Many users say the product is easy to use and store. It comes with three additional nozzles so you can inflate household items such as basketballs and other sports equipment. The tire stem chuck has a locking clamp for leak-free operation, and you can use the included attachments to inflate everything from air mattresses to soccer balls. Power: 12V outlet/120V outlet/20V battery| Max PSI: 160 | Hose length: 36 inches | Dimensions: 12 x 7.5 x 8.75 inches | Weight: 5.25lbs. Eighty-eight percent of customer reviews give the device four or more stars. This varies by manufacturer, but following those instructions can improve the life of your purchase. In testing, we found the self-coiling hose made it the easiest to store, and the included nylon bag fits it well. A 12.0-volt adapter means a portable tire inflator can plug into your cars cigarette lighter. You want as much as you can get of both. A small, portable inflator is able to fill most vehicle tires within the 30-40 PSI range, some even have fast inflation options. Larger tires require more powerful airflow to inflate, and a large vehicle may need a cordless inflator to reach all four tires. The air hose connector snapped onto our tires, and setting the desired pressure proved to be simple. Do you want to keep one in your garage or workshop to top up low tires and do routine car maintenance? More than 16,100 Amazon customer reviews give the Avid Power Tire Inflator a 4.5-star average rating. The best tire inflators are ones run on 12V DC power or adaptors to utilize numerous power sources. Photo credit: David Traver Adolphus / AutoGuide.com. Although the Viair is easy to use, reading an analog pressure gauge can be tricky and it is harder to determine an accurate reading than with digital gauges. If youre looking for a DC portable air compressor with a small footprint, the AstroAl is probably your best choice. A very bright built-in flashlight turns on whenever the inflator gets power and cant be turned off. Digital air compressors, some of which are available at gas stations, allow you to set your desired tire pressure and the compressor will automatically shut off once it reaches that value. It includes a needle ball inflator and an air nozzle for things like yoga balls, in case you need to inflate something other than your cars tire. Its designed to work with a variety of inflatables in addition to your cars tires, with a digital pressure gauge, LCD display, and unit conversion. The Viair 84P would make a terrific gift for a DIY-minded driver who owns a car with larger tires. For that reason wed tend to look for models with a coiled hose, although you do have to take care not to tangle it. Some negative reviews say the product is too expensive and doesnt perform well when paired with an AC adapter. We publish hundreds of product and service reviews to bring car enthusiasts detailed guides on automotive tools, detailing kits, car seats, pet products, and much more. We looked at how intuitive each product is to use, convenience of the design, and performance. The built-in handle makes it convenient to carry the tire inflator, and it can be flipped so it doesnt get in the way when its not in use. While eyeballing PSI can be more complex, the Viair 84P can handle larger tires designed for heavy-duty vehicles or specialty tires meant for off-roading. Although standard tire pressure gauges are cheaper and do the job, a digital gauge is more accurate and easier to use. The Avid Power inflated our test tire to the desired pressure, but didnt do so quickly. Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and services. Not quite, as overinflated tires make for a rougher ride and are more easily damaged by potholes since theyre stiffer. On the front of the device is a white LED work light for easy illumination in the dark. The Milwaukee M12 cordless air compressor offers 120 PSI capability. Some reviews take aim at the tire inflators long-term reliability and mention plastic parts of the air compressor breaking. Tire inflators tend to have lower max PSIs of around 150 or 160 for use with smaller tires and household things like air mattresses and sports equipment. Please stop when you see him crawling under one on the side of the road. One of the more premium options on the list is the Kensun AC/DC Rapid Performance Portable Air Compressor Tire Inflator. Copyright 2022 Motor1.com. Not only is it speedy, but the inclusion of a digital pressure gauge and 12-volt adapter make it great for both maintenance and a roadside emergency. When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. One feature we like with this inflator is that its equipped with rubber feet at the bottom, so the pump stays in place while operating. Kensun says the unit is capable of working for a continuous 30 minutes at 35 psi. We gave each car air pump a rating out of 5 stars based on these criteria. Those figures are a little shorter than some of the competition, but the inflator only weighs 1.9 lbs so its not as big of a deal to move around. As its name indicates, Kensuns inflator works both with a standard power outlet or your cars 12-volt cigarette lighter. There are high-volume multi-purpose tire inflators like the Vair 84P. But keep in mind some of todays vehicles are equipped with a standard power outlet, so we include a few recommendations for those as well. It can draw power from a regular wall outlet, 20V Max tool battery, or 12V outlet in your car, giving you plenty of options for when you need to top off