bryroth

Well... can you?

I don't want to ef up my new chrome pump, but it does go to 120psi. My car tires only need like 40psi. Obviously it is more volume but that just means more pumps, right?

I have a slow leak and don't want to buy a new tire. I'd rather spend my money on my bike. If I could just pump up my tire every week or so with my bike pump that would be great.

So has anyone tried this and lived to tell about it?

cudak888 

Can be done (assuming you do not have one of those fancy, modern high pressure tires) - did so with my eternally crappy Blackburn Air Tower 5 on high-pressure mode - but be prepared to be pumping for a good while for a mere 10 PSI.

Remember, you have far more volume in your auto tire then a bicycle tube, but at lower pressure. Easy enough to pump up, but longer to fill.

-Kurt

digger

Do you mean a frame pump or a floor pump?

I've done it with a floor pump but not a frame pump.

With a frame pump 2 things will happen:
1) you'll run out of steam after pump number 317,587 :-)
2) the pump will overheat and catch fire (I'm being a bit of a drama queen here, it'll get hot though)

If it is a slow leak, why not see about getting the tire plugged or perhaps purchase one of those automotive tire sealant products?

Old Hammer Boy

Yes, but if it's totally flat, it will take a very, very long time, and your arms may fall off. I have a small garden tractor and just brought it out of the shed last Saturday to put it into annual lawn cutting service. I decided it would be easier to use my bicycle pump to top off the tires rather than fire up the compressor. I was wrong. It was surprising how long it took to top off those little tires. They only require 10-14 P.S.I.

Longfemur

It's possible with a floor pump. Takes a lot of pumping due to the large volume of air in there. I've done it a few times. It's a lot more practical to just buy a little lighter socket powered pump.

anti.team

Call around to your local tire shops. Many places will fix flats (incl. slow leaks) for free. Discount Tire Co. will typically do it, so I'd start there. You could simply have some corrosion on the bead seat (cause of many slow leaks), which they can clean off easily.

As the others said, you can definitely do it with your bike pump but it will take some time and energy. The pumping should be pretty easy, there will just be a lot of it!

EricJ

Works great. Get started now, and you should finish by the end of the week so you can start over again.

Eric

_dhan_

I top off all the time with my floor pump. If the tire's too low, I'll use a gas station air compressor.

devildogmech

Roflmao!!!!!!

bryroth

I'm going to count the pumps and let you guys know. And just for the record the tire's been plugged three times. One of those is on the outside of the tire, which means that it's a miracle the tire holds any air at all. But my car must know that I hate spending money on new tires. That's one of those un-gratifying purchases like gas, a new belt, air conditioner repair, lawnmower, pressure washer rental, etc. I've still got so much more to spend on my bike first.

Wordbiker

Next will you try it with a shock pump?

I'm just curious.

Barabaika

There are electric 12V auto air compressors:
https://www.sears.com/shc/s/s_10153_1...stFilter=Brand

You shouldn't drive without it if you have a leak.
A tire shop can sell you a used tire in decent condition.

ericthered

Those pumps to set the tire bead on the rim are going to be a pain. Going to have to pump really fast.

Eric

Retro Grouch 

Reminds me of a time when we had to get our furnace replaced. My sister-in-law quipped: "Since you're spending that much money don't hide it in the basement. Put it in the living room so people can see it."

bryroth

Nah, at that point I'll just stop at a gas station for $0.75. I was just thinking of something to put an extra 5psi each day before I take off in the morning.

Retro Grouch 

It'll work but you'd better be young when you start.

mparker326

When I was on safari in Africa, our Land Rover got several flats.

The tires were old school and had tubes in them, and the guides would pump them up after they patched the tubes with a standard bike pump. It took a lot of pumps though. They sometimes enlisted us guests to pump for a few minutes as well.

mike

I have a slow leak in my big 'ol car tire. The shop can't seem to fix it. Every once in a while, I have to go out and put about ten or so psi of air into it. It takes me about 130 to 200 pumps of the floor pump, but eventually you get it done.

It is still faster and more efficient than driving to the filling station and doing it.

10 Wheels

Have your wife, girl friend, or mother do the pumping.
Let us know what names you get called after they finish pumping.

alecw35

I tried to pump my trailer tyres with a hand pump....

No joy.

So I started the compressor and filled the air tank. Then brought it out to where the trailer was.
The electric cable wasnt long enough to be plugged in.
But it did ok with the air tank

likeguymontag

I think that car tires, like bicycle inner tubes can also be patched with glue-on patches. They're a better solution than plugs. Unfortunately, last time I tried to get a shop to patch a slow leak they refused 'cause the puncture was on the shoulder of the tire.

BTW, you should just replace or properly patch the damn tire. Think about it this way: the tires and brakes are the only thing keeping you from a fiery death. I'm a cheap *******, and I do my own car work, but I don't screw around when it comes to safety. Besides, you're going to get sick of pumping up your tire pretty soon.

Camilo

I have done it on a full-size pickup truck tire! It's a real chore and you better set up a chair or something so you can sit and pump because it will take a while and you need a comfortable body position. I did it one winter when my pickup truck got a flat in the garage one weekend (slow leak) and the spare was flat. I got up early the next morning and pumped it up enough to drive into town. I don't remember how long it took, but I'm remembering a very long process.

I now have a electric pump you can plug into the cig. lighter and, I'm embarassed to say, have used it many times. I tend to ignore slow leaks and above mentioned (very old) truck is a "spare vehicle" used for hauling crap and not very often. Therefore, I occasionally find a tire low or flat. But the electric pump is a lot easier than the hand pump!

WNG

12V cig lighter pumps, finding a gas station with free air (gettting rare) and periodically filling tire, or buy a portable air tank that you refill and pressurize at a gas station with free air.
Those are you alternatives. A bike pump will take forever to fill a car tire.
If you're real cheap, find one of those Made in China foot actuated pumps. Can be had for under $10. and you'll have a right calf bigger than your left.

duffer1960

Be careful not to torque the valve stem. I used the bike pump to fill a tire. Took awhile. Some days & a long trip later, had a flat. The valve stem was cracked. May have been due to excessive torque while installing & removing the chuck. Not sure. I'd replaced the gripper-thing in the chuck with fuel line hose... the gripping was a little stickier than usual ... that didn't help when putting it on & taking it off.

tellyho

I do it all the time. Good work-out, as it take for flipping-ever. Count on a good 10 strokes per PSI.