Bicycles are used all over the world. A single bicycle has two tires. There is a tube inside the tire. Bicycle tires have different types of valves. Presta valve and Schrader valve are the two most commonly used valves in bicycle tires. These valves install in the inner tube, and you can also utilize them in tubeless tires. The Presta valve is longer and narrower than the Schrader valve. It has threaded screws from top to bottom. You can also thread the entire exterior of the Presta valve. This article mainly explains different aspects of the Presta valve.
What is a Presta Valve?
Presta valve is the most famous bicycle inner tube valve which is used on high-pressure road bicycles and some mountain bicycles. It is also known as the Sclaverand valve or French valve. This valve has an inner body, a valve cap, and an outer stem.
This is a thin and small-diameter valve. You can inflate the Presta valve only with a specially designed pump. It contains a threaded metal body. A specially designed nut uses on the threaded body to secure the valve on the tire rim.
If you want to inflate the tire tube, first of all, you need to unscrew the valve nut at the top. When opening the nut, don’t unscrew the entire core. In such a case, air will suddenly leak from the tire.
When using a Presta portable valve pump, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for its efficient operation and long service life. If your bicycle tire is unstable and you are using the pump to inflate the tire, there are high chances of damaging the valve.
The cyclist can pump air from the gas station air pump by connecting the Schrader adapter with the Presta valves.
There are many types of Presta valves according to the valve length. Therefore, you must consider the depth of the rim when buying tire tubes with Presta valves. If your bike has a deep rim, you will need a long tube with a Presta valve.
Parts and Function of Presta Valve
The Presta valve has an inner body, a valve cap, and an outer stem. It also has a lock nut which uses to secure the stem to the wheel rim. The air pumping process of this valve is a little bit difficult due to the small valve diameter. Therefore, it requires a small hole inside the rim.
The size of the stem hole is significant as it significantly reduces the strength of narrow cross-sections. Therefore, these valves are best suitable for tires that have narrow rim holes. In a narrow rim (e.g., clincher tire), there is not enough space to install a large Schrader valve between the beads of the tire.
If you drill a hole in the tire rim for a Presta valve, you cannot place a tube with a Schrader valve in your cycle rim because the Schrader valve has a large diameter, and it will not fit through the rim hole. Therefore, you will need to re-drill the wheel with a large hole to install a tube with a Schrader valve.
Presta valves are mostly used on narrow racing bike tires because of their small width and the need for tight holes in the rim. The valve hole is the weakest unit of the rim.
For Presta valves, the small head must be loosened (counterclockwise) before placing the head of the pump on the valve. Next, ensure that the head is sufficiently away and inflate your tire.
Construction of Presta Valve
The length of the exterior valve stem varies according to the application’s nature. The diameter of the Presta valve stem is narrower (0.23 inch (6 mm)) than that of the Schrader and Dunlop valves (0.32 inch (8 mm)).
The stem hole is the weakest part of a cycle rim. The small holes in the Presta valve reduce the wheel diameter and also maintain adequate wheel strength.
As you inflate the tire tube, the internal air pressure of the tube helps to close the internal body of the valve. A small attentive and threaded nut on the valve top allows you to tighten it and shut it tightly.
You need to unscrew the valve nut to allow air to flow in either direction (in the tube or out of the tube). Even when completely loosened, the screw will still hold on to the valve body. Inflate the tire, remove the pump, and retighten the screws.
The valve cover protects the valve body, stops mud and dirt from entering the tire tube, and stops the valve from damaging the tube during rolling storage, but doesn’t have to prevent pressure drop.
The rim hole drilled for the Presta valve is narrow than the hole of the Schrader valve. Therefore, you will need to enlarge this hole to install the Schrader valve, but this method destroys the rim design.
On the other hand, if you want to install Presta valves in the Schrader rim holes, reducers or washers may be needed to cover the additional area.
Standard Presta valves have external threads. You can attach an adapter to this external thread. This helps to attach the valve with the pump to a Schrader chuck. The appropriate thread size makes it possible to convert the Schrader pump into a pump that can be connected to any flexible adapter with the same adapter.
How to Use a Presta Valve?
A bicycle tire having a Presta valve can be inflated using a regular air pump. But you will need an adaptor with a regular air pump to inflate it.
Follow the below-given steps to inflate a Presta valve with a standard pump:
- First of all, eliminate the dust cap, unscrew the valve cap located at the valve top, and save it in a safe place so that it can’t be lost.
- Gently put the adaptor on the valve tip.
- Turn on the pump and start the pumping process to inflate the bike tires up to the desired pressure.
- After completing the inflation process, detach the adapter and tighten the Presta valve. Touch the valve tip to make sure that no air is leaking from the valve.
- Put the valve cap on the valve top.
Where Can I Get a Presta Valve Adapter?
