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How do you pump up a Schrader valve?

There are different types of tire valves. The most well-known variants are Dunlop-Blitz (Dutch valve), Presta (French valve) and Schrader (American valve). In this blog we zoom in on the Schrader valve.

What is a Schrader valve?

In 1891, the Schrader Company developed the first version of what is still called the Schrader valve. This valve consists of a cylinder with a diameter of 8 mm. In the middle is a pin with a spring. When you press this pin, the air can flow in or out of the tire. This type of valve is used on almost every car, truck, motorcycle and moped tire. The valve is also located on the tires of (older) mountain bikes and wheelchairs. To blow air into a tire with a Schrader valve, you need a pump or adapter that contains a rod. This rod presses the pin in the valve down, so that the air can pass through.

How much bar to inflate?

The Schrader valve is mainly used in tires of motor vehicles. Handy, because it means you can inflate these tires almost anywhere in the world at garages and gas stations. For most car tires, the desired pressure is between 2 and 3 bar. A slightly lower value applies to mopeds: between 2 and 2.5 bar. A pressure of 8 to 9 bar is recommended for a truck tire, depending on, among other things, the width of the tire. Always consult the manual for recommended tire pressure. This information is also printed on the side of a tire.

Inflate the Schrader valve. That's how you do that.

Remove the cap from the valve.
Do you use a pump with a narrow mouthpiece, such as a Dutch bicycle pump with a squeeze piece? Then the mouthpiece is too narrow to connect to the Schrader valve. In this case, screw an adapter onto the valve.
Connect the nozzle of your hose by pressing or twisting it firmly.
Inflate the tire to the desired pressure.
Disconnect the hose again and screw back the valve cap. This cap prevents dirt from getting into the bottom of the valve.

Importance of the correct tire pressure

Properly inflated tires are essential if you want to drive sustainably, economically and safely. To start with the first two advantages: hard tires wear out less quickly, so you have to replace them less often. They also reduce resistance on the road – and thus your fuel or energy consumption. This applies even more to electric cars, because they are often heavier than comparable fuel cars. Regarding safety: a properly inflated tire shortens your braking distance and reduces the risk of a blowout and aquaplaning. Also read our blog page with 5 tips about the correct tire pressure .

Inflate car tires yourself

Did you know that you can easily inflate your car tires at home? In the blog post inflate car tires yourself we will explain to you how best to do this. You will also find articles here about switching from summer to winter tires.

Most suitable pump for inflating car tires to the correct pressure

The Donrox A922 is our number 1 for inflating car tires. This powerful, electric pump has convenient, pre-programmed settings. This means all you have to do is connect the pump and press Go. It stops automatically when the desired tire pressure is reached

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