Download ArticleDownload ArticleThis article was co-authored by Howard Fleischmann. Howard Fleischmann is an Automotive Tire and Repair Specialist and the CEO of Community Tire Pros & Auto Repair, with ten locations throughout Phoenix, Glendale, Yuma, and Casa Grande, Arizona. Howard specializes in full-service auto repair and tire replacement and care for domestic/imported vehicles and large trucks. Howard’s dedication to Community Tire Pros & Auto Repair has earned their team multiple awards and features including the 2021 Phoenix Magazine AZ State 48 “Best of the Best!”, the 2020 “Best of Phoenix” in Auto Repair, the 2013 Master SBD award, the 2013 National “Top Shop” award by Tire Review, the 2012 Diversity Champions Phx Business Journal, the 2009 BBB Ethics award, the 2008 Phx Chamber of Commerce Impact Award -” Small Business of the Year”, and the 2008 ASU Spirit of Enterprise award. Howard is often referred to as “The Car Guy” for local TV stations and is a regular on TV’s Channel 3 Sunday, Good Morning Arizona monthly.
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If your tires are overfilled with air or you need to transport them, you may want to deflate them. Both vehicle tires and bike tires have valves located in them that control the flow of air in and out of the tire. Once you find the valve stem, letting the air out of them is a breeze as long as you follow the right steps.
How to Deflate a Tire
Locate the valve near the middle of the tire between the spokes. Twist the cap counterclockwise to remove it. You should see a thin metal pin in the center of the valve. Use the tip of a screwdriver or any other small, thin tool to press on this metal pin. Air will shoot out of the valve when you apply pressure to it.
Steps
Locate the valve on your tires.[1] The valve is usually found between the spokes near the middle of your tire. The valve stem should look like a short 1–2 inches (2.5–5.1 cm) tube protruding from your tires. It will usually have a black or metal cap on the end of the stem.[2]- The cap on the stem keeps dirt and dust off your valve.
Rotate the cap on the valve counterclockwise to remove it. Removing the cap on the valve will reveal the metallic part of the valve. The valve looks like a round hole with a pin in the center of it.[3]- Once you remove the cap, put it safely aside in a plastic bag so you don't lose it.
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Check the pressure on your tires. Attach a pressure gauge onto the valve on your tires and screw it into place. It should give you a readout for your tire pressure in pounds per square inch, or PSI. Check the owner's manual to see what the recommended pressure should be.[4]- You can purchase a tire pressure gauge at an automotive store or online.
Press the tip of a screwdriver on the metal pin. There will be a thin metal pin in the center of the valve. You can also use a pair of needle-nose pliers or another small, thin tool. Air will start to shoot out of the valve when you apply pressure to the pin.[5][6]- Lift the screwdriver off of the pin to stop it from deflating.
Jack your car up if you're completely deflating your tires. Completely deflating a car or truck tires without jacking up the vehicle can damage your rotors and tires. Find the jack point on the side of the vehicle and use the lever to jack the car up into the air. You can then completely remove the air from the tire safely.- Read the owner's manual if you're unsure of how to jack up your particular model of car.
Unscrew the metal pin to deflate the vehicle tire faster. Use a pair of thin, 5 inches (13 cm) long needle nose pliers and turn the metal pin inside of the valve counterclockwise. Your tires will lose air in a quicker flow than if you just pressed down on the pin. Use this method if you want to deflate your tires quickly.[7]- Set the metal pin aside in a plastic bag so you don't misplace it.
- Remember to screw the pin back into the valve once you're done.
Loosen the cap on the end of the valve. The valve will look like a long stem protruding from your tire. On the end of the stem, there will be a cylindrical cap. Turn the cap counterclockwise until the cap is loose, but don't remove it completely.[8]
Fit the end of your tire pump onto your tire. You can usually find the recommended pounds of pressure, or PSI, for your bike tires on the inner part of the tire. Press the end of the tire pump hose onto the end of the valve after you loosen it. Flip the lever on the backside of the tire pump and read the gauge on the pump to see what the pressure level is in your tires. If they are overfilled, you should release some air from them.[9]
Remove the tire pump from the valve to deflate the tire. If your tire is overfilled and you want to deflate it, you'll need to remove the pump first. Flip the switch on the back of the pump to the up position and wiggle the pump off the valve.
Press down on the tip of the valve to deflate the tire. Pressing down on the cap once it's loose will release the air from the tire. You should hear and feel the air shoot out of the valve as you press down on the valve cap.[10]
Push down on the tire to remove the air more quickly. If you want to remove the air from the tire quicker, place it on the ground and push down on it. This will shoot the air out of your tires faster than if you just pressed down on the valve cap.[11]
Expert Q&A
Video
Tips
References
- ↑ Howard Fleischmann. Automotive Tire & Repair Specialist. Expert Interview. 4 June 2021.
- ↑ https://itstillruns.com/let-air-out-car-tire-7196948.html
- ↑ https://www.ppmc-transport.org/let-air-out-of-a-tire/
- ↑ https://www.dmv.org/how-to-guides/check-tire-pressure.php
- ↑ https://www.ppmc-transport.org/let-air-out-of-a-tire/
- ↑ Howard Fleischmann. Automotive Tire & Repair Specialist. Expert Interview. 4 June 2021.
- ↑ https://www.ppmc-transport.org/let-air-out-of-a-tire/
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GY_XmNhupPo&feature=youtu.be&t=28s
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNU0RwAWL4c&feature=youtu.be&t=2m44s
About This Article
To let air out of a tire, start by removing the cap from the valve located on the side of your tire between the spokes. Next, use the tip of a screwdriver to push in the thin metal pin in the center of the valve and let the air rush out. Alternatively, you can use needle nose pliers to push in the pin. In order to deflate the tire even faster, use pliers to unscrew the metal pin in the valve. However, make sure to put the pin back in when you’re done! For tips on how to let air out of a bicycle tire, read on.
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