Hello ,

i am trying to order another inner tube for my bike
but i found 2 different type of Valve .. Presta and Schrader
which one is better ?

on my current bike i have Presta Valve
but am confused about choosing my new one
i searched a lot but i can't find exact and good answer

thanks a lot friends

The one that fits your wheels is better.

First things first...Presta and Schrader are not interchangeable. A Schrader valve has a larger diameter and requires a larger hole in the rim.

I have both Presta and Schrader. I like the fact that I can use an air compressor to fill my tires on the Schrader valve. But there is an adapter that allows me to do that on Prestas as well. Its easier to find the size Presta tube you need than Schrader in my neck of the woods. And Schrader valves lack the retention ring that Prestas have that holds the valve stem in place which is handy when the tube is empty. Given those facts if you had a choice I would go with Presta.

if both fits ?
there's 2 options to choose from at chainreaction

Both might have the same wheel diameter and tire size but the valve do not interchange. If you have Presta now, you need to buy Presta. Or maybe a drill bit and a deburring tool and then you can buy Schrader

Both valves work fine.
IF your rim is drilled for Presta, a Schraeder stem is too large.

One of my bikes has one each and both tires need to be topped off the same.

I carry an adapter on my keychain so I can use a gas station pump if needed.
My LBS charged me $1 for one.

Robot Check

My experience is that I've had a lot fewer problems with Schrader valves. Over the years, I've probably lost 4 or 5 Presta tubes due to the valve separating from the rubber. Last week, I had one where the threaded shaft broke. Miraculously, it held air until I went to pump it up again, and then the valve fell into the tube.

Of course this could be operator error, though I don't abuse my tubes. But even so, a technology that requires less care to operate is a better technology in my view.

Now, Presta requires a smaller hole, so I'd consider it for really skinny rims. But in the future, I'll go with Schrader on my wheel builds.

Not all of the Presta to Schraeder adapters are made equal. I have two old brass ones with lots of patina. As with most small things (and these days many large things) I sometimes can't find one, so a few months age I bought 2-3 spares so I could loss them also. Turns out the new brass and aluminum ones I got for a buck each are just a few mm longer. They fill the tires fine but my tire gauges will not work on them. Then center pin of the gauge will not just reach the Presta pin so the gauge can read the air pressure! Took a few minutes to figure that one out. So, I will modify them with a file.

neither is better. each has advantages and drawbacks, along with fans and detractors.

I prefer Presta, but that matters less than the fact than that's what your rims are drilled for. If you have a REASON to change you can drill the rim, otherwise go with the flow until you have a reason not to.

Now prefer Schraeder

sorry but why i have to drill the rim ? is changing worth ?
that's why i am asking about the better one

why bro ?

57,000 miles with Presta.

Now with Schraeder and love them..So simple to add air and get on the road.

All depends on your wheel size type
Roadie?1"/25mm wide tires in narrow rims , probably wont be a good idea to use the schrader stem tubes,
as the hole is a bit large for so narrow a wheel-rim.

My 26" wheel bike is schrader drilled, mavic rim, with a snap in reducer .. I use Presta tubes. The Silca Floor pump is easy to use at home .



now that I have tried a Schwalbe Schrader tube (AV4 for my Brompton ) they are quite nice ..

ring nut on the threaded stem pushing on the thumblock head is made easy on that too..

thin tube does simplify mounting the tire , though It is rather ballooned out to fill the 35mm tire casing , so needs more frequent re inflation

than the thick wall Thorn resistant tubes, that stay up for a couple Months.

Nobody's opinion here counts here except yours. Why are you considering changing? Are you having any problems with your Presta valves? Unless you have a reason to change to do so. Changing requires drilling the rim because the valve stem is wider and needs a bigger hole. If you have a problem, changing is an option, but otherwise, it makes zero sense.

Sounds like you already have presta, stay with it. I never loose air when checking pressure with presta, but always did with S. Threaded presta can use the lock-screw already mentioned to keep the valve tight to the rim when inflating the tube. Don't risk ruining a rim by drilling it out. Both work fine. Use the adapter already mentioned if you need to once in a while.

When you start picking nits, a presta valve with a smaller hole in the rim should make the rim stronger. And presta valves that blow open when being pumped up looses less air when the chuck is removed. Lastly the presta with it thumb nut keep the tube in place when installing a new tube. How many times have you seen a schrader stem poking out of the rim at an angle?

That's usually the result of letting the air pressure drop too low. Then the tire walks around the rim and pulls the valve with it.

Some schrader tubes have retention rings. My Continental tubes do ; )

so better is a German Brand, either Presta or Schrader [Schwalbe calls 1 type AV auto valve] or continental ..


air pressure difference keeps the check valve closed in a PV,(The little knob-nut locks it shut) SV cores use a spring.
not all prestas are replaceable valves , the valve core in schrader are always replaceable.

I would respectfully like to add new details into this thread:


Nitpicking is the act of removing nits (the eggs of lice, generally head lice) ...As nitpicking inherently requires fastidious, meticulous attention to detail, the term has become appropriated to describe the practice of meticulously searching for minor, even trivial errors in detail (often referred to as "nits" as well), and then criticising them (see hypercriticism).

(Always figured it was something like that...but, well, just the way you said, "picking nits.."

Sounds like perhaps the OP is having difficulty putting air in his tires. Perhaps he is not unscrewing the valve on the Presta to put air in? First time users/newbies are sometimes stumped because no one told them about that little "trick".

OP, you cannot put a Schrader valve in a Presta Valve hole, as has already been stated. Get an adapter (I leave mine screwed on and use a Schrader cap on it. You can also leave the screw valve open when you leave the adapter on, without losing any air) so you can get air at a car dealer or auto tire shop ... presuming they are smart enough to put air in a bicycle tire ...

Presta is better. Buy the tube with the presta valve.

You can also get a rubber ring to use presta tubes on a schrader rim. My 27" wheel set is setup this way.