If you have an old bike or one you just haven’t used in a while, you may be wondering what can happen to its tires…
Can bike tires go flat from sitting?
Yes, bike tires can go flat just sitting in your garage and especially if you are storing them unprotected outside. Even with brand new tires, sitting for a space will result in a very minute amount of air loss over time, though the valve or even through the rubber – which happens to be porous at a molecular level.
To help avoid this, your best bet is to hang your bike so that the tires are not receiving constant pressure supporting the weight of your bike.
This will dramatically reduce the amount of air that they would otherwise lose, although if you store your bike for a long time you should still check the air pressure and examine the sidewalls and tread before you ride it again.
Why do my bike tires go flat when not in use?
Mostly it’s the pressure of the weight of the bike on the tires, although there are other factors such as wear and tear – small punctures, valves slowly becoming less efficient, or even fluctuations in the air temperature that change the way the air in the tire reacts.
Even the rubber itself is porous, although you can’t see it without heavy magnification. As such, it’s best to simply check the air pressure when you’ve stored your bike for a while and to get in the habit of hanging it so that there is less pressure on the tires while it’s being stored.
Can bike tires lose air sitting?
Just sitting puts more pressure on your bike’s tires than you might think. For instance, if you have a mountain bike then that’s 26-28 pounds of weight that will be sitting on the tires at all times.
This means that any possible egress from the air, such as the porosity of the rubber, a leaky valve, or even damage that you can’t see with the naked eye is going to be exploited by the air as a natural response to the pressure.
If the tires are losing air quickly, then it’s likely a leak, but even without damage or a bad valve, you can expect a bike to lose anywhere from 1 – 40 psi a week in storage. It’s completely normal and a good reason to get in the habit of always checking your air pressure and ‘topping it off’ regularly.
How long does it take for bike tires to go flat?
It will probably take approximately 5 months for a tire to go completely flat. When there is a lot of air pressure, such as with a total tire that has the weight of the bike sitting on it, the initial air lost will be at its fastest, but as air escapes, it will slow down.
Due to this, it’s not going to completely deflate in a week or even after a month, but you’ll notice the difference if you ride it without refilling it. So, don’t trust an ‘eyeball assessment’ of your tires.
Check the actual PSI and examine the treads and sidewalls weekly and test your valves every 2 weeks. A little soapy water on the valve is all that it takes to check them and this can show you right away if they are leaking, so don’t forget this part when you are checking the treads.
Why do my bike tires keep going flat in the garage?
If your tires are going flat in a matter of days, then it’s quite likely that you leak. You want to examine the tires to look for this, carefully checking the tread and the sidewalls, and follow that up by checking your valves.
You should also rotate your bike tires every 6000-8000 miles, as this will help you to get the most life out of them by distributing the natural wear and tear. Finally, hang the bike – don’t leave it sitting – and this will take pressure off of the tires so that they will lose less air in storage.
You can lose 1 – 40 psi per week just leaving the bike sitting out, even with new tires, so a little loss is to be expected, especially if you aren’t taking the time to properly hang your bike when it’s not in use.
Why do bicycle tires lose air in the winter?
Your bike naturally loses air just sitting there, but winter and cold temperatures can hasten the process. When the cold hits, the air inside your tires is denser, and this will make your tire pressure much lower than it would be if it were warm.
Check your tire’s psi more regularly in the winter and this will help to reduce the impact of the cold on your tire pressure so that it won’t affect the quality of your cycling trips.
Is it normal for bike tubeless tires to lose air?
Yes, tubeless tires tend to be less efficient and often have weaker seals, so they sometimes lose air just sitting overnight. You can reduce the chances of this by hanging your bike so that there is less pressure on the tires, but you should still check the pressure regularly if you have tubeless tires on your bike.
How often should I pump up my bike tires?
As a general rule, if you have medium-sized tires then you’ll want to check the air pressure weekly. Larger, more robust tires, such as mountain bikes can get away with less frequent checking, though you should check the at least once every 2 weeks.
Is it harder to ride a bike with low tire pressure?
Yes, it is harder to ride a bike without the proper amount of tire pressure. This is because you need that air pressure to have proper rolling resistance when you are cycling.
Without it, there is less pressure to support both you and the frame, and not only will you have less control, but an increased chance of damaging your bike if you’re not careful. Checking the psi in your tires only takes a moment, but you must get into the habit of doing so.
Otherwise, your safety will be compromised and it’s quite likely that your bike will be quickly damaged and you’ll be stuck with costly repairs if you want to keep riding.
Do bike tires deflate in hot weather?
Hot air can make your tires deflate faster. The cold makes the air denser, but heat ramps up the air pressure, so any leaks will be easier to notice and even the natural release of air (1-40 psi per week) may be accelerated.
Don’t overcompensate by filling your tires more regularly, however, or you’ll risk popping the tire from too much weight and pressure. Instead, get a psi reading and inflate it the proper amount, and this will help your tires to last through the warm season with less likelihood of incidents.