Presta vs. Shrader

possible 1/2 gram lighter

Can the valve stem of a Presta be removed?? and how to add Stans?

The presta is a slightly smaller diameter and adds strength to the rim for this reason.

A quick search results in: http://forums.mtbr.com/search.php?searchid=3057303

mopartodd said:

The presta is a slightly smaller diameter and adds strength to the rim for this reason.

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Though not enough to worry about

We use a lot of presta in the MTB industry because road bikes were using it first. That's the only real reason why presta is used.

We don't need to cram 150psi into our MTB tires, so there isn't really any big benefit to the head.

There is no weight benefit, that slightly lighter valve is offset by the slightly bigger hole in the rim required by schrader.

I always drill my rims for schrader so I can accept either tube. And then I buy schraders because they are usually $1 cheaper. Over the long run, I've saved hundreds of dollars. It sucks sometimes when someone else gets a flat because I can't offer them a tube, but I can take any tube in my rim.

They'll both be around for a very long time.

jeffscott said:

possible 1/2 gram lighter

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While the valve itself may only be 1/2g lighter, the tubes as a whole tend to be lighter. I'm not sure if there are any lightweight schrader tubes. If there are, they aren't that common. If lightweight tubes aren't an issue to you, then the valve is pretty much a non issue.

massmang said:

is their advantage of having a presta valve over a shrader valve, or vice versa???

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Shrader is more common. In an emergency, pretty much any gas station will have a tire pump.
If you have shrader holes in your rim, you can run either tube. If you run out of tubes on the trail, and you can only borrow a shrader tube, you'll be in luck.
Most bike pumps will work on either.

tlg said:

While the valve itself may only be 1/2g lighter, the tubes as a whole tend to be lighter. I'm not sure if there are any lightweight schrader tubes. If there are, they aren't that common. If lightweight tubes aren't an issue to you, then the valve is pretty much a non issue.

Shrader is more common. In an emergency, pretty much any gas station will have a tire pump.
If you have shrader holes in your rim, you can run either tube. If you run out of tubes on the trail, and you can only borrow a shrader tube, you'll be in luck.
Most bike pumps will work on either.

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First thing I picked up was the presta to schrader adaptor...for all of $1...I got 3...Just so I knew I could get air in , anywhere i go..
CDT

CdaleTony said:

First thing I picked up was the presta to schrader adaptor...for all of $1...I got 3...Just so I knew I could get air in , anywhere i go..
CDT

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I carry one too. Just in case. And on some pumps, the presta seal don't work all that great so it's easier to thread on the shrader adapter.

Stan's in a tube.

jeffscott said:

possible 1/2 gram lighter

Can the valve stem of a Presta be removed?? and how to add Stans?

Click to expand...

You don't put Stan's in a tube. Slime?...yes. Some presta valves actually do allow the core to be removed so that Slime can be injected, but it's a little more of a pain. If you're gonna run Slime, then I'd drill my rims and just run schrader valved tubes. On an MTB rim there is no negative issue of drilling them for schrader.

tlg said:

While the valve itself may only be 1/2g lighter, the tubes as a whole tend to be lighter. I'm not sure if there are any lightweight schrader tubes.

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No, a "regular" presta tube will have the same wall thickness as a "regular" schrader tube.

But, salsa DOES make lightweight schrader tubes.

Other than that, the tube weight will vary with the width (assuming the same thickness, which is generally true)

I like presta for the hold down nut. Makes it real easy to pop the pump on, doesn't push in like schraeder valves do.
I also carry one of the presta-to-schraeder adapters just in case, but haven't had to use it since I bought it 6 years ago.

Jayem said:

No, a "regular" presta tube will have the same wall thickness as a "regular" schrader tube.

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Yea. Guess I worded that wrong. What I meant was there's more of a variety of presta tubes. Regular, light, super light, etc. and shraders are usually just regular tubes (and don't list weights).

I like the benefit of being able to put air in a presta tube by mouth when putting a new tube on. Sure, it probably only saves me 30 seconds of messing around with a pump and stuff, but I sometimes use canned air (not a pump), and I don't want to break the seal of the cartridge before I'm ready to totally inflate the tire. So when I need to put a little bit of air into the tube to get it on the rim and inside the tire, I can just inflate it by mouth.

The threaded stems are also good when using my compressor at home to put air in the tires, because you have to push fairly hard, and with the stem nut, it won't push into the rim.

Stem nut.

JohnnyTooBad said:

I like the benefit of being able to put air in a presta tube by mouth when putting a new tube on. Sure, it probably only saves me 30 seconds of messing around with a pump and stuff, but I sometimes use canned air (not a pump), and I don't want to break the seal of the cartridge before I'm ready to totally inflate the tire. So when I need to put a little bit of air into the tube to get it on the rim and inside the tire, I can just inflate it by mouth.

The threaded stems are also good when using my compressor at home to put air in the tires, because you have to push fairly hard, and with the stem nut, it won't push into the rim.

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I don't know...I think the stem nut deal is somewhat overrated for tire inflation...at least the "pressing on" of the air chuck or pump head. I air up tires with tubes of both types by the gross at a bike shop. This just doesn't seem to be a problem. If the tire is that low, you just push your finger or thumb against the tire to hold the stem, schrader or presta, while you attach the chuck. Actually I notice the biggest value of a presta stem nut to be on a road bike where I run the nut under the rim. You never have to worry about damaging the stem/tube interface when pulling off the bike pump inflation head...the time that most presta tubes get damaged on road bikes...except of course from road punctures.

Thanks for your answeres guys..

I know I probably should have done a search... I thought about it after I posted it, that the question has probably been asked a million times...

when in doubt go schrader. Most pumps will work on both types. The pumps that only do one type are usually schrader. The gas station is schrader. Pressure gages are schrader. The rest of the tire world other than bikes is schrader. Sure you can use an adapter on a presta but why bother. Schrader is just easier, cheaper and more convenient.

Valve Breakage

If you break a Shraeder valve stem, it fails in the open position and you flat.

If you break a Presta valve stem, air pressure will keep it closed and you can keep riding.

Shayne said:

If you break a Shraeder valve stem, it fails in the open position and you flat.

If you break a Presta valve stem, air pressure will keep it closed and you can keep riding.

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I've witnessed a couple of instances where, when pulling the pump off a presta valve after pumping it up, the little end piece of the valve, that screws in to keep it closed, just blew out and all the air came out with it. just a factory defect I guess, but still, I've seen it happen twice. I've also had that little end piece get bent enough that you can't screw it in or put a valve cap on it.

TNC said:

You don't put Stan's in a tube. Slime?...yes. Some presta valves actually do allow the core to be removed so that Slime can be injected, but it's a little more of a pain. If you're gonna run Slime, then I'd drill my rims and just run schrader valved tubes. On an MTB rim there is no negative issue of drilling them for schrader.

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Yes, I was actually thinking about putting Stan's into my Mavix crossmax UST.

It has a Presta Valve not sure you can get a schrader for this rim.

So how do you get the Stan's in through the presta valve?