The Schrader valve is your basic automotive valve and is generally sturdier. You will find this style used on kids' bikes as well as utility bikes and beach cruisers. The Presta valve is common on most performance road and mountain bikes — tires that require high air pressure. Presta valves are used in high-performance bikes because they are lightweight and slender, so they don't require a large hole in the rim of the wheel, which would decrease the stability of the wheel.
