How to Let Air Out of a Tire

There are several reasons someone might want to let air out of their tires, from completing a plug job to improving traction on uneven terrain. Regardless of the situation, there’s a right and wrong way to deflate a tire. Doing so properly ensures you maintain control over how much air escapes, preserves the tire's integrity, and prevents the tire from de-beading due to low air pressure. 

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to properly let air out of a tire, why you might need to do it, and the safest, most efficient tools to use. Whether you’re airing down for the trail, preparing a tire plug, or smoothing out ride quality, these steps will ensure you can deflate your tires with confidence.

Drivers deflate tires for several reasons, with some of the most common including: 

• Plugging a Tire: Deflating the tire before inserting the plug makes the process much easier. It’s also recommended for safety reasons. 

• Airing Down for Traction: When you air down your tires, the tire becomes more compliant, and the contact patch grows. These two traits significantly enhance traction, allowing the tire to maintain grip on uneven surfaces such as rocks, sand, snow, and mud. 

• Improving Ride Quality: If you’re leaving the roadway or aren’t hauling heavy loads, airing down your truck’s tires (to safe levels) can significantly improve ride quality. With lower air pressure, the tire’s sidewall becomes more compliant, allowing it to absorb bumps and potholes for a smoother ride. 

• Replacing a Tire: Before de-beading a tire for replacement, be sure to completely deflate it. Failing to do so can damage the bead or tire’s structure.

Before and during deflation, use a tire pressure gauge, like the Bulldog Pencil Style Dual Head pressure gauge, to monitor PSI. Both digital and analog gauges can produce reliable, accurate readings, allowing you to air down the tire to your desired pressure. 

If you’re airing down your tires for off-roading, check the tire pressure frequently (every 5 to 10 seconds) until you reach your target PSI. In most cases, 12 to 25 PSI will do the trick, depending on the terrain type, tire size, and your vehicle’s weight. 

For tire repairs, air down the tires as needed to complete the task. When installing tire plugs, it’s typically recommended to air down the tire completely to reduce resistance. For patches that require dismounting the tire, fully deflating the tire is also recommended.

There are several ways to let air out of a tire, with each suited to different situations. Whether you’re quickly airing down to boost traction or completely deflating for a repair, the methods below will allow you to do so safely.

The simplest way to deflate a tire is to use the small pin inside the Schrader valve. To do so, remove the valve stem cap and insert a small tool. While specialty tools exist, any of the following items can work in a pinch: 

• A flathead screwdriver

• A key

• A ballpoint pen

• A valve core tool

• The backside of a tire pressure gauge

Once you’ve found an applicable tool, press the small pin inward to release air in a controlled manner. If you’re looking to quickly release all the air in the tire, remove the valve stem core using a valve-core removal tool.

For off-road use, tire deflators are a quick and easy way to precisely air down. These tools help you deflate your tires to a preset PSI quickly and easily, without risking letting too much air out. Popular tire deflator types include: 

• Screw-On Recovery Deflators: Set and forget. These unique deflators are adjustable to specific pressures. Once installed, the internal spring/diaphragm automatically stops air from being released. 

• Rapid Air Deflators: Ideal for quickly airing down large tires. Using a mechanism that screws onto the valve stem, these deflators can unscrew or depress the valve core at the press of a button. 

• Inline Gauge Deflators: Using inline gauges, these deflators let you monitor tire pressure in real time as you release air. 

If you frequently air down your tires, a high-quality tire deflator can save you time and ensure accurate, consistent pressures.

Whenever you’re considering deflating a tire, it’s crucial to have a way to inflate it once the repair is finalized or you leave the trail. Before getting back on the road, you’ll need to fill your tires to a safe PSI using one of the following methods: 

• Use a portable air compressor that plugs into your vehicle’s 12V power outlet

• Stop at a gas station to use their air pump

• Use a personal shop compressor

Be sure to fill up to the manufacturer’s recommended tire pressure, typically found in the driver’s door jamb or in your vehicle’s owner’s manual. After airing your tires down off-road, returning them to manufacturer-specified pressure ensures proper handling, fuel economy, brake performance, and tire wear.

Deflating a tire is fast and easy with the right know-how and tools. Speaking of which, you should always keep these tools on hand to make the process smoother and more efficient: 

• Tire pressure gauge

• Valve core removal tool

• Portable air compressor

• Gloves (optional, but keep your hands and interior clean during repairs)

• Tire deflator (optional)

If you regularly air down your tires for off-roading or want more consistent results every time, consider ordering a dedicated tire deflator on RealTruck. We offer a wide selection of deflator types and brands to suit every driver's needs and budget. For buying tips and top-rated options, check out our guide to the Best Tire Deflators.