Presta v Schrader

[ourclarioncall]

I see on Thorn bikes or touring bikes in general , presta valves is most combo

I really dislike these with a passion and have never had a good experience with them . I had my bike drilled out for schrader vslves which I’ve never had a problem using with pumps or at garages

Maybe I’ve just got unlucky , had poor quality pumps, or poor quality valves/tubes

How does everyone get on with them ?

I’m reluctant willing to give them another go if there’s some good reasons or his experience

[JohnR]

I've had no significant problems with either type. Presta valves tend to be used with narrower rims. The valves on the Schwalbe Presta tubes have removable cores which are useful for either replacing a leaky core or for squirting in some sealant (my first line of defence against puncture problems). I also keep a stock of these Presta - Schrader adaptors https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5-Piece-Brass-Presta-Valve-Schrader-Adaptor-Bicycle-Mountain-Bike-Tire-Tube-Pump/372706940175 so that I know that any pump can be used with a Presta valve while the pump on the bike is a Lezyne which has a reversible hose which fits Presta at one end and Schrader at the other.

[Danneaux]

Presta only for me since 1976. Very pleased with them, never a failure, easy to pump in my experience and airtight on all 13 of my 15 current bikes, the exceptions being a 1938 gentleman's bike and my 1970 U-frame folder. I prefer the smaller hole in the rim and rim tape and you can choose the valve length to match your rim (important if you use aero-section rims).

I generally store a Presta-to-Schraeder adapter on my rear wheel's Presta tube valve and cap it with a Schrader valve cap in the unlikely event I need to use a pump with Schraeder-only head (in case my primary or secondary pump fail*). The o-ringed alu adapter and plastic cap keep dirt out and the whole combo weighs 1.7g, not much for peace of mind.

Might be an option if you want some of the advantages of both valves in one.

Best,

Dan.

*Pumps can fail and have for me on occasion, so I carry a spare mini-pump in my kit for emergencies. Nice when you are more than 50km away from a traveled road or highway. An old Zefal HP failed when I pumped too vigorously and dislodged the rubber ball that served as a check valve under the head. A simple repair at home with a very long screwdriver to undo the head from inside but not so handy at 3,000+m on a mountainside. Another time, I placed my old Silca frame-fit pump to one side as I was removing the rear wheel. The bike started to topple, I moved forward to steady it an stepped square on the plastic barrel, cracking it in two. Fortunately my partner had his own pump but it would have been about very bad thing if I'd been alone. My favorite backup pump is a Crank Bros PowerPump that fits in a jersey pocket or underseat tool bag. It takes about 700 strokes to fully fill a 26x2.0 tire to proper pressure but is reliable, has a high volume/high pressure switch and beats co2 cartridges for repeated use without weighing any more).

[martinf]

I think it is useful to have only 1 sort. Not sure there is any great advantage in one or the other, but I feel that Presta are easier to inflate with a small pump on tour - no proof though. 

As I have a preference for Presta valves I converted all the family bikes that arrived with other types (mainly Schrader, but in the past there have been one or two with the old Dunlop valves) to Presta.

I do still have a dedicated Schrader large-volume stirrup pump. This is used for the only two rolling objects I possess that still have Schrader valves - my wheelbarrow and a hand chariot for moving furniture around. I don't own a motor vehicle, but the Schrader pump does get used occasionally for visitor's motor vehicles and hire vehicles, though I generally use a fuel station compressed airline for the latter.

[steve216c]

I drilled out my rims for Schrader although I'd been riding with presets with adapter on the valves for a while. High pressure tyres are easier to pump at a garage or from the electric pump many cars now have instead of a spare tyre. No need to sweat with a mini pump getting 6 bar on your marathons when you have the power.

The only problems I have had with Schrader is when I ran with repair gloop in self sealing tubes which can cause the valves to leak slowly if it gets in around valve seal.j

Both systems work well in my experience. I personally prefer the convenience of the free air at garages without pfaffing with adapters. But decent quality tubes with either system should offer similar reliability.

[ourclarioncall]

What’s the best pumps to get ?

I guess knowing what pressure your tyres are at is pretty important, which would invite a pump with some sort of guage/dial ? Not sure how accurate they are tho

And for those who just use non fancy pumps , I think you can get some sort of gadget to put on your valve to tell exactly what pressure your at ? Again... how accurate?

Also in Thorn literature there was a warning against using garage type pumps

Also I heard that the readings on those garage pumps (digital) are not super accurate either. Can’t remember the reason. Something about the pressure hitting your target then dropping or something

[ourclarioncall]

Does anyone know if schrader leak air faster than presta? Or vice versa?

I just regular pumping of tyres could be part of a maintenance routine to make sure your tyres are always close to where you want them

[Danneaux]

Unless there is something wrong with the valve, both should be about equal in terms of leaking. A presta valve uses a little captive screw-down nut/bobble and internal gasket to make a firm seal while a Schraeder valve uses a spring with a little internal gasket.

One caution for presta valves with removable cores: Sometimes the core can work a little loose and become a mysterious source for air loss. Easy to tighten with a small adjustable or purpose built wrench if it happens and that's usually the end of the problem.

I've found the greater source of air is the tube itself and the material it is made from. Latex tubes are lighter and some feel a difference in ride quality, but they require more frequent airing-up tham butyrate rubber.

A long time ago when I was more frequently driving a car with small wheels at racing speeds, I experienced a gradual pressure loss. In this case, the Schraeder valve core springs were weak. I replaced the cores with ones having stronger springs intended for motorcycle racing and had no leaks thereafter. I still have the specialist tool that not only included the core remover/installer but also a die for the cap threads and a tap for the core threads.

