If you’ve ever been stuck on the roadside with a flat tire, you know the frustration of an under-inflated tire that doesn’t “accept” the air.
Many drivers think a tire won’t take air due to a puncture, but that’s not always the case. In fact, there are myriad reasons why a tire may not inflate.
Lucky you, some measures work for each case, helping you get back on the road. To the nitty-gritty, read on to learn the details.
Tire Won’t Take Air: What Are Root Causes & Solutions?

Why is my tire not taking air?
Not just poor valve stem, a tire can’t take the air due to many problems, such as a tear or puncture in the tire, defective rim or wheel, faulty tire inflator, broken air compressor/air inflation device, and too much air already in your tire.
Poor Valve Stem
The tire valve won’t take air if damaged.
You must attach the air pump to the tire’s valve stem to fill it with air. The valve core, where air enters the tire, is vital.
But the car tire valve won’t accept air effectively with a bad valve core or when it does not seat precisely.
To this end, deflate your whole tire and remove it from the rim. Place a new valve stem for a broken one.
Of note, this process typically involves specialized tools. You should have an expert do it for you. You could also DIY while you’re a skilled technician.
Puncture Or Tear In Your Tire
The tire won’t air up when it has a rip, puncture, or sharp foreign objects inside. All the air will leak out due to the hole in the tire.
In this case, repair this by patching or altering the tire. This matter is pretty standard.
Sometimes, the puncture is not visible, and you can only locate it if you jack up your auto into the air or rotate your tires sparingly.
Yet overall, the repairing process is not that challenging to help you get back to the normal ride.
Items that pierce tires, such as nails or screws, typically prompt slow leaks causing the tire to deflate gradually over several hours.
This gives you time to put air in the tire and drive to the closest tire shop for fixing.
Defective Rim Or Wheel
Why won’t my tire take air? Another reason can stem from a broken wheel or rim.
Some tires are especially prone to buckling and warping because of pothole damage, falling off hidden curbs, and traveling over severely deteriorated pavement.
Your tire won’t accept air once the rim or wheel is cracked, even with premium wheels.
Some types of the rim are designed to keep an airtight seal against the tire bead. A defective bead wouldn’t form a secure seal and leak the air out.
Tackle this soon, as your control is compromised when you ride on a poor wheel. This poses a severe safety concern.
Faulty Tire Inflator
If you are having trouble that air won’t go in tire, perhaps the tire inflator breaks itself. Although it is not typical, this issue can pop up sometimes.
Disconnect the tool from the tire, place your hand against its line, switch on the inflator, and check to see whether air leaks. If not, presumably, you already had the air compressor failure.
Overall, a malfunctioning inflator often has these symptoms:
- The tool is making weird noises or getting louder. Try to tell apart the sound derived from the tire or the wheel (due to the imbalance tires) before fixing them all.
- A fluid leak in the motor.
- The device consumes more power than usual.
- Sometimes, more heat is produced by the tool than usual, and it displays overheating-related signs.
When you suspect this is the case, get your tire and inflator inspected by a professional. Change to using other tools when your current one no longer functions properly.
Tire inflators are often accessible for use at every petrol station. Still, you may always purchase your portable one to tote around if there isn’t a station close by.
You’d better purchase a tire inflator that is reasonably priced, transportable, and may save your life efficiently.
Too Much Air Already In Your Tire
Why won’t my tire take air? Occasionally, your flat tire will only take air if there is currently enough air.
This is because the tire has already reached its limit. You’ll need to let the air out of the tire until it reaches the appropriate level.
Overinflation is never advised since it might stress the tire’s sidewall and hasten deterioration. Not to mention, it can result in the tire blowing out, reducing its performance.
Always consult your car’s owner’s manual to determine the suggested tire air pressure.
How To Fill Your Tire With An Air Compressor The Right Way?
It’s easy at large. Turn the air compressor on and adjust the pressure to the desired PSI level. You should set it 15 PSI higher than your desired level.
Go to your tire and remove your valve cover while the air pressure in the compressor increases. Bring an air compressor hose with you. Put that somewhere so that it won’t disappear from you.
Put the air chuck on your tire valve, then press it down once the compressor is ready. Pull the button to transmit the air when the connection has been established.
Afterward, remove the air chuck, replace the valve cover, unplug your compressor, and put it away after you finish. So that there are no kinks in the line, make sure to roll the hose up.
When you wish to inflate your tire, kinks need some time to release.
How Long To Fill Your Tire With An Air Compressor?
The required air pressure will determine how long to do that and the type of air inflator you employ.
The process will take little time if you increase the pressure from 30 to 36 PSI. Just less than a minute.
It should take roughly one minute and twenty seconds to travel from 0 to 30 PSI and around 10 minutes from 20 PSI to 145 PSI.
In comparison to smaller inflators, larger ones fill tires faster. For narrow tires that don’t require a lot of air, go for the smaller ones.
Check the pressure in your tires to determine the size of the air inflator you’ll need.
If you don’t have a flair for this task or feel unconfident doing it, get the technician to do it with good security and skill sets.
Wrapping Up
Being on the side of the road when a flat tire won’t take air can get you on your nerves. You are not alone.
This is a common problem due to a wide range of culprits. It can be a minor issue, like a puncture, or a more severe issue, like a faulty valve stem or a torn tire.
Fortunately, we’ve rounded up some practical solutions. Hence, it’s easier while facing this on the go.
It sounds better if you share this issue with other car owners. We bet they would appreciate your manner much!