How To Put Air In A Bike Tire

Inflating your cycle tires is a simple and painless job, as long as you know what tools you need. Identify your valve type with the methods below and pump appropriately.

1. 1

   A Schrader valve is besides called an American valve, or a automobile valve. The valve stem is surrounded by a threaded valve cadre; to press downward on the stem, you need to utilise a tool like a pen cap or your thumbnail.^[1] Schrader valves are typically wider in diameter and shorter than Presta or Woods valves. They're unremarkably found on cars, less expensive bikes and mountain bikes. To open a Schrader valve, simply unscrew the condom cap at the peak.

2. 2

   Figure out the recommended PSI for your tires. This is normally on raised print on the side of your bike tires and will consist of a range. Don't let your PSI go whatsoever lower than the lowest number; the high number is the recommended maximum PSI.

3. 3

   Locate a pump. If you don't already take i, try to use a gas station pump, or borrow ane from a friend.

   • If you have a Schrader valve, y'all're in luck - you won't need an adapter to employ a gas station pump. Ask the attendant for a force per unit area gauge and inflate your tires in modest bursts, checking the pressure level subsequently each one. Gas station pumps are extremely loftier pressure, and you can popular your tires if you lot're not careful.
   • If you lot're using a bicycle pump with two openings, the larger i is meant for the Schrader valve.
   • Smart pumps with ane opening volition automatically arrange to accommodate a Schrader valve.^[2]
   • A pump with one opening may require you to contrary an internal rubber stop to fit a Schrader valve. Unscrew the face cap and notice the rubber stop. The larger cease should be facing out for a Schrader valve.

4. 

   four

   Inflate the tire. Unscrew the safety cap on top of the valve and put it somewhere safe, like your dorsum pocket. Y'all don't desire to lose it.

   • Put the pump on the valve. If at that place's a lever near the nozzle, make sure it'southward in the open position (parallel to the nozzle) when you're putting information technology on the valve; snap the lever down into the closed position (perpendicular to the nozzle) when it'south on. Proceed an eye on the PSI as you pump.
   • Flip the lever support to remove the pump, then quickly render the rubber cap to the valve.

5. 

   five

   To deflate a tire with a Schrader valve, simply press on the springy valve stem with a fingernail or other modest tool until all the air escapes. ^[3]

1. 1

   The Presta valve, also chosen a Sclaverand or French valve, is commonly found on high-end road bikes. Presta valves are longer and narrower in bore than Schrader valves, and characteristic an external valve stem that is protected by a valve cap, instead of being surrounded by a valve core.^[iv]

2. 2

   Open the valve. To open a Presta valve, unscrew the dust cap at the height and put it somewhere condom. Then, loosen the small brass cap on the valve stem - it won't come off completely, but you should be able to raise information technology a chip. To check if you've loosened the bras cap plenty, press on the valve stem. If you can hear air escaping in a sharp flare-up, yous've loosened information technology plenty.^[5]

3. 3

   Figure out the recommended PSI for your tires. This is usually on raised print on the side of your bike tires and will consist of a range. Don't allow your PSI go whatever lower than the lowest number; the loftier number is the recommended maximum PSI.

4. 4

   Locate a pump. Try to utilize a gas station pump, or borrow ane from a friend. Yous can besides purchase pumps at your local bicycle shop.

   • To use a gas station pump on a Presta valve, you'll need a Presta adapter. This is a small cap you tin can screw onto a Presta valve to essentially plow information technology into a Schrader valve.^{[half dozen]} Some older bike pumps might also crave you to have a Presta adapter. You can buy one from your local cycle store. When using a gas station pump, ask the attendant for a pressure gauge and inflate your tires in small bursts, checking the force per unit area later on each ane. Gas station pumps are extremely high pressure, and you can popular your tires if you're not conscientious.
   • If you're using a bike pump with two openings, the smaller ane is for a Presta valve.
   • Smart pumps with one opening volition automatically accommodate to accommodate a Presta valve.
   • A pump with one opening may require yous to opposite an internal rubber stop to fit a Presta valve. Unscrew the face cap and observe the condom stop. The smaller end should be facing out for a Presta valve.

5. 

   v

   Inflate the tire. Open the Presta valve by unscrewing the grit cap and loosening the smaller brass cap.

   • Put the pump on the valve. If there's a lever near the nozzle, make certain it's in the open position (parallel to the nozzle) when you're putting it on the valve; snap the lever down into the closed position (perpendicular to the nozzle) when information technology's on. Keep an eye on the PSI equally yous pump.
   • Flip the lever support to remove the pump, and screw the brass cap closed.
   • Supplant the dust cap.

