How often do you find yourself pumping up your tyres?

[michael_w]

I've been riding quite regularly for the past year (apart from a slight hiccup in May-June) and find that I'm periodically pumping up my tyres.

I don't seem to have any punctures (touch wood!) and I can usually squeeze another 20psi into the tyres when I pump them. A few psi will be from me pressing the vale when I attach the pump head, but not the 20, as there's a discernible difference in firmness in tyre feel before and after.

Do all (most) valves leak slightly? Is the tube porous (I doubt it)? What causes this phenomena?

It's no drama, I just keep an eye on my tyres and inflate accordingly. Just interested is all

[nescius]

I check my tyre pressure before every ride, the air will leak through the tube, it's just the way it is. Latex tubes are worse than butyl tubes, and narrow high pressure tyres will lose pressure faster than wider low pressure tyres.

You should get into the habit of checking your tyres regularly, check pressures before every ride, then check the tyre itself once a week or so looking for any problems (cuts, wear, etc.).

There was a thread here about this fairly recently

[DoubleSpeeded]

yep

every ride... depends on the brand of the tube too
some butyl ones lose more than others.

i wonder how much tubeless tyres lose

[Mulger bill]

Yep, butyl tubes are porous but latex is worse.

My commuter gets checked about once a week, all other bikes it's part of the pre ride checklist.

[Duck!]

yep

every ride... depends on the brand of the tube too
some butyl ones lose more than others.

i wonder how much tubeless tyres lose

Tubeless is still porous, but less so than tubes, due to the liquid sealant soaking into the tyre wall. That also depends on the tyres too; proper tubeless tyres are better sealed from manufacture than regular tyres. I have no experience with road tubeless, so don't know how they go at the higher pressures, but MTB (which depressurises more slowly anyway due to the lower difference between interior and atmospheric pressure) tubeless definitely holds pressure longer than tubed.

[queequeg]

Usually just a top up once a week, but more when you hear a bang in the garage and come out and find this:

[Tornado]

Probably every two days

[visrealm]

yep

every ride... depends on the brand of the tube too
some butyl ones lose more than others.

i wonder how much tubeless tyres lose

I run tubeless on my roadie. 23mm tyres at 100psi. They lose around 20psi in a week, so similar to tubes.

Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk 2

[visrealm]

The commuter runs 28mm with tubes and definitely loses less, maybe 10-15psi in a week.

The MTB (tubeless) seems to maintain pressure for weeks. But... high volume, low pressure.

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[bychosis]

Not often enough. I probably check my tyres either once every few days if the bike is being ridden daily or before the ride if I haven't ridden that bike in over a week. Quite often my indicator of low tyres is hitting a bump and feeling the tyre being low whilst out.

Pumping depends on how the squeeze test pressure check goes.

[FuzzyDropbear]

Not often enough. I probably check my tyres either once every few days if the bike is being ridden daily or before the ride if I haven't ridden that bike in over a week. Quite often my indicator of low tyres is hitting a bump and feeling the tyre being low whilst out.

Pumping depends on how the squeeze test pressure check goes.

Haha, yep, the squeeze test is the first thing I do before I jump on my commuter, too or from work. If it feels a bit squishy, pump her up and away we go. Probably hook the pump up once a week to top it up.

My mountain bike gets ridden every Friday, so every Thursday night it gets a pump to check the pressure. The roadie, whenever I ride it.

[g-boaf]

Once a week I think, unless the tyre feels a bit soft. Usually inflated to about 110psi.

I keep a careful watch on the tyres for debris and cuts. I do have a small cut on the rear tyre, but so far it hasn't caused any problems (has been like that for more than a month).

One area I frequently go through has lots of glass, so I find myself walking through that 50 metre section to avoid getting glass in the tyre.

[Gordonhooker]

It depends on which bike - I find my SS bikes with the slick tyres needs to be checked at least every second ride, but my hybrids with the old car tube type valve stems seems to hold pressure for longer or maybe I don't ride the hybrid as often anymore....

[MattyK]

About once a fortnight, if I remember... Commuter on 28s at 60-90psi, loses about 10psi in two weeks...

[sogood]

Would typically need a stroke or two (to predetermined pressure) after 3-4 days or more. Depending on the pressure drop, it's a good indicator on what the leak is. 5-10psi is pretty normal. If it's significantly more, than I'd start to consider whether there's a minor puncture or a faulty valve and warrants a thorough check.

[T3z]

I find that every 3-4 days i lose 10-15 psi. hope that helps

[Calvin27]

Lost about 30psi for a 38c initially at 75psi. This was over a month (holidays).

On a similar note, any differences between schrader/presta. does one 'leak' less or is most of the leaking from tubes.

[Summernight]

Once a week, although I think most of the pressure loss comes from when I depress the valve just before pumping up. I think I could go a couple of weeks without needing to pump up and I commute every day (although only about 10kms a day). Once a week is just to check that nothing is going south.

[sogood]

The metal stick with the screw thread sucks in the Presta (Edit on error: Schrader). Pretty easy to break if one is rough. Otherwise avoid dirt or valves will leak. Some brands and batches are worse than others.

[Duck!]

The metal stick with the screw thread sucks in the Schrader. Pretty easy to break if one is rough. Otherwise avoid dirt or valves will leak. Some brands and batches are worse than others.

Sounds more like Presta you're referring to there. The fully-internal guts of Schraeder valves are break-proof.

On a similar note, any differences between schrader/presta. does one 'leak' less or is most of the leaking from tubes.

Presta valves are more likely to leak if the nut isn't done up snugly, because there's no inbuilt mechanical closure (Schraeder valves are spring-loaded).

[sogood]

Sounds more like Presta you're referring to there. The fully-internal guts of Schraeder valves are break-proof.

Correct, I meant the Presta French Valve. Error there. Thanks.

[Arlberg]

I do it before every ride, even if it's daily.

And I always put in 100psi front and rear, I find there's no need to go any higher than that and it gives a more comfortable ride.

[The Fixer]

Double post... sorry!

[The Fixer]

Quote: "How often do you find yourself pumping up your tyres?"

I try not to (joke).

Seriously, I check the MTB and the dual-shock once a week or so, or when I ride them.

The old 27" girls get checked every few days, and cop the pump whenever I want to ride a particular one.

I last rode my late-40s Speedwell 28" ladies two years ago, when I noticed that the front hub had started to rust through.

Those old Olympic Spartans still have 45psi in them, and they're over 50 years old!

[The Fixer]

Quote: "How often do you find yourself pumping up your tyres?"

I try not to (joke).

Seriously, I check the MTB and the dual-shock once a week or so, or when I ride them.

The old 27" girls get checked every few days, and cop the pump whenever I want to ride a particular one.

I last rode my late-40s Speedwell 28" ladies two years ago, when I noticed that the front hub had started to rust through.

Those old Olympic Spartans still have 45psi in them, and they're over 50 years old!

The 1989 Apollo 'Delta' still has its original 27"x1" tyres and tubes, and they'll still take 110psi (but they don't, I run at 80
rear 70 front to compensate for their age and my light (65kg) weight).