Originally Posted by
Bob Dopolina
Don't remove the tire when fixing a flat. Pop off one side only with the tire levers and pull out the tube. The tire should never have to leave the rim.
I haven't used tire levers in 20 years. I don't carry them. I find that I can't see the inside of the tire as well that way, so it's harder to see what came through or find the piece of radial wire, etc. It's at least as quick to pop the whole tire and tube assembly off at once by hand, since the first bead only takes seconds to remount by hand. And then I'm certain I've seen and removed any problems. I'm also backward from some experts, in that I mount the bead at the valve first and the opposite side last, by hand of course. Just my experience and method.