I used to use tubular  (sew up) tires -- Clement Criteria Setas were my go-to -- and repairs were...tedious: Unglued the tire, pull the tape, cut the stitching without causing more punctures and hope you found the right spot. Patch, stuff, resew, reglue the tape, then spread fresh contact cement on tire and rim, wait for it to dry, then hope you got it seated straight the first time. Orders of magnitude more difficult in the rain than clinchers if you weren't carrying a spare. 

Best,

Dan.

[lewis noble]

My preference is for Presta valves, and indeed on my wife's non-Thorn bike, originally fitted with Schraeders, I now have presta valved tubes in. 

On narrower tyres, as on the 700 - 28 on my Audax, most decent quality tyres are Presta, and in my experience, they tend to leak less ( may be a reflection of Schwalbe quality of course) and easier to overcome initial pump resistance.  My 'workshop' pump has an analogue gauge, and I keep pretty closely to pressures as in Thorn's guide, which have suited my riding and the roads I ride on well.  Day rides and weekends, I just have a lightweight pump, no gauge, in case of punctures - on a 4 week tour I did a few years ago I took a cheap light gauge from Halfords, a UK motor/cycle chain store, which I reckoned was accurate enough.

Yes, I have had the Presta core come out, but I check them periodically, and newer tyres seem to have them secured??

Lewis

[PH]

Maybe I’ve just got unlucky , had poor quality pumps, or poor quality valves/tubes

How does everyone get on with them ?

The only time I've had any issue with them, or seen anyone else having one, it's been due to the pump, or it's misuse, rather than the tube, usually bending the pin.  The popular mini track style pump, like the Topeak Morph series,  pretty much eliminates this, there's no strain on the pin, though with those that use a screw on head you have to be sure the valve core is tight if it's a removable one.  I've seen as many issues with Schrader, though that's usually also misuse, like letting them fill with muck by not using the cap. In engineering terms, they're both very simple, though using air pressure rather than a spring to keep them closed is simpler.
My favourite tubes, Schwalbe Extralight,  are only available in Presta, I haven't looked at all tubes but I suspect that may be the case with many of the better ones.
I have a Presta to Schrader adapter in my touring toolkit and some of my rims also came drilled for Schrader with a grommet for Presta, and like most pumps mine can do either, plenty of options there, I haven't needed any of them.

[Andre Jute]

in the past there have been one or two with the old Dunlop valves

The last bikes I bought with Dunlop valves were c1990; they were given away to an LBS in return for future advice (in the form of letting me handle his tools so I could decide which to buy) in 2002 when I decided I could do better importing my own bikes and my electronic Smover all-automatic Trek arrived requiring complete reengineering to fit me which in return required a lot of space around it. Those two bikes, a Raleigh and a Peugeot, were instruments of torture straight out of the Inquisition anyway, but they went mainly because of the odd valve. It was the point at which I standardised on Presta, though there's still a Schrader adapter on each of my bikes just in case I (or more likely a pedalpal) require the air at the petrol station.

At first I felt that the Presta valves were a bit small-appearing on my fave 60mm Big Apples, in which like PH I prefer the Schwalbe Extraleich tubes Type 19A which come only with Presta valves, but of course I've long since become accustomed to the relative proportions.

[JohnR]

I look on a pressure gauge as being an option that's useful for guidance (I have this one https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/inner-tubes/schwalbe-airmax-pro-digital-pressure-gauge-for-presta-valves-only/ while the footpump I keep in the garage has an analogue gauge) and not essential. Each rider has their own preference for comfortable pressures. In my experience a tyre which is too hard means I feel every little stone in the road surfacing while if the tyre is too soft then the bike feels draggy. I do a quick pressure test before I go out on a ride: Lift each end of the bike in turn a few inches and let it drop. The wheel should bounce a little. If it doesn't bounce then more air is needed. The digital gauge tells me that my comfortable pressure is around 32 psi for 50mm tyres.

When it is time to top up I usually use the foot pump and put the pressure a bit high and then use the digital gauge to guide how much air to let out. Note that a pressure gauge on a pump is reading the pressure on the pump side of the valve. The pressure in the tube may be lower.

[leftpoole]

I have been employed by others and myself all of my working life until retirement.
My final occupation was as a qualified ADI driving Instructor.
Prior to this (after hard work) I was a Garage Manager. The rules regarding cycle tyres and filling station pumps is this.
Do not use a filling station/garage pump on your cycle tyres. It is dangerous.

That is it. Full stop.

[PH]

Easy to tighten with a small adjustable or purpose built wrench if it happens and that's usually the end of the problem.

By accident or design, I don't know which, the lower part of a chain tool usually fits the flats on a core. I say usually, because I haven't tried them all, or all chain tools, my chain tools fit all those I've tried.

[ourclarioncall]

I’ve never had any problems with pumping schrader valve bike tyres at a garage , nor ever heard of anyone else ....

But I suppose that doesn’t mean it can’t happen , and I’m willing to change my actions if it is wiser /safer . Hmm 🤔

Here’s a random internet story

“ Sonic BOOM!

I fixed the 700 x 40 tire’s sealing issue with a new rim strip. I next wanted to make 100% sure the tire would stay on the rim. I inflated it to 60 and let it sit and it was fine. No air loss and no signs of the tire creeping off the rim.

The tire had a maximum pressure of 75psi printed right on it. I know riders experiment with tire pressure and that pumps can be wildly inaccurate. So, I decided that I should test the tire at 90psi.


The instant the number “90” appeared on the pump’s digital gauge, the tire blew off the rim. The explosion was unlike any tire blowout I’ve experienced before. It didn’t knock me down, but I was rendered completely deaf and stunned, just standing there trying to regain my senses.”

Full story https://www.roadbikerider.com/overinflation-explosion-a-cautionary-tale-about-very-wide-tires/