One of the most important parts of bicycle maintenance is making sure your tires have the right amount of air and are ready for the road. If they are in low on air, your ride will not be as smooth as it can be and you may even damage your bike. This is even more important if you have a racing bike, as the rims are thinner and the tires need sufficient air pressure to properly support the frame.
Step 1
Spin the wheel so the valve is at the lowest point of the wheel.
Step 2
Open the valve. Depending on the type of valve, this can be done in one of two ways. Schrader valves are more common and require you to unscrew the valve cap and remove. Presta valves are skinnier and have a screw inside the valve which is twisted to open the valve.
Step 3
Read the recommended pressure on the side of the tire. Most tires will give you the readings in pounds per square inch, or PSI. This is the level to which your tire should be inflated.
Step 4
Place the air gauge on the valve. Note the reading as this will tell you how much air you need to add.
Step 5
Insert the right pump valve for the tire valve and connect the pump to the tire. Press the pump handle to drive air into the tire. Pump 10 to 15 times, remove the valve and place the air gauge on the valve to note the reading. Repeat this process until the tire is properly inflated.
Step 6
Replace the valve cap or close the screw to keep air from escaping.
Tips and Warnings
- If your bicycle tires does not have a PSI reading, Sheldon Brown's website provides a chart to help you figure the correct air pressure.
Things You'll Need
- Bicycle tire pump with interchangeable valve
- Air gauge
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