If you’ve decided to inflate your bike tires at a gas station, you need to inflate them with the recommended pressure. Overinflating or underinflating your tires can affect the performance of your bike on the road. In contrast, using the right pressure will boost your ride’s performance.
So, how do you put air in bike tires at a gas station? Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you when inflating your bike tires.
Table of Contents
How to Inflate Your Bike Tires at a Gas Station
Find out the valve you have
The first thing to do at a gas station before inflating your bike tires is to check whether the air pump is compatible with your bike valves. To efficiently infuse air, the air pump must fit the valve well. You’re lucky if you have Schrader valves because they use the same valves as car tires. For Presta valves, you will need to purchase an adapter beforehand.
Check your tire’s/tube’s pressure rating.
If you don’t have a pressure gauge, request the station attendant for one. You should inflate your tires to the right pressure in short bursts because a gas station air pump has very high pressure, which can pop your tires.
Different bike tires come in different ranges. Narrow tires need more pressure than wide tires. You can check the recommended pressure range of your bike tires on the tires’ sidewalls. Here are the recommended PSI for different bike tires:
- Road bike tires: 80 to 130 PSI
- Hybrid tires: 40 to 70 PSI
- Mountain bike tires: 25 to 35 PSI
A pressure gauge is the most appropriate way to know when your tires need to be pumped. If the air pressure is below the recommended PSI, it’s time to inflate your tires.
How to Inflate Your Bike Tires Using a Schrader Valve
A Schrader valve is found on old bike tires, car tires, and mountain bikes. It comes with a metal pin in the center of a threaded valve and a rubber cap screwed onto the valve. If your bike has a Schrader valve, putting air in your tires using a gas station pump is a simpler process. Here’s what you need to do.
- Unscrew the dust cap covering the valve and then twist the cap nozzle clockwise to remove it.
- Mount the nozzle of the air hose to the tire valve and ensure it fits well.
- Inflate the tire in short bursts while checking the pressure to ensure it’s not over-inflated. Overinflation can cause your inner tubes to blow.
- Fit the dust cap back to the valve. Bounce your bike a little bit to check if your bike is firm enough. If it doesn’t have the recommended inflexibility, add more air until you hit the right pressure level. Leave an allowance of not more than 5 PSI to the recommended level to avoid overinflating your tires.
How to Inflate Your Bike Tires Using a Presta Valve
A Presta valve is mainly found on road bikes and some mountain bikes. It’s a slim valve with a nut at the top that’s tightened and loosened before and after inflation. Some new bike pumps have a head with spaces for both Presta and Schrader valves or an adapter to change from Schrader to Presta. If your tire has a Presta valve, here’s how to inflate your bike tires.
- Unscrew the valve cap
- Loosen the nut at the top of the stem. Press the stem; if you notice a short burst of air escape, the valve is loose enough.
- Insert the small opening of the pump on the valve’s head. If the valve has an adapter, change the opening from Schrader to Presta.
- Inflate the tires to the desired PSI.
- Tighten the nut, and screw the dust cap back on.
Are there alternatives to gas station air pumps?
If you can’t access a gas station when you need to inflate your tires, there are several options you can use to remain on the road. Here are some of the alternatives you can use to inflate your bike tires.
Lezyne Twin Kit CO2 Inflator
This air pump comes with compressed cartridges of CO2. These cartridges are designed to blow air into your bike tires through the nozzle. This kit is so tiny and won’t interfere with the carrying capacity of your backpack. The air nozzle is easy to use and compatible with both Schrader and Presta valves.
Topeak Road Morph Pump with Gauge
This pump is designed to fit in your bike frame with the included mounting system. It is compatible with Schrader and Presta valves and can inflate your tires up to 140 PSI. One of the best features of this pump is its fold-out and handgrip, making it stable and comfortable to use.
Conclusion
Although it’s possible to inflate your bike tires in a gas station, it may not be the best choice. You should only use it as a last resort. If your bike tires have Schrader valves, inflating them in any gas station is easy. However, if you have Presta valves, you need to buy an adapter beforehand. Fortunately, there are better alternatives designed to keep your bike tires safe.