Pros & Cons of presta valve vs schrader valves

[Flowrider]

A question I've wanted to ask for a while now. From a personal point of view, what have you found to be the positives and negatives of these two valves?

What would your preference be?

[ReapThaWhirlwind]

Schrader are easier to work with. They let out air easier also.

Presta are more troublesome to work with, but are the more secure valve.

[meamoantonio]

The gold standard now is Presta because it is smaller more aero dynamic than Schrader valves in the past but there has been a lot of advancements now that make the weight issue and "air secureness " null between the two valves, I think the bike industry just stopped adopting the changes at this point and decided to stick with presta as the more premium option available to mid to high end wheel sets.
Personally I'd like to have an option to have access to gas station pumps in times of emergencies without having to screw in adapter, but until the whole industry adapts Schrader and makes it use available to even the top tier stuff, I'll stick with presto for now

[Flowrider]

Thanks for that. I agree with the fact that we can go to a garage and pump our tyres with a Schrader without a problem. My experience with a Presta is that it brakes a lot easier. I've never had an issue with either leaking from the inlet.

Car, motorbike and bicycle tyres with the same valve make sense to me. I can't see an obvious advantage of the Presta over the Schrader

[GirishH]

My fat bike thankfully came with Schrader valve tubes and rims. When I went to buy emergency backup tubes, they only had them in Presta valves. Fortunately, these Presta tubes still fit my rims, and I just carry a Presta-to-Schrader adapter for pumping air.

That said, I’m always a bit nervous pumping air into a Presta valve because it feels flimsy, and I worry I might break it or cause a leak where it connects to the tube.

One big advantage I’ve noticed is that a Presta tube will fit a Schrader rim/hole, though I’m doubtful the reverse is true.

Plus, the fact that I can pump air into my Schrader valve almost anywhere without needing an adapter is a huge convenience compared to always having to carry one for Presta.

[rydabent]

(06-16-2025, 11:34 PM)ReapThaWhirlwind Wrote:  Schrader are easier to work with. They let out air easier also.

Presta are more troublesome to work with, but are the more secure valve.

I guess I dont understand why you would say that presta valves are more troublesome.

[GirishH]

I feel like prestas are troublesome because they are too fine/flimsy compared to schraders..

(07-10-2025, 11:58 AM)rydabent Wrote:  

(06-16-2025, 11:34 PM)ReapThaWhirlwind Wrote:  Schrader are easier to work with. They let out air easier also.

Presta are more troublesome to work with, but are the more secure valve.

I guess I dont understand why you would say that presta valves are more troublesome.

[rydabent]

Also presta's on a very narrow rim with its small hole makes the rim stronger.

[Flowrider]

From this, I guess the consensus is that Schrader is more the favourite, as for one thing, it's easier to get a pump for them, less likely to break, and there is not a strong benefit of a Presta.

[Jackchuck]

(06-15-2025, 06:52 AM)Flowrider Wrote:  A question I've wanted to ask for a while now. From a personal point of view, what have you found to be the positives and negatives of these two valves?

What would your preference be?

Schrader always, presta are to fragile, no one has a pump or the best is when you have a presta in the front and Schrader in back. F the prestas. Why reinvent the wheel. No pun

[GirishH]

@Jackchuck, I agree with you on "why reinvent the wheel?'. Just curious, why you think that it's best when you have a presta in the front and a Schrader in the back? What's the thinking behind?

Thanks.

(07-16-2025, 01:12 AM)Jackchuck Wrote:  

(06-15-2025, 06:52 AM)Flowrider Wrote:  A question I've wanted to ask for a while now. From a personal point of view, what have you found to be the positives and negatives of these two valves?

What would your preference be?

Schrader always, presta are to fragile, no one has a pump or the best is when you have a presta in the front and Schrader in back. F the prestas. Why reinvent the wheel. No pun

[Painkiller]

The benefit of presta valve has to do with rim profile, they are the stronger choice to use with a V style hoop, the threaded stem with the lock washer is also a major plus when it comes to pumping a flat tire without pushing the stem inside the tire when mounting the pump head. So with that in mind take the best part of a presta tube and add to the schrader you have a clear winner. The conti tube for schrader valve. The only one to use!

[Flowrider]

@Painkiller That's brilliant! I'd heard of that Thanks for sharing

[Zviedrs]

I personally use Presta valves for both my road and mountain bikes. They’re the standard for road bike tires and 29ers around here. Great pressure precision and slightly lighter (not significant, though). I haven’t had any real issues with their durability - no complaints there!

My experience with pumps and valves has been quite the opposite to others', though. Both of my previous mini pumps were Presta-only, which was enough for myself. But I switched to a dual-valve mini pump just in case, since my fiancée’s old MTB has 26" wheels with rims that have larger valve holes and Schrader tubes. My floor pump has a dual-valve option, and that's the main pump I use. The mini one is for emergencies.

Well, then there's Dunlop as well ...

[Flowrider]

Sounds like you've got it sorted, not like the guy who had 29' and 26" wheels on his bike and different valves!