1 — A little history

The first tires were made of metal, then solid rubber. In 1845, Robert William Thomson designed the first pneumatic tire with an inner tube. In 1887, John Boyd Dunlop redeveloped the idea and popularized the modern inflatable tire. In 1891, the Michelin brothers introduced the detachable tire, facilitating puncture repair and replacement.

2 — Prepare the equipment

• New inner tube
• 
• Tire levers (e.g., Newton)
• Bicycle pump or inflator (Michelin)
• Puncture repair kit (Michelin, TIP TOP, Vittoria) + glue
• CO₂ cartridges (Zefal/Velox) with clip
• Pressure gauge (Schwalbe)
• Optional: puncture repair spray, Hutchinson tubeless plug, Slime puncture sealant

3 — Remove the wheel

1. Place the bike upside down or on a work stand. (Officine Parolin)
2. Unlock the axle with the appropriate tool.
3. Remove the punctured wheel.

4 — Remove the inner tube

1. Insert a tire lever under the tire bead.
2. Slide it all around to free one side.
3. Remove the inner tube and disengage the valve.

5 — Inspect the tire

Run your hand inside the tire and remove any foreign objects (glass, nail, gravel). This step limits puncture recurrence.

6 — Install the new inner tube

1. Inflate the inner tube very slightly to prevent pinching.
2. Insert the valve into the rim hole.
3. Replace the tire without pinching the tube.

7 — Inflate to the correct pressure

Use a bicycle pump, a Roto inflator, or a Zefal/Velox CO₂ cartridge. Check with a Schwalbe pressure gauge and respect the recommended pressure by the tire manufacturer.

8 — Repair the inner tube (alternatives)

Method with patch

1. Locate the leak (slight inflation or soapy water).
2. Lightly sand around the hole.
3. Apply patch glue (TIP TOP / Vittoria), then place the patch and press.
4. Allow to set before reassembly.

Use puncture repair spray

1. Shake, screw onto the valve, and inject (Michelin, Velox, Zefal).
2. Ride for a few minutes to distribute the product.

Temporary repair by knot

1. Cut at the leak, tie a tight knot, reinflate.
2. Temporary solution only, to be replaced quickly.

Tubeless method

Insert a Hutchinson plug into the puncture or reinject Slime puncture sealant, then reinflate.

9 — Prevent punctures

• Install reinforced tires with puncture protection belt (Newton, Zefal).
• Choose self-sealing inner tubes.
• Switch to tubeless with Slime sealant.
• Add a Vittoria puncture protection insert.
• Maintain optimal pressure using a manometer / gauge.
• Replace worn tires in time.
• Install a Jantex Velox rim tape in good condition.

10 — Recommended emergency kit

• Spare inner tube
• Repair kit (Michelin) with patches and glue
• Bicycle pump or Roto inflator
• CO₂ cartridge (Zefal/Velox) with clip
• Puncture repair spray (Michelin, Velox, Zefal)

With this kit, bicycle puncture repair becomes quick and reliable, both in the workshop and on the go.