Can you pump up a car tire with a bike pump?
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Can you pump up a car tire with a bike pump?
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?
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?
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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
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
#3
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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?
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?
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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.
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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.
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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?
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?
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!
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Works great. Get started now, and you should finish by the end of the week so you can start over again.
Eric
Eric
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I top off all the time with my floor pump. If the tire's too low, I'll use a gas station air compressor.
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Roflmao!!!!!!
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"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently and die gallantly. Specialization is for insects." -Robert A. Heinlein
Master Guns Crittle, You out there??
"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently and die gallantly. Specialization is for insects." -Robert A. Heinlein
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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.
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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.
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.
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Those pumps to set the tire bead on the rim are going to be a pain. Going to have to pump really fast.
Eric
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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.
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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.
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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.
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.
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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.
It is still faster and more efficient than driving to the filling station and doing it.
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Have your wife, girl friend, or mother do the pumping.
Let us know what names you get called after they finish pumping.
Let us know what names you get called after they finish pumping.
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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
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
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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.
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.
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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?
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?
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!
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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.
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.
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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.