Why do bikes use Presta valves? They require a smaller hole in the rim, which improves rim strength. They’re lighter, so high-performance wheels don’t need to be counterbalanced for the stem weight in order to spin smoothly.
Q. Can I use Schrader valve instead of Presta?
Presta vs Schrader valves are compatible with different types of pump heads. You cannot pump air through a Presta valve with a Schrader-specific pump head and vice-versa.
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Q. Do you need a special fitting 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.
Q. Does my bike have Presta or Schrader valves?
Valve types 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.
Q. Are Presta and Schrader valves the same diameter?
As far as wheel comparison is concerned, the only difference between the two valves’ tubes is in the rim’s valve hole size. Presta valves have a 6mm diameter, while Schrader valves measure 8mm in diameter.
Q. Are all Schrader valves the same?
All Schrader valves used on tires have threads and bodies of a single standard size at the exterior end, so caps and tools generally are universal for the valves on all common applications. The core of the valve can be removed or tightened with a tool.
Q. Is a Schrader valve a standard valve?
The valve you probably grew up with, the same one you’ll find on a standard car tire, is called a schrader valve. Recognizable by their quarter-inch diameter and the pin in their center, schrader valves have been the standard on cars and kids’ bikes in the states for more than 100 years.
