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Few vehicle components are as critical to safety as your tires, even though most of us don’t pay much attention to them until something goes wrong. The best way to avoid tire trouble is to make sure your tires are inflated to the proper pressure, which is easy to do using a portable tire inflator. Tesla Model S Ac Compressor
Reasonably priced and more reliable and convenient than an air station at the local garage or gas station, a portable tire inflator helps ensure proper pressure to maximize safe handling, braking and grip in all types of weather. Correct inflation also saves money, by helping to maximize fuel mileage and tire wear.
A wide variety of portable inflators are available, from small 12-volt units that use battery power or plug into your car’s power outlet to bigger and more heavy-duty units that run on household current. Those can cost more, but are more robust and can inflate tires faster.
To make shopping easy, we’ve taken a look at a wide array of available models, and identified five that stand out with a winning combination of features, capability, ease of use and value. The result is the following list of best portable tire inflators for various applications. Depending on your needs, one of these should be right for you.
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Inflate 195/55/R15 car tire from 0 to 26psi in approximately 2 minutes or less
12V-120W air compressor with 10ft cord
Pressure reading within 1.5% of actual value, Integrated LED flashlight, Inflates any Schrader valve
Inflate 195/65/R15 car tire from 3 to 35psi in approximately 6 minutes or less
Can inflate tires up to 50 psi rated pressure and upto 245mm max width
Digital display with 4-unit readout, Integrated LED flashlight, 11.9-ft power cord provided
Inflates P195/65R15 car tire from 0 to 35psi under 4min
Compatible with 110V AC home outlet/12V DC car power
Digital display with PSI, BAR & KG/CM² readout, Equipped with long-lasting LED lights, Auto shut-off function
Compatible with all vehicles with DC-12V cigarette lighter power outlet
Includes three nozzle attachments tires and inflatables, Automatic LED flashlight, 14ft power cable
Inflate a 195/60 R14 no gas tire in 3 mins and a 215/60 R16 no gas tire in 5 mins
Max. Display Pressure - 100 PSI
Runs on either 20V Li-ion battery pack or DC 12V, 3.96 pounds weight makes it easy to use, Auto shut-off function
8 minute inflation time for standard tires
Max. Display Pressure - 100 PSI
Runs on 12-volt car accessory outlet, Lightweight at 1.74 pounds, 10ft power cord
Simplicity and durability are the key characteristics of the ViAir Portable Air Compressor, which also happens to be one of the fastest inflators we’ve found. It can inflate a 33-inch off-board tire in just five minutes, and a smaller passenger car tire in less than two minutes. Styled like a scaled-down commercial air compressor, the ViAir connects directly to the car’s battery with alligator clips, and uses an old school analog gauge. It comes with a 12-foot hose but can be used with a longer 16-foot hose, which is a great option for larger trucks and SUVs. The unit weighs just 4.5 pounds and comes with a sturdy carrying bag, three inflator tips and a 9-foot power cord.
GSPSCN Silver Tire Inflator Heavy Duty Double
Dual cylinders help make the GSPSCN stand out from the crowd, resulting in extra capacity and exceptionally quick inflation. It can fill up a standard tire (200/70-R18) to 40 psi in just 90 seconds, and can even make relatively quick work of an air mattress. The GSPSCN can be connected to the vehicle’s battery or to a 12-volt power outlet, and includes three nozzles for different applications. Rubber mounts soften out some of the vibrations while this product is in use and ensure stability during operation, and both the air hose and the 12-volt power cable stretch to 11 feet 6 inches. We really appreciate the dependable analog dial that displays tire pressure, and the included carrying case. All this durability means weight, so this unit clocks in at 6.6 pounds.
Best For Vehicle And Home Use
Best For Vehicle And Home Use
Black+Decker 20V Max Cordless Tire Inflator
If your needs include inflating sporting equipment, beach gear or other household items in addition to tires, the Black+Decker Cordless Tire Inflator could be just the ticket. A variety of nozzles include options for basketballs and bicycle tires, and both high volume and high pressure hoses are included for different applications. The Black+Decker’s light weight, quiet operation and built-in carry handle make it ideal for indoor or outdoor use, and plugs for operating on 120-volt household current or plugging into your car’s 12-volt outlet are included. The 20 volt lithium-Ion battery required for cordless operation is not, however, and must be purchased separately.
