Problems pumping up tyres!

Posted on
Page
of 6
Prev
/ 6
Last Next
  • So not true! I'm 120 lbs and can not for the life of me get certain pumps to go up t 120 psi! I do 120 b/c I kn0w I'll l0se (stupid O key nt always wrking nw) abut 10 psi when i take 0ut the pump. plus, I've laid n the ne at my mom's and can't get it t g past 100 psi. I used ne at a stre and culd just barely get up t 110, had t have the guy d0 the back wheel, felt a right idi0t!

    Were you using a track pump, Jenne?

    The difference between using a track pump and a handheld pump is a bit like that between posting from your phone and posting from a proper computer. ;)

  • Don't put 100% trust in the pump gauges either kiddies.
    Learn what 90, 100, 110psi feels like when pushing on the tyre.

  • Don't put 100% trust in the pump gauges either kiddies.
    Learn what 90, 100, 110psi feels like when pushing on the tyre.

    But without relying on the gauge how is one supposed to know what a certain PSI feels like?

  • It was more aimed at people using £5 pumps but since you asked..
    Before I had a pump w/ gauge I used a car tyre pressure checker (back in the day with bmx's and cheap roadies with schraeder valves).
    Using a variety of pumps and doing a push test after each will give you a good idea.

    In-fucking-genious ain't I?

  • Your concept is flawed.

    How do you know that the car pressure checker is anymore accurate than the bike pump?

    Do car pressure checkers go aboive 100psi?

    The kind of person to rely on a £5 pump, will not have many other pumps to try out.

  • But without relying on the gauge how is one supposed to know what a certain PSI feels like?

    If your wheels regularly send road gravel and chippings flying into cars at high speed, you've "got pressure".

  • You really lose 10psi on removing the pump? Darnit!

    I tend to work on the assumption that if it feels like a rock when I hit it, and doesn't go bang, then its ok for the sort of riding I generally do. I don't believe the guage... for a tenner its unlikely to be great.

    My Pa is still using an automatic car tyre pump as old as I am to do his bike. The guage is wrecked but it sure makes it easy!

  • If your wheels regularly send road gravel and chippings flying into cars at high speed, you've "got pressure".

    After a fresh pump, I managed to chip the windows of a fried chicken shop *and *hit a bus window really hard with flying gravel, but the bus did not chip.

    Felt guilty, but did not stop. Bad me.

  • Do car pressure checkers go aboive 100psi?.

    Ours claims to go considerably higher.

  • There's a road near me that always has some gravel on it that goes flying when my tyres are at enough pressure. Of course I can just squeeze it to see if it's pumped up enough.
    Aren't most car tyres at around 50psi?

  • Your concept is flawed.
    How do you know that the car pressure checker is anymore accurate than the bike pump?
    Do car pressure checkers go aboive 100psi?
    The kind of person to rely on a £5 pump, will not have many other pumps to try out.

    No it isn't. You are wrong.

    Like I said, at the time I was using bmx and cheap road bikes. Pressure was under 100psi.

    Like I also said, you use a VARIETY of devices to compare. It's highly unlikely ALL of them will be vastly wrong. The idea is to know what 100psi feels like to touch so when you do have to use a pump without a gauge or with a suspect one you will be able to get close without relying on the gauge.

    You are also assuming people with £5 pumps aren't able to borrow pumps, or pressure testers. You assume they don't know anyone else with a pump? Given this thread and the content within it you are obviously wrong.

  • Calm down dear,

    I was just being pedantic.

  • I step on ped ants.

  • There's a road near me that always has some gravel on it that goes flying when my tyres are at enough pressure. Of course I can just squeeze it to see if it's pumped up enough.
    Aren't most car tyres at around 50psi?

    My sisters car is 35psi.

  • Yeah, car tyres are usually around 30-35psi. But the gauges often read up to 70-80 for some reason.

  • I used to have a pair of 700x19 clinchers, some kind of Conti, that went up to 160psi. They sang on the road. Track tubs can go way over 200 psi.

  • I run my TT tyres around 130-140 psi if it's dry (depends on tyres though, Rubino Pro maybe 110psi). Normal road riding though 100-110. Commuter doesn't get enough attention so is probably sitting on 50psi right now... :)

  • I have a cheapo £5 foot pump that came with a presta to schrader adapter.. When I put it on and connect the pump, it leaks at about 5-10 psi/sec - so I have to compensate by rapidly pumping to reach a max of around 60 to 70 psi (according to plastic glued-on gauge).

    Is this a common problem w/ these adapters or am I doing something wrong? Should I try a new adapter or do I just need to pony up for a proper track pump?

  • You could try plumbing tape between the adapter and pump.

  • Don't put 100% trust in the pump gauges either kiddies.
    Learn what 90, 100, 110psi feels like when pushing on the tyre.

    +1

    Or always use a good quality track pump, they don't have to be expensive: £35 at Decathlon.

    I do find it amusing when people spend £1000+ on a bike yet refuse to spend more than £10 on a tyre or £10 on a pump.

    Re the OP, some pumps (like the joe blow) don't have a very good cylinder and although they will pump up to 160PSI they don't like pushing through the valve at 100+ so you have to deflate to 50 or so to start the valve and go back up again. The more pressure there is behind a presta valve, the harder it is to depress the top cap therefore opening the valve, not all pumps do this adequately when there is already high pressure in the tube. The type of head on the pump can be a problem with this.

  • Were you using a track pump, Jenne?

    The difference between using a track pump and a handheld pump is a bit like that between posting from your phone and posting from a proper computer. ;)

    I was laying n the handle, man! Track pump. Seriously. Supporting my weight n the pump. C0uld n0t get any m0re air in!

  • And I am p0sting fr0m a pr0per c0mputer! well, at least I c0nsider it pr0per, though hippy wuldn't.

  • If that's the output you're getting from your Crapintosh these days I'm glad I made the switch to Windoze PCs many years ago :P

  • secndhand, baby! I'm savin' the envirmint.

  • I was laying n the handle, man! Track pump. Seriously. Supporting my weight n the pump. C0uld n0t get any m0re air in!

    And I am p0sting fr0m a pr0per c0mputer! well, at least I c0nsider it pr0per, though hippy wuldn't.

    secndhand, baby! I'm savin' the envirmint.

    It looked like phone posting to me. :)

    Missed the info about the 'O' key not working.

  • Post a reply
    • Bold
    • Italics
    • Link
    • Image
    • List
    • Quote
    • code
    • Preview
About

Problems pumping up tyres!

Posted by Avatar for LittleHeather @LittleHeather

Actions