So, your tires were pumped up when you put your bike away in the garage last year, and now they’re flat. Really?
![Flat tire? It was okay when I bought the bike ...](https://www.halterscycles.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/flattire.jpg)
Some people seem genuinely surprised that bike tires do not stay inflated for life. I mean, car tires do, don’t they?
Well actually no … However, bicycle tires retain a very small volume of air compared to a car tire and the minute seepage of air through the inner tube and tire casing which naturally occurs in just a few days will have a big impact on the pressure within.
![You can find the correct pressure printed or molded onto the wall of the tire - this one reads 115PSI/125PSI](https://www.halterscycles.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/pressure.jpg)
Soft, or under-inflated tires will be a drag to ride, hold the road poorly and raise the risk of a puncture due to a pinch flat or inability to resist piercing.
A correctly inflated tire will roll on the road with less effort, you’ll go further for less, resist flats better and just be safer.
As a guide, but check the information molded onto the sidewall of your tire:
![Every cyclist's essential accessory - a pump](https://www.halterscycles.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/FloorPump.jpg)
- Road bikes : check your pressure and pump before every ride – about 105PSI-120PSI, maybe less if you’re very small.
- Mountain bikes : at least weekly, but maybe before every ride if you’re wanting to match tire pressure to the prevailing conditions.
- Hybrid Bikes : at least weekly – between 60PSI-70PSI, but check tire sidewall.
- Children’s bikes : at least weekly – 40PSI-60PSI. Pinch flats due to under-inflation is the biggest cause of flats on children’s bikes.
More advice about pumps and fixing flat tires here, here … and here.