Bike pump with prius C

Could you elaborate for those of us without a 'c'? How do the hubs make bike pump use impossible without doing the same for other air compressors?

I'm presuming that you mean a typical floor pump, not the smaller frame or hand pumps.

 

Takes less than 3 seconds to pop off the hubcap. 5 seconds to put it back on. I don't see the problem.

 

I use a floor-standing bicycle pump too, but don't have wheel covers, feel your pain. Ideas:

1. Just remove the covers and add centre caps.
2. Use gas station compressors. (Up here Chevron is still free, kudos for that.)
3. Look into a small air compressor with narrow style tire inflator.

 

Carry a pair of gloves?

 

This looks kinda interesting:

 

You can just roll in and use the air hose, no problem there. They're my favourite station for fill up though, rarely use anything else.

Most of the other stations you have to feed dollar coins into the pump I think? It's been years, virtually never had to do this. Actually most of the time I'm using my aforementioned bicycle pump, much simpler/accessible.

This is in Canada though, not sure about the States. Lagos, are there Chevron?

 

We have Chevron down in Georgia, don't know if they have free air or not. I use Kroger, which has free air.

 

Free air is becoming hard to find these days in the US but most "fast lube" places will be happy to let you "air up" if they aren't too busy.

Valve stem extensions could the the answer to your stated problem.
Or just leave the hubcaps off.
Or put on mag wheels.

 

^ This! ^

 

Now, one word of caution:
Depending on what kind of extensions you get........if they don't have a screw on cap like a normal valve stem but instead you just force the air through ........IF in the winter time the roads are wet and slushy and you drive through some DEEP puddles, those stems with no caps can take on water. If you then leave it sit out and it turns REAL cold overnight, the water can freeze inside the extensions and cause the schrader valve to leak.

Yep, happened to me. 3 of 4 tires flat. No more cheap extensions for me.
Well not likely to happen again where I live now anyway.

 

I think he was saying he was going to buy one and use it when he needs to put air in. But this is still great advice for the cheap extensions.

 

Valve extensions sound like a good idea. I've already fumble-dropped the valve covers a couple of times so I have to move the car to retrieve the cover.

As a BJ's member (warehouse club), I can get free air at stores that sell gas (like the one closest to me). Unfortunately they don't sell Top Tier gas so I only use them occasionally.

 

In most areas of the country, "top tier" gas doesn't really exist.......as all the stations use the same base stock from the same tank farm terminal. Giving it a dose of Techron every 3 months or so will accomplish about the same thing.

 

Also consider your local tire shop. Mine will top up when requested, no charge. Of course, I do buy tires there, so it’s worthwhile for them.