Best Inflator For Onboard Storage
Best Inflator For Onboard Storage
Avid Power Tire Inflator Air Compressor, 20V Cordless Car Tire Pump
Compact yet surprisingly capable, the Avid Power is ideal for carrying in a sedan, SUV or minivan, so it’s ready to go when you need it yet tucked away in its own carrying case when you don’t. Weighing just under 4 pounds, the Avid is one of the lightest and quietest options on our list, and its compact design features an ergonomic rubberized pistol grip that’s easy to hold. It’s cordless design uses a 20 volt lithium-Ion battery for convenient cord-free use, while an included power cord can be plugged into your car’s 12 volt power outlet as a backup. Other pluses include automatic shutoff, a built-in USB port for charging phones and other portable devices and an LED light. A thoughtful extra feature is included spares for each adapter in case one gets misplaced.
Best Combination Tire Pump And Car Battery Jumper
Best Combination Tire Pump And Car Battery Jumper
The most common roadside needs among motorists involve either a flat tire or a dead battery, so why not consider a device that can help with both? The Utrai Star 5 packs a portable compressor with a maximum pressure of 150 psi and a 24,000 mAh battery pack, providing plenty of energy to start even larger gasoline and diesel engines. Weighing just over 5 pounds and measuring 7.91 by 3.03 by 6.04 inches, it’s easy to stash in your trunk until you need it. It can run for up to 40 minutes, though the manufacturer recommends pausing every 8 minutes to cool the product down. The storage bag provided includes jumper cables and device chargers. Its five-watt LED light can operate as a camp lamp or shop light as well.
Properly inflated tires are essential for safety, ensuring predictable handling and maximum braking capability. Maintaining correct tire pressure also delivers optimum fuel economy. Though air pumps are typically available at gas stations for a fee, a compact portable air compressor gives you the power to inflate your tires anytime, anywhere. Most use 12-volt power from the car’s power port, but some utilize a rechargeable battery, not unlike a cordless drill. Randomly referred to as air compressors, tire inflators, and air pumps, the units reviewed here are all the portable variety, not to be confused with the larger, heavy-duty compressors found in garages and professional repair shops. But what they lack in size they make up for in convenience, easily stowing away in the trunk or cargo area of even compact cars.
We evaluate all portable tire inflators based on these weighted metrics:
Match your car to your style with varied car accessories like seat covers, floor mats and more. Get competitive pricing from top brands here.
Safety, fuel efficiency and functionality are why tires need to be properly inflated. The only parts of the car that actually make contact with the road are the tires. All of the technology and innovation in an automobile is only as good as these pieces of rubber. If a tire is overinflated or underinflated, the vehicle may handle in unpredictable ways and increases the risk of a blowout and loss of control. Improper inflation can also lead to premature wear and the expense of early replacement.
Don’t rely on the range imprinted on tire sidewalls, because every car has specific tire pressure requirements. You can find these recommended pressures in the driver’s side door sill, or in the owner’s manual. You can also check for tire pressure information online from the automaker.
As a tire rolls along the road, it creates friction. That friction causes heat, which warms up the air in the tire. As a result, the tire pressure when the car has been resting (“cold”) will not be the same as the operating (“hot”) pressure. Automakers recommend checking and adjusting pressure using “cold” tires. For the most accurate cold reading, check the pressure after your car has sat overnight. Once you start driving, the pressure increases (typically by up to 4 psi depending on the ambient temperature). Adjusting the tire pressure when the tires are warm will give you an inaccurate indication of the cold pressure. While the recommended cold pressure never changes, tire pressure varies with the climate. It is normal for tires to gain or lose pressure during sudden swings in ambient temperature. As such, you’ll need to adjust your cold tire pressure to match the conditions.
Battery-powered tire pumps are great in a pinch, but they have their limitations. They can’t run as long and are generally not as powerful as their plug-in counterparts. On the plus side, a cordless model means no risk of not having a long enough power cord to reach your tires. As with all things, there are trade-offs.
In most cases, you can use a tire pump to inflate a motorcycle or bicycle tire, a ball, an inflatable mattress, water floats or an inflatable watercraft. In fact, a tire pump is a great option if you have an inflatable dinghy on a boat and not a lot of space to store it when inflated. If you have a battery-powered unit, it might also have USB outlets, power cables, LED lights and more.
Most battery-powered units incorporate built-in LED lights, which can be handy during night time emergencies or to illuminate small print on the side of tires. Also look for carrying cases, which will keep the compressor’s cables from unspooling and protect the unit from damage.
Electric Compressor Jim Travers is a lifelong gearhead, and a freelance writer, editor, and photographer. A classic car enthusiast, collector, and a regular judge on the car show circuit, Jim is the author of the Smithsonian Institute’s Extreme Cars. He has also written for Automobile, Autoblog, BBC Autos, Car and Driver, Consumer Reports, Hagerty, US News, and others. He lives in Duxbury, Massachusetts, a town known for both its beach and its dump. On weekends, Jim is a regular at both.