Is it bad to use an air compressor for bike tires?
#1
07 Fuji Newest Rider
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Buffalo
Posts: 20
Bikes: 2007 Fuji Newest, 2008 Cervelo P2C
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Is it bad to use an air compressor for bike tires?
I just bought my first "good" road bike and on my previous bikes I've always used my electric air compressor to fill the tires. The guy at my LBS was really pushing me to buy a hand pump but I didnt' have the $ at the time. So do I need to go get a hand pump or is it fine to continue using an air compressor with a pressure guage built in?
Thanks!
Thanks!
#2
Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 14
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I owned a shop and routinely used an air compressor. I set the limit to the exact amount that I wanted in the tire, and then I would let it rip. It won't cause any problems.
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 6,900
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Just take into account that the pressure gauge on cheap air compressors can be off by a lot of psi.
I would pump up a bit and check the pressure with a tire gauge or something to see if your compressor reading is close.
I would pump up a bit and check the pressure with a tire gauge or something to see if your compressor reading is close.
#6
Pwnerer
If you don't have a regulator or gauge, just keep your thumb pressed into the tire while inflating and add air in small increments until it "feels right". Handy tip for gas stations that may have higher pressure and/or missing or inaccurate gauges.