Flat tires frustrate everyone. Your first reaction might be to change the tire and have it repaired, but that might not be necessary. Your tire might just have a bad valve stem. The valve stem provides the means to fill the tire with air. If it fails, it can begin to leak, allowing ...
How to Determine and Modify Tire Pressure: The only thing separating your automobile and the ground is four patches of rubber, each patch roughly being the size of your hand. On a motorcycle we know, that we are already are dealing with half of the numbe
You may use the valve stem as a reference, starting the roll with the valve right over a perpendicular line, and ending when the valve is back at its low point. Another approach is to put a small dot of paint on the tire and measure the distance between the marks that the paint pri...
After that is done, pull back the tire at the opposite side of the valve stem. Then, slide a screwdriver or preferably a tire lever between the tire and the rim. Go slow as to not pinch the tube. If the tire lever gets stuck, lock the free end into the wheel spokes and continue ...
If it’s wider, like a car tire valve, it’s Schrader. Still unsure? Ask a friend or visit a bike shop – they’re like bike superheroes ready to help. Choosing the Right Pump: Most pumps can handle both valve types. Find one with a bigger nozzle for Schrader and a smaller one ...
Bike tire tubes have either a Schrader valve or a Presta valve for tire inflation. Car tires in the U.S. all use Schrader valves. Bike pumps usually have a two-hole nozzle to adapt to either type of valve – so they will also work on car tires. Warning: it’s going to be a lot...
Apart from the tire's grip, the most crucial aspect is air pressure. Pressure is key to safe, functional tires, so it’s critical to know how much is too low when it comes to tire pressure.
To check the air pressure, unscrew the cap from the tire's valve stem and place the round end of the gauge over the stem. Push down with some force to ensure there is a good seal, otherwise the reading will be incorrect (and you may also lose air pressure). To determine what the ...
the wheel with the valve stem (where you add air) should be facing outward, toward you. Center the wheel on the studs and screw the lug nuts back on, tightening initially by hand. Then use the lug wrench to snug them up—but don't tighten them fully just yet. There's one more ...
Almost all tires lose air pressure gradually over time through the inflation valve, even with a spare or if the vehicle is in storage and rarely driven. There’s a cap, but the role of the valve stem’s dust cap is to keep dirt out instead of better keeping air in. So while it’s...