6. 

   six

   To deflate a tire with a Presta valve, open the brass cap and press on the springy valve stem until all the air escapes. ^[7]

Add New Question

• Question

  How do I know when I take pumped enough air into the tire?

  

  The tire should feel house - y'all shouldn't be able to pinch the sidewalls of the tire together very much. On a mountain cycle tire, you should be able to push in past about a centimeter or and then. Check the sidewall of the tire to find the minimum and maximum pressure level values and employ the approximate to get the pressure between these values.

• Question

  How do you pump upwards a tire on the route?

  

  Don't. Yous will be hit by a machine. Pull to the side of the road and then follow the steps shown here. Yous don't demand to know the exact pressure recommended for your tires. But press down on the tire with your finger and pump until it feels firm, but with a lilliputian requite left in it.

• Question

  What happens if I pump my tire upwardly too much?

  

  Should you pump the inner tube upwards too much, it will probable explode inside the tire. Cheque the sidewall of the tire to find the minimum and maximum pressure information technology tin handle.

• Question

  What should I utilize to seal the rim to the tire?

  

  There is no need to use anything to seal the tyre to the rim with a clincher setup (1 where you have a separate inner tube). With a tubeless setup, the tyre is stock-still to the rim.

• Question

  Why practice my tires go down after pumping them up?

  

  Bold the tubes are not old, in that location is mayhap a small hole in the tube, and possibly something in the tire itself made the pinhole. Older tubes, especially cheap ones, are porous and don't retain pressure well afterwards several months.

• Question

  Is at that place a way to get it out if I pressed the Schrader valve into the tire ring by accident?

  

  You'd have to unseat one dewdrop of the tire and piece of work the tube around slowly to slide information technology to the pigsty with the wheel off the cycle.

• Question

  What is the tire valve for a Mate bike?

  

  Pretty sure it has Schrader valves. Presta valves are not as common, and are mostly used on higher-end competitive road bikes.

• Question

  How do I inflate a bicycle tube with no pin on information technology?

  

  While at that place are tires without valves, it isn't likely that y'all'd accept one without knowing, as they tend to exist heavy, expensive and most of all don't become flat, they are filled solid. Brand certain your valve is not obscured by a dynamo or some other office of your bike.

• Question

  Is there any danger in inflating to the maximum recommended pressure level point or should I get out it betwixt minimum and maximum recommended force per unit area points?

  

  Jayden Watford

  Customs Answer

  In that location is no danger when inflating to the maximum bespeak but do not exceed this corporeality. Leaving it between the points is besides an pick if you lot all the same fear pumping it to the max.

• Question

  I bought a hand pump, merely where do I put the pin?

  

  The cycle of the dorsum tire has a small cap, like a toothpaste cap. Pull it off and put the pivot at that place.

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• If you purchase a pump, get one that makes sense for yous. Many are the stand-upwardly variety, where y'all stand on role while the handle goes upward and down. Others are more meaty--"mini" co-ordinate to a number of companies' labels--which tin can be handy when you are on the go.

• Proceed track of your valve caps. If you lose them, the valves tin can get dirty, leading to pumping difficulties, and will lose air more quickly.

• Cheque your air pressure in a few days to make sure that your tires are nonetheless properly inflated. If they are not, you may desire to replace your tires or inner tubes.

• If you cannot determine the type of your valve, take a photo of it. Bring it in with you when you are going to become your wheel pump.

• Periodically check the pressure as your tire is beingness inflated. Some newer bike pumps volition have a gauge built in that tells you the pressure level of your tire as you are pumping the air into the tire, all the same be careful non to pump as well much the tire might explode

• If y'all're unsure about how much air should be put in or you don't take a force per unit area indicator on your pump, just fill the tires until they are firm, yet so yous can yet squeeze them e'er so slightly. If you call back it'south done, you're probably correct.^[nine]

• Proceed newly inflated tires from sharp objects, and vice versa.

Things You'll Need

• A cycle
• Admission to a bike pump
• Possibly a valve adapter

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Article Summary X

To inflate bicycle tires with a Schrader valve, start by finding the recommended PSI range located on the side of your tires. Next, unscrew the prophylactic cap from the valve, connect a bicycle pump to the valve, and inflate the tire to your recommended PSI range. Later on that, remove the pump and screw the cap back on the valve. Alternatively, if you don't accept a cycle pump, you lot can use a gas station air pump. However, brand certain to ask the attendant for a force per unit area approximate, and inflate your tires in minor bursts to avoid popping your tires. For more tips, like how to inflate a Presta valve tire, read on!

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