead seat if the tire is just a little balky.

Finally, if you just can't get them to seat properly, you may have to change the tires out. Sometimes certain brands of tire don't like to work with certain brands of rim due to small differences in measurements.

Answer 2

Take the wheel off of the bike.

Let out most of the air.

Lay the wheel on its side.

Break the bead away from the tire all the way around on both sides.

Mix up some dish soap and water and apply to the bead of the tire on both sides.

Center the tire and start pumping it up, stop and look at the bead, is it even all the way around ?

If its not, let out some air and try again.

Sometimes you can push around where the bead is hidden and it will pop out.

Don't use an air compressor because the tire may pop off of the rim and you will blow a tube.