How to Install Bicycle Tire Liners in Bicycle Tires and Stop Flats

Stop flats best with RhinoDillos Tire Liners

Dealer Installation Is Recommended for Tire Liners, but if You Insist on DIY, Here Are the Steps

Before you begin the installation of your new tire liners, a word to the wise.  Recent laboratory tests, and tests conducted by bicycle dealers nationwide, have proven that the RhinoDillo brand of bicycle  tire liners is substantially more resistant to puncture than other leading brands.  You can check out the results of these tests by going to this website.

Step number 1.  Roll out the liner and give it some time to relax from the shape it has acquired from being rolled up.  You may even want to double it back on itself near the end, by rolling it the reverse way.  This will make the liner easier to handle.

Step number 2.  Never cut the end of the liner.  It is designed to overlap in the tire casing.  However, if the liner has a sharp corner on the end, you may want to use an abrasive to feather this out.  Some brands are very good about keeping the ends well rounded.  Others are not quite as consistent.

Step number 3.  You don't have to remove the wheel from the bicycle in order to install.  If you have QR (quick release), you may prefer to remove the wheels to create greater leverage for removing the tire casing from the rim.

Step number 4.  When removing the tire casing, only remove it half way, and leave the inner tube partially inflated.  This will make it easier to install the liner.  So deflate the tube partially at this step in order to make it easier to remove the tire casing.

Step number 5.  Insert a tire removal tool, or if you're really good, your fingers under the bead of the tire and remove one side of the tire from the rim.


Step number 6.  Feed the tire liner up into the crown of the tire casing with the curve of the liner matching the curve of the tire.  For dual durometer tire liners (by far the best) this will be the side of the liner with the thin color strip against the tire, and the side without the color strip facing the inner tube.  The color strip is made of very tough material and provides more resistance to puncture than liners that are all one color (single durometer or single hardness).

Step number 7.  Feed the tire liner all the way around the tire until it meets the other end.  Overlap these end.  While holding the liner in place push the innertube into the casing so that it is now helping to maintain the position of the liner.  This will all be done with one side of the casing bead still in position on the rim.

Step number 8.  When the innertube is fully in place, check to see if the liner has also remained in place.  If it has slipped, push it back over the top of the tube into position.  If necessary, add a little more air to the tube to help keep the liner in place.

Step number 9.  Use your tire changing tool or the heal of your hand to replace the bead of the tire over the bead of the rim until it is fully remounted.  Now add air and ride.  You have just reduced your chance of a flat by around 90%.   Even more than that if you are using RhinoDillos brand tire liners.

Do you have a method or approach that differs from this?  Let us know in the comments.