The Definitive Guide To Pumping Your Bike Tires

Skills + Knowledge

June 01, 2018

For a better ride every time, learn how to properly inflate your bike tires. Pumping bicycle tires isn’t a complex job, but it does need to be a consistent one. Once you have knowledge of how to inflate your beach cruiser tires or hybrid bike tires correctly, you can look forward to smooth sailing on your riding journey.

Here’s a definitive guide to pumping your cruiser bike tires or hybrid bike tires (you’ll go through the same steps for each).

Step 1: Find the P.S.I. Label on Your Bike Tires

Your tire’s maximum recommended inflation (P.S.I. or Pounds per Square Inch in terms of pressure) will be labeled on its side. Follow the suggestions and you’ll be a happy camper with properly inflated tires for your ride. If you ride with your tires underinflated, you may experience pinch flats, which is what happens when you go over a bump with a low tire and the tire casing and the rim pinch the tube.

A pinch flat is essentially a tube tear in 2 spots. It resembles the punctures of a snake bite, which isn’t a good thing. Riding with bike tires that are overinflated makes for an uncomfortable trek or adventure. Too much tire pressure leads to a bumpy ride.

Step 2: Determine the Type of Valve

Bicycle tire valves will be one of 2 styles, Presta and Schrader. Presta valves are typically found on pro bikes and expensive bikes. Schrader valves are general valves found on some mountain bike tires and even on car tires. Remember to purchase tubes that fit your valve style.

You have to top off the air in your tires every 4 days, around that schedule. This will protect your tires from leaks, as the butyl used to make the inner sides of the tubes does escape when pumped to higher pressures.

Step 3: Time to Inflate Your Tires

Using a good floor bike tire pump, such as our Pedros Domestique Floor Pump, is the most accurate and easiest way to inflate the best beach cruiser tires that you want to keep working right for you. Don’t even think about inflating at a gas station, unless you have an emergency. These pumps aren’t accurate and they can fill tires with air too quickly. They don’t always deliver enough pressure either.

An optimal floor pump will have a gauge, which takes the guesswork out of how much pressure you’re inflating it. It’ll be versatile and work with the 2 types of valve stems. When you’re on the road, having a small hand pump will come in handy. This way, you can change your flat whenever you need to.

Check out our bike accessories for sale page and take a look at our floor pump, which is perfect for inflating all of the tires on our cruiser and hybrid bikes.

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