Fix guide · Tires & wheels

Why Your E-Bike Keeps Getting Flats

Stop repeat flats for good

Quick answer

Usually something is still stuck in the tire, the rim tape has moved, or the pressure is too low. Find which and fix it, and the flats stop.

An inner tube held underwater, with air bubbles showing where the puncture is — Can't find the hole? Hold the inflated tube underwater and look for bubbles. Photo: Schumi4ever, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (resized)

Try this first

Free, and each takes under 5 minutes.

Look at where the hole is
Search the tire carefully
Check the tire pressure

In plain English

Repeat flats almost always have a cause you can find. Look at where the hole is on the old tube. Outside (tread side) means something in the tire. Inside (rim side) means rim tape or a spoke. Two small slits side by side mean a pinch flat from low pressure.

Watch how it's done

How to Patch a Bicycle Inner Tube Park Tool · YouTube · loads when you tap play

Video by Park Tool. It may show a regular bike: on an e-bike, switch off and remove the battery first, and unplug the motor cable before taking off a hub-motor wheel.

Step-by-step checklist

Work from the top. Steps go from free and easy to shop jobs. Switch the bike off before touching any connector. Tick each step as you go. Your progress is saved on this device.

1Look at where the hole isFree Outside of the tube: something sharp in the tire. Inside: rim tape or spoke holes. Two slits ("snake bite"): low pressure. Near the valve: the valve was pulled at an angle.
2Search the tire carefullyFree Take the tube out and slowly run a cloth around the inside of the tire. It snags on tiny wires or thorns your fingers might miss.
3Check the tire pressureFree Use a pump with a gauge. Pump to a pressure within the range printed on the tire's sidewall.
4Check the rim tapeEasy With the tube out, check the tape inside the rim covers every spoke hole. If it has slipped or split, replace it with tape the right width.
5Add protectionEasy Puncture-resistant liners or tube sealant stop many small punctures. Both are cheap and easy to fit.
6Replace a worn tireModerate If the tread is flat, cracked, or you can see threads, the tire is worn out and will keep puncturing. See our tire replacement guide.
7Have the wheel checkedShop job A shop can true (straighten) the wheel, replace spokes and check the hub bearings.

Parts you might need

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Only buy a part if the free steps didn't fix it. Always match the voltage and connector type to your bike.

Puncture-resistant tire liners
A strip between the tire and tube that stops thorns and glass.
Link coming soon
Tube sealant
Liquid inside the tube that seals small punctures as they happen.
Link coming soon
Rim tape
Covers the spoke holes inside the rim so they can't puncture the tube. Match your rim width.
Link coming soon
Inner tube
Must match the tire size printed on the sidewall and your valve type (Schrader or Presta).
Link coming soon

Still not fixed?

Pages to try next:

When it's time for a shop: if you've worked through every step and the problem is still there, take the bike to an e-bike shop. Bring your notes on when it happens, plus the code.

Quick answer

Try this first

In plain English

Watch how it's done

Step-by-step checklist

Parts you might need

Puncture-resistant tire liners

Tube sealant

Rim tape

Inner tube

Still not fixed?