Updated on March 16, 2023
There are a few ways to pump air into a bike tire. If you have a CO2 cartridge and inflator, that’s the easiest way. You can also use a hand pump or an air compressor.
If you’re using a CO2 cartridge and inflator, remove the cap from the cartridge and screw the inflator onto the cartridge. Push down on the inflator to release gas into the tire. Keep pumping until the desired pressure is reached. Unscrew the inflator from the cartridge and replace the cap on the cartridge.
If you’re using a hand pump, remove the cap from the pump head and push it onto the valve of the tire being careful not to let it touch either side of the rim (this could damage the valve). Unscrew the cap from the tire. Push down on the pump to start filling the tire with air. Once the desired pressure is reached, unscrew the pump head from the valve and replace the cap on the tire.
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If you’re using an air compressor, remove the cap from the pump head and screw it onto the valve of the tire being careful not to let it touch either side of the rim (this could damage the valve). Set the compressor to fill to the desired pressure. Once it’s reached that pressure, unscrew the pump head from the valve and replace the cap on the tire.
Why can’t I pump air into my bike tire?
It’s possible that you don’t have a compatible valve for the pump.
Most bike pumps come with two different types of valves – Schrader and Presta. Presta valves are much narrower than Schrader valves and are found on high-end bikes. To determine which type of valve your tire has, unscrew the cap at the top of the valve and take a look inside. If you see a small metal spring, then you have a Schrader valve (the most common type). If you see a small hole with a screw in it, then you have a Presta valve.
If your pump doesn’t have a Presta valve adapter, you can purchase one separately or simply use an adjustable wrench to slightly open up the Schrader adapter so that it fits snugly on the Presta valve.
Another possibility is that the valve is damaged or bent and is not allowing air to flow through. Inspect the valve to see if it’s bent or damaged in any way, and replace it if necessary.
Finally, make sure that the pump is actually turned on and that there’s power running to it. If you’re using an electric pump, check to make sure that the cord is plugged in and that there’s power running to the outlet. If you’re using a hand pump, make sure that you’re actually pumping air – it’s easy to assume that you are when you’re not!
How do you pump up a road bike tire?
There are a few ways to pump up a road bike tire. One is to use a hand pump. Another is to use a CO2 canister. And the third is to use an electric pump.
The hand pump is the most common way to do it, and it’s the most basic. You just put the pump over the valve on the tire and start pumping. It takes some effort, but eventually, the tire will be pumped up.
The CO2 canister method is faster than the hand pump method, but you have to have a CO2 canister with you in order to do it. You also have to make sure that your bike has fitting CO2 canisters on it first.
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How do you put air in a tubeless bike tire?
There are a few ways to do this. The easiest is to use a CO2 cartridge. Another way is to use a hand pump. If you have an air compressor, you can also use that.
To use a CO2 cartridge, remove the valve cap from the tire and screw the cartridge onto the valve stem. Push down on the cartridge until it’s in all the way. Hold onto the tire and push down on the stem of the cartridge until you hear a hissing sound, then release. This will fill up the tire with air.
To use a hand pump, attach it to the valve stem and pump until you feel resistance, then stop pumping. Do this 10-15 times until the tire is inflated.
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If you’re using an air compressor, set it to the desired pressure and attach the hose to the valve stem. Turn on the compressor and wait until the tire is inflated.
Austin Jacobs is a passionate cycling enthusiast who has over five years of experience in bike repair and maintenance. He is an avid mountain biker and loves tinkering with bikes for hours on end to make sure they are running at their optimum performance level. Leland’s blog, which focuses on bike repairs and tips to keep them in good running order, was created out of a desire to share his knowledge and help fellow cyclists stay safe while enjoying the outdoors. He covers topics such as preventive maintenance, troubleshooting common issues, basic tools and supplies needed for repairs, and more.