Replace e-bike flat tyre: do it yourself or let it come?

• Always first: out of the bike, out of the battery, then tinker.
• Front wheel without motor: do it yourself in 20-30 minutes.
• Rear wheel with hub motor or belt: let do.
• Never drive on a flat tire, that costs you the tire or rim.
• First, the shard from the tire, otherwise it'll be leaking again.

Front wheel without motor: fine to do yourself

Check: Is the engine in the rear wheel or in the middle (trapas)? Then the front wheel is a normal bicycle wheel.

Tip: release the quick release or undo the two nuts, take out the wheel and change the tyre as on any bike. With tyre levers and a new inner tube, this takes 20–30 minutes, even without experience.

Rear wheel with center motor or chain: to do with experience

Check: Is the motor with the pedals (mid motor) and does the bike have a regular necklace with derailleur?

Advice: The wheel has to come out along the gear, puzzle with the chain, but there are no motor cables to the wheel. If you have changed a rear tyre, this will work.

Rear wheel with hub motor: this is where things go wrong

Check: Is the engine in the rear wheel? That goes for Cowboy, VanMoof and many other city e-bikes.

Advice: There is a motor cable with connector to the wheel, and at Cowboy there is a carbon belt that needs to return to exactly the right voltage. A wrongly drawn connector or weak belt means a bike that doesn't work anymore.

Step 1, Turn off the bike and remove the battery

Always first, even with a front wheel: this way the engine can't accidentally hit and you don't pull a voltage over a connector. Removable battery? Out. Fixed battery (Cowboy, VanMoof)? Bike completely switched off.

Step 2, Remove the wheel (or work on site)

Front wheel: release the quick release or undo the nuts. Cannot remove the wheel or unsure about disconnecting the motor cable? You can also replace an inner tube with the wheel still in the bike. It is harder, but an open-ended inner tube can be used as an emergency solution.

Step 3, Light rim strap

Clear the tyre completely, press the heels to the center of the rim and work with two or three tyre levers the tyre over the edge. Never a screwdriver, which damages tire and rim.

Step 4, Find the cause before mounting the new tire

Carefully feel around the inside of the tyre: glass, a staple or a shard often stays behind and can immediately puncture your new inner tube. Also check that the rim tape covers the spoke holes properly.

Step 5, Mount the new inner tube

Inflate the new inner tube just enough to give it shape, place it inside the tyre and use your palms to work the tyre back over the rim. Make sure the inner tube is not pinched between the tyre and the rim.

Step 6, Pump and check for voltage

Pump to the pressure on the side of the tyre (usually 3,5-5 bar for city e-bikes). Too gentle driving is the number-one cause of the next flat tyre. Turn the wheel around and check if the tyre is anywhere on the rim.