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THE MOST COMMON VALVE TYPES — BRIEFLY AND SIMPLY EXPLAINED
What types of bicycle valves are there? In our guide to bicycle valves, you'll find all the information on the different valve types, their inventors, and how to use them.
Without a bicycle valve, cycling simply wouldn't work. Without valves, you couldn't pump air into a tube or a tubeless system, and you couldn't release air in a controlled way either. Clearly, bicycle valves are a critical component of any bike. There are different types of valves — specifically, three main types: the Schrader valve (auto valve), the Presta valve (Sclaverand valve), and the Dunlop valve (Woods valve). Eachof these valves has its own characteristics, advantages, disadvantages, and specific rim hole size requirements. In this article, we'll examine the properties of these valves in detail and explain how to use them— including how to reinflate your bicycle tire using each valve type and pump. We'll also cover which pump is compatible with which valve, how to properly inflate tires, what a valve cap is, and what size rimhole is required for each valve type.
1. Schrader Valve (Auto Valve)
The Schrader valve was invented by August Schrader, a German immigrant who moved to the United States. He founded the Schrader company in New York in 1844, specializing in the manufacture of rubberand metal products. The Schrader valve, now widely used in car tires, bicycle tires, and other applications, was first patented in 1891. It's commonly called the "auto valve" because — as the name suggests — it's most often found on car tires. The rim hole for a Schrader valve stem measures 8.5 millimeters in diameter. As a result, an inner tube with a Schrader valve won't fit through a rim hole designed for thenarrower Presta valve. Schrader valves are popular due to their sturdy construction and are most commonly found on city, touring, and trekking bikes, and less often on mountain bikes.
Advantages of the Schrader Valve:
- Durability: Schrader valves are very robust and resistant to damage.
- Compatibility: They work with many standard air pumps and with compressors at gas stations, making on-the-go inflation easy.
- Easy to use: Inflating and deflating is simple and quick. To release air, cyclists just need a pointed object like a key, small screwdriver, or pen to press down the pin inside the valve (also called the valvecore).
Disadvantages of the Schrader Valve:
- Weight: Schrader valves are heavier than other valve types.
- Rim compatibility: The larger hole can compromise the structural integrity of narrow rims.
- Fine-tuning: Precisely adjusting tire pressure can be more difficult than with Presta valves.
How to Use a Schrader Valve:
To use a Schrader valve, cyclists first unscrew the dust cap (also called the valve cap). The pump head or air compressor can then be attached. Pressing the valve core releasesair. Once the correct tire pressure is reached, the dust cap is screwed back on.
2. Presta Valve (Sclaverand Valve)
The Sclaverand valve — invented by Frenchman Etienne Sclaverand — is also known as the Presta valve. It's used primarily on road bikes, gravel bikes, and mountain bikes. The rim hole for a Presta valve stemmeasures only 6.5 millimeters, which weakens the rim less compared to the Schrader valve. However, a rim designed for the Presta valve — such as on a road bike — cannot accommodate a Schrader valve.
Advantages of the Presta Valve:
- Weight: Presta valves are lighter than Schrader valves.
- High pressure: They can handle higher air pressure, making them ideal for road bikes.
- Narrow rims: The smaller hole is better suited for narrow rims and preserves their structural stability.
- Fine-tuning: Allows for more precise pressure adjustment.
Disadvantages of the Presta Valve:
- Fragility: They are more delicate (especially when the valve head is unscrewed) and can be damaged more easily.
- Ease of use: Inflation can be slightly more complicated, as the valve core must be loosened before pumping. You then need to be careful not to bend the valve core pin.
How to Use a Presta Valve:
To inflate a Presta or Sclaverand valve, unscrew the small knurled nut on the valve head. Then attach the pump head and inflate the tire. After inflating, retighten the knurled nut. Torelease air, loosen the nut and gently press the small valve pin. Plastic dust caps are also available for Presta valves.
3. Dunlop Valve (Woods Valve)
The Dunlop valve, also known as the Woods valve, was invented by John Boyd Dunlop, a Scottish veterinarian. The Dunlop valve is especially common in Europe. The rim hole for a Dunlop valve is 8.5 millimeters in diameter — the same as the Schrader valve.
Advantages of the Dunlop Valve:
- Widespread use: These valves are very common in many European countries.
- Easy to use: They're straightforward to operate and don't require special adapters.
- Reliability: They are robust and less prone to leaks.
Disadvantages of the Dunlop Valve:
- Air pressure: They can't handle as high a pressure as Presta valves, making them less suitable for road bikes.
- Compatibility: They aren't always compatible with all pumps, despite their widespread use.
How to Use a Dunlop (Woods) Valve:
To use a Dunlop valve, first unscrew the plastic cap (just like the other two valve types) from the opening of the metal tube. Then attach the pump and inflate the tire. After inflating, screw the cap back on. Releasing air is a bit trickier than with the other two valve types and requires a delicate touch. First, after removing the plastic cap, slightly loosen the lock nut. In most cases, loosening this nut will already let air escape — so proceed carefully. If the valve core has been in place for a long time and is stuck, it may need to be carefully pulled out by hand. Once enough air has beenreleased, cyclists must re-secure the valve core using the lock nut.
Conclusion
Each valve type has its own specific advantages and disadvantages. Ultimately, all three consist of a metal tube that is sealed in three different ways, each with a different type of valve core. All three types arefairly easy to use — you'll likely get the hang of it after just one or two tries. Depending on the type of bike and its intended use, cyclists will gravitate toward different systems:
- Schrader valve: Ideal for everyday bikes and mountain bikes thanks to its durability and ease of use.
- Presta valve: Preferred by road cyclists and ambitious gravel and mountain bikers for its low weight and ability to hold high pressure. Presta valves are also commonly used with tubeless tires.
- Dunlop valve: Well-suited for city bikes and older bicycles due to its simplicity and widespread availability in Europe.
At least the sport-oriented Schrader and Presta valves are found in virtually all inner tube types — including butyl tubes, latex tubes, and TPU bicycle inner tubes. If you're specifically interested in TPU tubes fortheir excellent rolling resistance, puncture resistance, extreme light weight, and compact packing size, you'll find not only different valve types in the AERON Airtubes lineup, but also various valve lengths. Need more information about AERON TPU bicycle inner tubes, their valves, and available valve sizes? Click here.
The Three Common Valve Types — Inventors and History:
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Schrader Valve (Auto Valve):
- Inventor: August Schrader
- History: The Schrader valve was invented by August Schrader, a German immigrant who moved to the United States. He founded the Schrader company in New York in 1844, specializing in rubber and metalproducts. The valve — now widely used in car tires, some bicycle tires, and other applications — was first patented in 1891.
-
Presta Valve (Sclaverand Valve):
- Inventor: Etienne Sclaverand
- History: The Presta valve, also known as the Sclaverand valve, was invented by the Frenchman Etienne Sclaverand. It is especially popular on road bikes and high-end bicycles, as it is designed for higherpressures and has a narrower diameter than the Schrader valve. The exact year of invention is not clearly documented, but it was introduced in the early 20th century.
-
Dunlop Valve (Woods Valve):
- Inventor: John Boyd Dunlop
- History: The Dunlop valve, also known as the Woods valve, was invented by Scottish veterinarian John Boyd Dunlop. Dunlop invented the pneumatic rubber tire in 1888, and the valve bearing his name was subsequently developed. It remains especially common on bicycles in Europe and Asia.
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