The Presta valve adapter is very small. You can easily shift or carry it from one place to another. Due to its portable feature, it can also lose easily. However, the adapters have low prices. I generally purchase one at a time, one in the bike toolbox and the other in the portable tool bag. It’s not a bad idea to put it in the glove box!
All bicycle stores sell valve adapters, and some hardware and general sports stores sell them too. These adaptors are also available in different online stores from where you can easily buy them at the best reasonable cost.
How Do You Check the Pressure of Your Mountain Bike Tire?
Use your hand to check your tire pressure which is one of the short and cheap methods. As you push it, its center must be very stiff, and it should be a little bit out of the tire near the tread. However, manual tests are, of course, not 100% perfect. Such tests can give you some estimation only.
You need to use a pressure gauge to check the exact pressure inside your tire. As you know, the tire gauge is not reliable. Therefore, this gauge can damage easily.
How Do You Inflate a Presta Valve without an Adapter?
If you are in a hurry and don’t have a valve adapter or universal pump, you can use the Presta valve CAP to make an operational adapter. Follow the below-given steps to inflate a Presta valve without an adapter:
- First of all, eradicate the cap of the valve. Check where the valve cap is getting smaller. Cut from this smaller place with scissors or any other method to solve your problem.
- Lose the tire valve.
- Now install the modified valve cap down on the tire and tighten it by rotating it several times.
- Connect the pump and inflate the tire.
- Don’t forget to tighten the valve after inflating.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Presta Valves
Advantages of Presta Valve
- The Presta valve has a small diameter.
- It holds air in a better way.
- To install this valve, you need to drill a narrow hole in the tire rim.
- It allows high air pressure.
- It has high reliability and adaptability.
- With time, the air leakage starts from Schrader valves.
- The rim having a Presta valve has a small diameter.
- These valves have screws that allow the rider to shut the valve at the desired pressure.
- There are available in different lengths.
- These valves have low weight.
Disadvantages of Presta Valve
- These are longer than the Schrader valves.
- These valves need a specially designed pump or adaptor to inflate the tire.
- They are less popular valves.
- These contain more parts than the Schrader valves.
- These valves have more steps to unscrew the valve to inflate the tire tube.
Presta Valve Vs Schrader Valve
The main difference between the Schrader valve and the Presta valve is given below:
| Presta Valve | Schrader valve |
|---|---|
| The rim with the Presta valve has a small hole. | The rim having Schrader valve has a large hole. |
| It has a small diameter than the Schrader valve. | It has a large diameter. |
| It needs a low installation area in the rim. | It needs a large installation space in the rim. |
| The size of the rim having Presta is less. | The size of the rim having a Schrader valve is more than the Presta valve rim. |
| It is a light valve and improves the rolling resistance of the tire. | It is a heavyweight valve. |
| This valve doesn’t require a mechanical check valve to stop internal air pressure leakage. | This valve needs a mechanical check valve. |
| It has the following additional parts than the Schrader valve: 1) Locknut 2) Valve lockring 3) Valve core | It has fewer parts. |
| The Presta valves are more complex than the Schrader valves. | These are simple valves. |
| It holds more pressure than the Schrader valve. | It can’t hold very high pressure. |
| These aren’t very famous as Schrader valves. | These valves are most commonly used because of their simplicity. |
FAQ Section
Can you fill a Presta valve wheel with a regular pump?
The Schrader valve has an inner spring to inflate the valve. This inner spring also helps to shut off the valve. This design can easily be inflated using a normal air pump, and it doesn’t need an adaptor.
Presta valves are much narrower. They have a small diameter. Presta valves are usually used on higher-quality bikes with narrow rims. If you want to inflate a Presta valve wheel, you require a normal air pump with a specially designed adapter.
Why can't I pump my bike tire?
The bike tire has a tiny needle that needs to be pushed in to inflate the tire, and if it’s not pushed far enough, it won’t inflate no matter how hard you inflate it. Press this pin hard to secure the pump fitting to the valve fully.
Which is better Presta valve or Schrader valve?
The Presta valves are specially manufactured to use on bicycles. These valves have a low weight; due to that, they improve the tire’s rolling resistance. These valves have a small diameter than the Schrader valves. They cover a very small area in the bicycle wheel rim. Therefore, Presta valves slightly interrupt the rim design.
What are the types of Bike Valves?
- Presta Valve
- Dunlop Valve
- Schrader Valve
What are the advantages of Presta valves?
A Presta valve has the ability to hold high retention. These valves also have high reliability due to their ability to tightly seal through the air pressure. Additionally, these valves contribute to lighter weight and improved rolling resistance for the wheels. Another advantage of Presta valves is their adaptability, as they can be easily extended with adapters.
Why use Presta instead of Schrader?
In comparison to Schrader valves, Presta valves exhibit superior long-term performance by effectively retaining air and demonstrating prolonged durability. Additionally, Presta valves excel at maintaining higher pressures than their counterparts.
