How to deflate a bike tire?

For a comfortable trip on a bicycle, it is necessary to take care of it in time. One of the important parts of a bicycle is its wheels, and especially bike tires. Your safety on the road depends on them. You need to check them, inflate or deflate depending on the weather conditions and terrain of the route.

For proper actions, especially on the road, it is necessary to acquire some knowledge about tire care. It sounds simple, but in order not to damage the bike tire, you need to follow simple rules. So, how to deflate a bike tire?

Why to deflate a bike tire?

• It is important to inflate the bike tires to the optimal level. It depends on the terrain of biking, your weight and weather conditions. Sometimes it is necessary to deflate the bike tires a little in order not to damage them while biking.
• When you change a tube or a bicycle tire on a wheel, it is necessary to completely deflate them. This is usually done when the bike tires have worn down and to prevent accidents while riding.
• To repair a flat tire, it must also be deflated. This is not a difficult manipulation, but it can significantly save you money. After all, contacting technicians for simple work costs money.
• When transporting a bicycle, it is necessary to loosen all connections and deflate the bike tires in order to reduce the pressure on its elements when the vehicle is moving. This will also reduce its weight a bit.
• For storing a bicycle during the winter or for a long time. At negative temperatures, summer bicycle rubber becomes hard, elasticity decreases, microcracks appear. It is impossible to restore the unfastened rubber.

How to deflate a bike tire?

Now that you know in what situations it is necessary to deflate the bike tires, I will tell you how to do it correctly. And before that, let’s figure out what valves are on yours bicycle tire.

There are three main types of valves, they have their own technique for releasing air from the tire:

• Schroeder valve,
• Presta valve,
• Woods valve.

Look at the wheels of your bike and determine what type of tire valve you have, then proceed according to that valve type.

Schrader valve

Its second name is the American valve, it is usually found on car tires and motorcycle tires. And in bicycles – most often in mountain bikes. Their difference in structure is that they are shorter and thicker compared to others, and have a rubber cap on the thread.

So, to deflate a bike tire with schrader valves, you need:

unscrew and remove the rubber cap, turn the cap over and press its pointed side on the valve. A toothpick, screwdriver, and similar items are also suitable. Since this valve system is designed to prevent dust from entering the tire, the air will come out slowly. Be patient. If you need to let all the air out, keep the valve depressed until the tire stops hissing.

Presta valve

Another popular name for them is the French valve. They are commonly used in road bikes. They have a narrow and long base and are covered with lids.

Bleeding the Presta valve is also very easy: remove the outer cover – it fixes the Presta valve, unscrew the brass cap and press on the core of the valve with either a metal object or whatever is at hand. Release the required amount of air when the tire pressure is optimal, screw everything back, and you are ready to go.

Woods valve or Dunlop valves

Its other name is English valve or Dunlop valves. It is a combination of two previous valves: Schrader and Presta. The dimensions are from Schrader, and the mechanism is similar to Presta. The Woods valve has a stem with caps – one inside, one outside.

To deflate a tire with such a valve, you must do everything according to the scheme as with a Presta valve. One important difference – the air from such a valve is released very quickly when you remove the cover, so be careful.

More Helpful Info:

• How to prevent injury while cycling?
• What is the difference between the pressures inside and outside a bicycle tire called?
• How to stop bicycle brakes from squeaking?
• How to blow up a bike tire?
• How to inflate Presta valve?