Presta vs Schrader Valves: The Difference and How to Inflate Each

If you have ever stood at a pump unsure why it will not fit your tire, the answer is almost always the valve. Bikes use two main valve types, Presta and Schrader, and knowing the difference makes inflating any tire simple.

Presta valves (also called French valves)

Presta valves are narrow, with a small threaded top you unscrew before pumping. You will find them on road bikes and most modern bikes, because the slim profile suits narrow rims and high pressures. To use one: unscrew the small nut at the top, press it briefly to release a little air, attach your pump, inflate, then screw the nut back down.

Schrader valves (also called car valves)

Schrader valves are wider and identical to the valves on a car tire. They are common on mountain bikes, hybrids, kids' bikes and many city bikes. They are robust and need no unscrewing: just attach the pump and inflate. This is why you can top up a Schrader tire at a petrol station.

What about Dunlop valves?

Dunlop (or Woods) valves still appear on some city and Dutch bikes. They share the wider body of a Schrader but work more like a Presta inside. Many pumps and adapter sets handle them too.

How to inflate each, the short version

• Presta: unscrew the top nut, attach pump, inflate, retighten.
• Schrader: attach pump, inflate. That is it.
• Always check the recommended pressure printed on your tire sidewall.

When you need an adapter

Problems start when your pump or valve type does not match. A pump head built for Schrader will not grip a Presta, and vice versa. A small Presta to Schrader adapter set solves this completely: it lets you convert presta (French) to schrader (car) and back, so any pump or compressor fits any valve. It is the cheapest piece of insurance in your saddle bag.

The valve, not the pump, is usually what stops you. A two gram adapter removes that problem for good.

One pump for both

If you would rather not think about valves at all, use a pump that fits both out of the box. The INFLATA Pro S works with Presta and Schrader directly, reads pressure in BAR or PSI, and stops automatically at your set value. Add the adapter set and you are covered for every valve you will ever meet. Everything ships from our stock in the Netherlands, 1 to 2 working days in NL and 2 to 3 across the EU, with 30 days free returns.