Does my bike have Presta or Schrader valves?

For the most part, inner tubes and tubulars on road bikes will use Presta valves, and mountain bikes will use Schrader valves. The visual differences between the two are obvious, with the Presta (pictured above) being slimmer, lighter and having a lock nut to close that you can see on the top.

How do I know if I have Schrader or Presta valve?

A Presta-only pump has a rubber gasket in the head, or chuck, that will fit snugly around a Presta valve but not a Schrader. A Schrader-only pump has a pin in the center of the chuck to depress the Schrader stem’s check valve.

Do I need a special pump for a Presta valve?

To inflate a Presta valve you’ll need a regular air pump and a special adapter. The adapter effectively converts your Presta valve to a Schrader valve so that you can use a traditional air pump to inflate it. Attach your air pump and inflate the tire to the recommended pressure.

What is better Presta or Schrader valve?

Presta valves are easier to pump than Schrader, because they have no valve spring to overcome. In narrow rims, clincher tires also leave insufficient space between tire beads for larger Schrader valves. In contrast Schrader valves are more robust, universally used, and have an easily removable core.

Why do bikes use Presta valves?

In the past, sports and racing bicycles used Presta valves because they are slender and enabled racers to inflate tires with a simple pump with attached chuck (pump head) and no hose. Presta valves are easier to pump than Schrader, because they have no valve spring to overcome.

Which is better Schrader or Presta valve?

Can I use a Presta tube in a Schrader rim?

You can put a Presta-specific tube in a rim drilled for Schrader valves, but it’s not advisable for anything more than an emergency fix. Tubes and tires tend to move slightly on the rim. In the wider Schrader hole, a Presta can move around enough that the rim will actually cut the tube at the base of the valve.

How does a Presta valve work?

A Presta valve is a long, thin stem often found on the tires of high-end bikes. These valves work with a manual lock nut, as opposed the spring found on the traditional Schrader valve. Bike stores sell air pumps that can fit both valve styles or just one valve type.

What does a Presta valve stem do?

The presta valve is on the left. This is typically found in bicycle tubes on many road bikes and some mountain bikes. Since the stem on the presta is a lot narrower, it allows for manufacturers to make narrower wheels and tires . They tend to hold air better than Schrader valves.

Why is Presta valve?

Presta valves evolved as the preferred valve for high-performance wheels because the valve is designed so that the high air pressure inside the tube holds the valve closed, so it can maintain higher air pressure longer. Also, the thinner valves fit the narrow rims used by road bike wheels better than the fatter Schrader valves.