Mountain Biking - Can I change from Shraeder to Presta?

Wife getting Specialized Hardrock. Comes w/ Shraeder tubes (Specialized H@ 26 wheels made by Alex). I'm not used to shraeder tubes except on our kids bikes.

I have some presta tubes. Can I use these tubes with these rims?

Yes, just use the lock nut with the presta valve.

In some rare cases the schrader valve opening in the rim can let the tube sneak (expand when pumped to pressure) in and cause a puncture. If you have an old tube cut one maybe two rectangles with a Presta size hole and place on the valve so it lays between the tube and the rim. Don’t make it too big or it can get in the way of the seating the tire.

Yes, just use the lock nut with the presta valve.

Thanks, that's what I figured.

Separate question. If tire is 2.2, can I use a smaller tube eg 1.5-2.0?
You certainly can w/ road tires. Figure it's the same w/ MTN.

Should be fine. I run 2.35's now with 2.125" tubes.

Someone makes a collar that fits in the schraeder hole that necks it down to presta. I dunno who, but it works well.

I would not recommend using them "just using the lock nut" without making the hole smaller first. There's too much room for the valve to move around. Wheels Manufacturing makes some little bushings called Presta Savers that are the best option. You can also find rubber inserts that do the same thing but they are not as good as the Wheels Manufacturing product.

Bike Nashbar carries them, but a lot of bike shops have them too. You might have to file the edges of the lip part down a little bit, depending on how narrow the inside of your rims are.

Presta Savers (http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=97&subcategory=1057&brand=&sku=10513&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=)

the above poster beat me to it...here is a pic. you can also go to a place like Ace hardware and use a small electrical rubber grommet.

http://www.nashbar.com/nashbar_photos/medium/WM-PVS.gif

the above poster beat me to it...here is a pic. you can also go to a place like Ace hardware and use a small electrical rubber grommet.


Because you are slow. :)

I would not recommend using them "just using the lock nut" without making the hole smaller first. There's too much room for the valve to move around. Wheels Manufacturing makes some little bushings called Presta Savers that are the best option. You can also find rubber inserts that do the same thing but they are not as good as the Wheels Manufacturing product.

Bike Nashbar carries them, but a lot of bike shops have them too. You might have to file the edges of the lip part down a little bit, depending on how narrow the inside of your rims are.

Presta Savers (http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=97&subcategory=1057&brand=&sku=10513&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=)

Since my Mtn bike has presta, it'd be simpler to carry just one tube on rides and convert hers to presta. Any reason why I should stick w/ shraeder eg it's more durable than the workaround w/ the adapter?

Since my Mtn bike has presta, it'd be simpler to carry just one tube on rides and convert hers to presta. Any reason why I should stick w/ shraeder eg it's more durable than the workaround w/ the adapter?


You can also get Presta Savers here: AE Bike (http://aebike.com/page.cfm?PageID=30&action=details&sku=RM9003).

The "performance" bike crowd is pretty high on presta. For road bikes, they're a must. If you are comfortable with presta, you should probably just stick with them. The wide availability of lock nuts on prestas are really nice.

One big downfall in shrader is prevalence of rubber stems that tear if they are torqued. Myself ... I use downhill IRC torque tubes with threaded lock valves. They're oversized for my tires and they NEVER puncture since the tubes are a bigger than my tires (Cinder 2.25"). I like to carry prestas for spares since stuffing the tire with an oversized tube is such a pain in the ass and I like threaded lock stems.

Since my Mtn bike has presta, it'd be simpler to carry just one tube on rides and convert hers to presta. Any reason why I should stick w/ shraeder eg it's more durable than the workaround w/ the adapter?
why don't you just drill your rim for a schrader?? an 11/32" works great!! this is what i have been doing and plan to in the future as well.

I don't see a point in that, I've been running my presta front tube in a 2.6 tire on a Shrader rim. Works fine with the lock nut.

just offering options so he could carry one type of tube:D

why don't you just drill your rim for a schrader?? an 11/32" works great!! this is what i have been doing and plan to in the future as well.

That's what I did. I hated to drill my new wheels but I swore off presta about 10 years ago....absolutely HATE them. I'm forced to run them on my road bike but I don't like it

What about a locknut on the inside of the rim as well as the outside?