Unless you’re a serious bicycle rider, you might not give a lot of thought to your bike tires until they need air or repair. The air in your bicycle’s tire helps provide smooth riding, stability and a fair bit of shock absorption. John Boyd Dunlop invented the air-filled pneumatic tire in 1888, taking the bumpiness out of the ride and giving relief to the backsides of bicyclists everywhere.
It’s easy to understand why the air-filled tired was a welcome development for people who regularly used bikes. Early bicycle tires were made of leather or solid rubber. Because of that, riding a bicycle could be rough and uncomfortable. Pneumatic tires made bicycles easier to manage and a lot more pleasant to ride. Undoubtedly this helped increased the bike’s popularity.
But pneumatic tires aren’t all sunshine and roses. They require maintenance—more so than solid rubber tires—which includes inflating the tires properly. And that’s where valves come in. Valves open to let the tire receive air and then remain securely closed, maintaining the correct pressure.
Schrader and Presta Valves
The everyday bike rider may never think about bike valves until it’s time to inflate their tires or the valve needs repair. But knowing a thing or two about valves could be helpful for bike owners. Once you have even a basic understanding, you’ll know how to handle them and what to shop for when purchasing a take-along pump.
Schrader and Presta valves are two valve types used on pneumatic bicycle tires. The valves are part of the tire’s inner tube, but it’s possible to use the valves with tubeless tires, as well. The typical Schrader valve is shorter and broader than the Presta valve, although longer Schrader valves are available. The Schrader valve’s short and chunky appearance is like a valve on a car tire, and for that reason, Schrader valves are also known as “car” valves. The Presta valve is long and thin, with a threaded screw arising from the top. The entire outside of a Presta valve may also be threaded.
The Anatomy of a Schrader Valve
A Schrader valve designed for tires is partially-wrapped in rubber. The top portion of the valve is threaded, allowing it to accept a dust cap. The threaded portion also makes it easy to fit a pump head over the opening. The valve comes with a spring-loaded center pin that serves as a check valve, meaning that it only permits air to flow in but not out. When filling the tire with air through the Schrader valve, the pump forces the valve open by exerting pressure on the center pin. The Schrader valve is simple to use and constructed so that a typical gas station air pump can serve as an air source.
The Anatomy of a Presta Valve
The Presta valve has a slender threaded metal body. The threaded body makes it easy to secure the valve to the rim using a special nut. The Presta valve requires unscrewing a nut at the top to inflate the tube. Opening the nut requires care to avoid unscrewing the entire core because that will allow air to escape from the tire suddenly.
Special pumps are designed for Presta valves. It’s essential to follow instructions when using a take-along Presta valve pump because when the tire is unstable, it’s easy to damage the valve. Attaching a Schrader adapter to a Presta valve makes it possible for a bicyclist to pump air from a gas station air pump. Since Presta valves come in different lengths, it’s crucial to consider rim depth when purchasing a tube with Presta valves. When a bicycle has deep rims, it needs tubes with longer Presta valves.
Is a Schrader Valve Better Than a Presta Valve?
In the end, the decision of which valve you use may come down to the manufacturer’s preference. Presta valves have some advantages that make them complement high-end and performance bikes. The air pressure in the tire itself creates a strong seal, so there is no need for a check valve. Presta valves allow for higher tire pressures and are lightweight, contributing to a smoother ride. A Presta valve’s slim size means that the hole where it fits inside the rim is smaller, making the rim stronger.
However, Schrader valves are standard on many bicycles and scooters, including SWAGTRON’s® eRideables. They’re much more convenient for the casual or occasional rider, letting them add air pressure at any gas station without worrying about adapters or losing the valve core. The sturdy construction of a Schrader valve makes it a good choice for children’s bikes. Schrader valves also work well on mountain bikes, although you might find some mountain bikes with Presta valves. The typical air pressure gauge is designed for use with the Schrader valve but adding a Schrader adapter to a Presta valve makes it possible to use the gauge with a Presta valve.
