How to Put Air in a Bike Tire
Bicycle tires can lose air and begin to deflate due to the pressure placed on them when riding. The tire on a road bike can hold over 125 pounds of air per square inch. Tires constantly lose air and should be checked and refilled with air before every ride, because riding on a tire that is not sufficiently inflated can be dangerous. All bike tires can be inflated using an air pump.
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Instructions
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Rotate your bicycle's tire until the valve is as close to the ground as possible, with its opening pointing upward. Unscrew the valve's plastic cover using your fingers.
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2
Carefully loosen the brass top underneath the valve if your tire has one. Brass tops are only found on presta-style valves. Momentarily tap the top of the presta valve to release a small amount of air, breaking the valve's seal and allowing you to pump air into the tire.
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3
Attach the air pump by pressing it into your tire's valve. Flip the air pump's switch upward so it is in line with the tire's valve.
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Fill the tire with air by fully pressing the handle on the air pump down. Pull the pump's handle back up after it reaches its lowest point. Continue to press the pump's handle up and down until a sufficient amount of air has been pumped into the bike's tire.
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Flip the switch on the head of the air pump downward after pumping the tire full of air. Pull the head of the air pump out of your tire's valve.
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Insert a pressure gauge by pushing it into the bike's tire. Ensure that you have filled the tire with a sufficient amount of air. Mountain bikes should have between 40 to 65 PSI (pounds per square inch), while road bikes require between 110 to 125 PSI.
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Screw the brass top back into the valve if you have a presto-style valve. Reinsert the valve cap by screwing it back into the valve. Repeat this process on your bike's other tire. Your bike tires will now be inflated with a sufficient amount of air and ready to ride.
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Tips & Warnings
Keep your tires properly inflated at all times to prevent damage to both the tires and rims.
