I have purchased a second hand folding bicycle with small 16 inch wheels. It is supposed to be suitable for an adult. I pump the tyres up with my old bicycle pump until I can get no more air into the tyres. Although the tyres then seem hard to press they compress so much when I get onto the bike that the tyres seem almost flat.

On the tyre wall it says max pressure 36 psi. I do not know whether I have reached this psi because as soon as I connect the pressure gauge the air escapes.

The questions I need to ask are –

Should you be able to get to 36 psi with a simple old fashioned hand pump or do you need a more powerful one.

Is 36 psi on 16 inch tyres / wheels suitable for an adult. I see from other comments that around 50 psi is recommended for normal cycling

should you be able to get to 36 psi with a simple old fashioned hand pump

Yes, easily with a quality pump. My Zefal (http://www.zefal.com/zefal/index.php) mini-pump I keep on the bike will do 100+ psi (takes a lot of pumping though).


is 36 psi on 16 inch tyres / wheels suitable for an adult.

I don't know, but go by what the tire/tube says. If your hand pump isn't performing, take the bike to a gas station and use their compressed air along with a good gauge and inflate the tires to the proper amount. If once at the proper inflation, the tires are inadequate, shop for tires. If you plan to cycle a lot, a small high quality air compressor (examples: Thomas Compressors (http://www.thomasairpac.com/products/airpac/airpac_electric.jsp), Dewalt Compressors (http://www.dewalt.com/us/products/tool_category_listing.asp?categoryID=877)) is convenient, although the less expensive ones tend to be very loud.

Hi Scleros

Thanks for your input.

I have been to the gas station and have managed to get 36 psi into the tyres, which seems adequate for riding the bike.

It seems that my old pump can't get the right pressue into the tyres.

I will buy a better pump

Happy trails...

Four items are essential: 1) a good lightweight air pump, 2) a set of tire levers, also sometimes called tire "irons" (usually made of plastic), 3) a patch kit, most preferably one designed for bicycle tires, and 4) a spare tube.

---------
JAMES

<a href=“http://continentaltyres.org.uk� rel=“dofollow�>Continental Tyres</a>