All bicycle tires gradually lose air each day. Even if you only ride occasionally and remove your bike from the bike rack once per week, the tire pressure will still drop. You should always check the PSI of your tires before riding and, if necessary, inflate them with a floor bike pump or a handheld pump.

How To Inflate Your Bicycle Tires

Maintaining proper tire pressure is the simplest way to keep your bicycle operating smoothly and avoid flat tires. The best riding, longest-lasting, and puncture-resistance tires have proper inflation.

Step 1. Know Your Valve Type

To make sure you get the right tubes as replacements, you need to know what type of valve your tube has. You now know how to set up your pump, attach it to the valve, and inflate the tire.

Presta valves must first have the tip unscrewed by rotating the tip counterclockwise before you can add or release air through it. In order to open the valve and let air out, press down on the tip. Press down to make sure the valve is open before inflating as well.

For Schrader valves, the valve core (the tiny pin inside the valve) must be depressed in order to release air. Attach the pump, then start working on inflating.

Tips

• Other names for Presta valves include “French,” “racing,” and “needle.”
• Presta valves can have smooth metal or rubber shafts as opposed to the threaded shafts depicted.
• Presta valves are available in various lengths. The length of the valves on your wheels should match. Your valves must be longer if your rims are deeper.
• Schrader valves, also known as “American” valves, are the same as auto valves.
• Plastic caps are frequently included with valves. These offer a small degree of protection and a “finished” appearance. However, because it’s simpler to inflate tires after the caps have been taken off, many cyclists opt not to ride alongside them.

Step 2. Attach The Pump

There are many different kinds of pumps, and the best way to ensure that you’re using yours correctly is to carefully read the instructions. The heads of many contemporary pumps can accommodate both types of valves. Simply use the valve’s hole, which is smaller for Presta and larger for Schrader.

When you want to pump up a different valve, you must disassemble some pumps’ convertible heads and reassemble the components. If you have one of these, configure it for your bicycle’s valves and keep the instructions close at hand so you can remember how to modify it when necessary.

Connecting the pump to the valve is not difficult at all. Make sure to unscrew and briefly press the tip of a Presta valve in order to open it. Aim to cover one-third to two-thirds of the valve by pressing the pump head on far enough.

If the pump head has a “lever lock,” you should flip it in order to attach it to the valve and begin pumping (picture).

Tip: Avoid pumping too hard. Pump damage can be avoided by pumping slowly and steadily, as excessively rapid pumping can damage the gauge.

Step 3. Inflate The Tire

How much tire pressure should you use? Use the manufacturer’s suggested pressure, which is printed on the tire sidewall (it’s frequently on a small label, but pay close attention because it might also be molded into the casing). This is a practical approach. This estimated inflation range serves as a good place to start. Experiment to determine the pressure that works and feels the best if there is a wide range, such as 40 to 60 psi.

Rider weight also has an impact on how the tires feel. For recommended pressures, see our chart.

All bicycle tires gradually lose air each day. The tire pressure will drop even if you only ride occasionally and remove your bike from the bike rack only once a week. Always check the PSI of your tires before riding and, if necessary, inflate them with a floor bike pump or a handheld pump.

What Psi Should Bicycle Tires Be At?

You can find the manufacturer’s suggested PSI (pounds per square inch) pressure range on the sidewalls of your tires. The ranges of bicycle tires vary, and narrow tires require more pressure than wide tires. For various tire types, the advised PSI is:

• Road bike tires: 80–130 psi
• Mountain bike tires: 25–35 psi
• Hybrid tires: 40–70 psi

Cycling experts can frequently tell if their tires need to be pumped by pinching the tire between their thumb and forefinger. Using a pressure gauge to check the tire’s air pressure will give you a more accurate idea of when to pump it; if the air pressure is below the recommended PSI, pumping is necessary. First, inflate your bike tire to the middle of the recommended PSI range. You should also consider your body weight. More PSI is required for tires that support a heavier rider. You’ll need to experiment with different PSIs to find the one that feels most comfortable to you because weather and terrain can also affect how a bike rides.

How to pump a tire with a Schrader valve

Older bicycle tires, mountain bikes, and tires for cars all use Schrader valves. It consists of a rubber cap that is screwed onto the valve and a metal pin in the center of a threaded valve. The majority of bike pumps, including the ones we reviewed, have either a single head with an adapter or a dual head to accommodate both Schrader and Presta valves.

If Your Tire Has A Schrader Valve

1. Take the rubber cap off and store it in a convenient location, such as your pocket.
2. Utilize a bike pump with an integrated gauge, such as the Topeak – Road Morph G, to check the tire’s PSI.
3. The bigger of the two openings is the pump’s Schrader head. (Typically, an S is used to indicate it.) As you press down to cover the tire valve with the opening, place it there.
4. A lever on the pump head will either push up, to the left, or to the right. The Schrader opening is locked onto the valve and the Presta opening is closed off by the lever.
5. Pump until desired PSI is reached while paying attention to the gauge. The pump will require more work as the pressure rises.
6. Pull up on the head after pulling the lever open, then screw the valve cap back on.

Best Floor Pump: Topeak – Joe Blow Sport III

With the least amount of effort, you can fill a bike tire to the recommended PSI with this sturdy, long-lasting floor pump, which fits Schrader and Presta valves easily and securely.

How To Pump A Tire With A Presta Valve

Road bikes and some mountain bikes both have Presta valves. The top of the thin valve has a nut that is adjusted before and after inflation. Nearly all modern bike pumps have a head with openings for both Schrader and Presta valves, or they have an adapter for changing from Schrader to Presta, like one of our top picks, the Topeak – Road Morph G.

If Your Tire Has A Presta Valve

1. Remove the valve cap by turning it counterclockwise.
2. On the stem’s top brass nut, loosen it. When you press down on the stem and hear a brief burst of air escape, the stem is sufficiently loosened.
3. Place the pump head’s smaller opening on the valve. Change the opening from Schrader to Presta if your pump has an adapter.
4. The Schrader opening is shut off and the Presta opening is connected to the valve by flipping the lever on the pump head.
5. When the gauge shows the desired PSI, stop pumping.
6. Open the pump’s lever, then take out the valve’s head.
7. Screw the dust protector back on after tightening the brass nut.

Best Mini Pump: Lezyne – Micro Floor Drive

With its clever ABS flip chuck, which you can switch from Schrader to Presta by simply turning it over, this compact yet powerful mini pump is lightweight and portable.

Pumping Bike Tires At A Gas Station

You could use a CO2 injector, like the one we reviewed, to quickly inflate your tires while you’re out riding if they need air. However, if you’ve forgotten your mini pump and don’t have a CO2 injector in your bag, you can pull into a gas station and fill up your tires there.

Ask the station attendant for a pressure gauge if you don’t already have one. Short bursts of tire inflation are best because the air pressure from a gas station air pump is so high that you run the risk of popping a tire.

Only Schrader valves can be inflated by air pumps found in gas stations. You can still blow air into your tires even though they have Presta valves and you don’t have a Presta valve adapter.

1. Remove the Presta valve cap by turning it counterclockwise.
2. Cut the pointed tip at the rim off with a pair of scissors or a knife.
3. Remove the stem of the valve.
4. Place the cut valve cap on top of the valve stem with the cut side facing up.
5. Onto the stem, screw the cap.
6. Inflate your tire in short bursts by placing the pump head over the valve that has been modified.
7. Remove the pump head and unscrew the cap after ensuring that your tire is inflated to the proper pressure. You’re prepared to remount!