How To Use a Presta Valve Adapter
Learn how to use a presta valve adapter to inflate your tire using a regular air pump.
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- 01:08 - Many hand-held air pumps have a built-in presta valve adapter.
- 01:21 - PSI = Pounds per Square Inch.
The two most common valve types these days are Presta valves and Schrader valves. Schrader valves are most commonly found on bikes with wide rims and are the same style you’ll find on most automobiles. They use an internal spring to allow inflation while keeping the valve closed. You can inflate this style easily with any regular air pump.
Presta valves are a lot narrower and are commonly found on higher end bikes with narrow rims. They are a little trickier to inflate as they use a manual locknut to open the valve for inflation. To inflate a Presta valve you’ll need a regular air pump and a special adapter. These can be purchased for about a dollar at your local bike shop. In this tutorial, we’ll learn how to use the adapter to inflate your tire.
The first step is to remove the cap and then loosen the valve’s locknut all the way counter-clockwise. Notice that you can now let air out by depressing the locknut.
Now install the adapter by carefully threading it clockwise onto the valve stem’s threads. 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. This is written on your sidewall and is usually marked with a ‘PSI’ rating (pounds per square inch).
Once the tire is fully inflated, remove the air pump, remove the adapter, and finger tighten the locknut. Then replace the cap. There is another locknut at the bottom of the valve stem. This should be finger-tightened once the tire is inflated.
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21 Responses to “How To Use a Presta Valve Adapter”
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its good…perfect!
Yeah, i got some new tires/tubes for my mtn bike and had no idea how to air them up $2 got me an adaptor at the local shop.
Hi Alex,
Both my bikes (Bianchi 110-120 psi, Trek 80 psi) utilize Presta valves. I didn’t know about the adapter though, the sales guy showed me how to inflate without it. In your opinion, is there any harm/advantage to using an adapter other than fitting a standard-sized pump nozzle? Also, do any of your tutorials show how to inflate with CO2 cartridges? It was explained to me by store personnel ‘how to do’, but a visual demonstration would be helpful!
Thanks for sharing your expertise. I’ve shared your website with other of my biker friends and their opinions are the same as mine – this is a great resource!
Thomas
Status of this Request
It sounds like your pump has the Presta valve adaptor built in. There should be no problem using it.
As for the CO2 cartridge tutorial, I’ve added it to the list and will let you know when it is posted.
Cheers, and thanks for spreading the word!
Alex
Hi,
This is a excellent bit of kit even if you don’t have a Presta valve on your bike wheels for a small cost you can carry one in your saddle bag.
You never know if you will meet some one with this type of valve and they have a flat tire you can use your Schrader pump and this adapter and help them fix there bike at the road side.
I my self have invested in one as I often see people on the roads with road bikes but they don’t seem to carry any tools if I can help I will so could you.
Regards Anthony Dacko
United Kingdom
I have presta valves, and I keep the adapter screwed onto one of the wheels all the time (so I never lose it).
Another tip for always having the adapter handy… if you are on the road, you should always be carrying a small pump with you. Put the adapter in the pump as if you were inflating your tire, but of course keep it off the actual valve. That way, you don’t have to go searching for it at the bottom of your bag when you need it the most.
i keep mine on my keychain on a separate ring… no way of losing that lil’ nugget.
I am slightly confused. The last scene mentions “There is another locknut at the bottom of the valve stem. This should be finger-tightened once the tire is inflated.” However, should he have loosened it in the very beginning before pumping air into the tires? In other words, does this bottom locknut need to be loose in order to pump air in tires?
Sorry for the confusion. No, the bottom locknut doesn’t need to be loose to inflate the tire… just make sure it’s tight.
Love your tutorials. Its pretty cool how you respond to comments.
Can you leave the presta valve open and the adapter screwed on without harm or risk versus having to remove the adapter and unscrew the presta valve and then putting the adapter back on?
If you leave the valve open it can be easily deflated the same way as a regular schrader valve can. Closing the valve prevents accidental de-inflation.
Thanks. I guess it’s just a cost/benefit sort of comparison between the convenience of not going through the exercise each time you check your tires (usually prior to each time I ride) versus accidental de-flation. I’m just trying to get away with being lazy!
Great tutorials and great instruction. My new bicycle has presta valves, and now I can inflate them. But how can I measure the pressure so that I don’t over-inflate them? They are rated for 35-80psi, and I want to run them close to the high end… but not over.
If your pump doesn’t have a gauge you’ll have to get something like this that will tell you when it is at the right pressure.
I had to comment on this because I’ve been bummed about a flat tire I’ve had for months now and never got around the fixing. I tried a few times one day to pup it up with a regular pump and it popped right off. I finally got to searching tonight and found this amazing video showing me something so simple, but so imperative. I am SO happy to finally be able to ride my bike again! Thank you sooooo much!!!!!
I have Ksyrium rims on my road bike and have consistently had flat tires caused by the inner tubes pressing against the hole in the rim which accommodates the valve stem. The base of the valve on the inner tubes was quickly degraded to the point that it caused a rip around the edges where the hole in the rim is.
Cure: the local bike shop told me not to tighten the lock nut too much, and actually suggested I get rid of the lock nuts all together. Since then, I have had no flat tires due to inner tube at the bottom of the valve stems being ripped by pressure against the rim hole. The only time I find a use for the lock nut is when I am inflating a tire, especially when I have a flat on a ride and usually use my CO2 for inflation. Even then, I don’t tighten it all the way, just enough so I can get the tire seated correctly. Then I take the lock not off and stick it in my saddle bag.
How do I pump a tire with a pump that already has a connection that accepts both presta and shrader? I’m just following the steps of loosening the top nut and put the pump connector next to it and clamping down the lock thing on the side. Air doesn’t seem to be going in…
Your pump should have a way to set it for either presta or schrader valve. Maybe you’ll have to unscrew the end and reverse the fitting inside. Did the pump come with an instruction manual?
Jaymie, I am right there with you! HUGE Thanks to Alex, I didn’t know about the tiny nut at the top of the valve, and would never have figured it out without your tutorial! Though I feel like a big dummy, I can finally get on my bike again, HOORAY! I will be checking back for more insights.