your tires. Inside is a solid aluminum direct drive connecting rod, piston, and solid metal sleeve for extreme durability. Positive reviews often highlight the inflators power and inflation speed. If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article. It is capable of filling a 225/60/R18 tire from zero-to-30 PSI in under three minutes with a maximum working pressure of 60 PSI. You should be able to tell if the tire is being inflated. Here's a look at how the best portable tire inflators measure up to each other: 12V car adapter/120V AC outlet/20V battery, Black + Decker 20V Max cordless tire inflator, 12V outlet/120V outlet/ 20V lithium ion battery. We use data about you for a number of purposes explained in the links below. You also want to choose a model that has an appropriate max PSI for your vehicle tires. It was the only multiple-power-source tire inflator we tested that includes a rechargeable battery. If you have power tool experience, this tire inflator will feel familiar in your hand since its similar to a cordless drill. A simple tire inflator that has multiple power sources. Can a small air compressor fill flat car tires? Most 12-volt inflators wont do the job quickly, but theyre more convenient and you wont have to pay to use an air compressor at a gas station. Included with the inflator are battery clamps, in case you dont have easy access to a cigarette lighter receptacle; three adapters to inflate household objects;, and a bag for easy storage. coming equipped with pressure monitoring systems, 1. He now subjects a series of old high-performance cars to the roads and weather in Vermont and wonders why they're always expensively broken. The LCD display and simple switch controls make this inflator easy to operate, and the integrated handle makes it super portable. In fact, we prefer the Pittsburgh, and it fell to second place only because of its limited availability. We started with a list based on our metric that weights reviews, then narrowed that down based on product features and price-to-value ratio. It includes a portable air compressor pump with a built-in power cord. I've curated a list of the best portable tire inflators available from top brands like Craftsman, DeWalt, and Black+Decker and broke down their features to help you find the one that best fits your budget and needs. If you read the instructions on a tire inflator, most of them will tell you to let the unit cool down for 10 minutes or more between tires. Pittsburgh Tools High Volume Air Inflator is a very popular compact electric air compressor which we like for its included storage bag, three included inflator nozzles, and solid steel pump body. This yellow beast has enough attachments to handle most vehicle and bike tires, and the preset gauge is simple to use. February 24, 2022: Added a promoted product recommendation. Neither ZDNet nor the author are compensated for these independent reviews. Photo credit: Amazon.com. Tire inflators also have a weaker airflow than most professional air compressors. If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form. Each year, we test over 350 auto products on vehicles and in our testing lab. The Husky 12V portable tire inflator is a simple, no-nonsense tool that is great for anyone who is looking to build a roadside emergency kit for themselves or loved ones or just wants a tire inflator for regular car maintenance. The vast majority of its reviews are positive, it comes in a compact package, and the features are comparable to similar products that are twice the price. Sylvania Headlight Restoration Kit Review, #1 Best Tire Inflator: AstroAI Air Compressor, #2 Best Premium Compressor: DeWalt 20V Max Cordless Tire Inflator, #3 Best For Bigger Tires: Viair 84P Portable Compressor, #4 Also Consider: Avid Power Tire Inflator, Can run off AC/DC power or lithium-ion battery, Capable of inflating tires up to 31.0 inches. Its more convenient to purchase a 12-volt air compressor, this way you can keep it in your car and use it on the go. Lastly, it comes with a two-year warranty. You will want to check your tire pressure when your tires are cold, or hasnt been driven for at least 30 minutes. November 30, 2021: Removed sold-outPI Auto Air Compressor. Best for Home Use: Kensun AC/DC Rapid Performance Portable Air Compressor, 5: Most Compact: Slime 40034 Deluxe All-Purpose Tire and Raft Inflator, 8. ZDNet's editorial team writes on behalf of you, our reader. We found the EPAuto inflator loud and harder to use than the #2 Harbor Freight Pittsburgh brand. Not at all! What is a good air compressor for filling tires? This air compressor is rated at 35L/min can inflate a standard midsize car tire in three to five minutes. The DeWalt has an average customer rating of 4.8 stars from more than 6,700 Amazon reviews. The body of the inflator has lots of storage for hoses, cords, and accessories so you can keep everything organized. The unit is equipped with a 26-inch hose and anti-vibration feet. Underinflated or overinflated tires have many adverse effects on your driving experience, affecting your fuel economy, tire wear, and even safety. Its a convenient unit, all packaged into a little one-pound,7 x 5 x 9 inch cube with a top carrying handle. The EPAuto inflator is a better package design than the #2 pick, but is slower and less convenient. If time is important to you, youll want to see which products inflate a tire quicker, while others have a maximum pressure limit. Milwaukee is well known for cordless power tools; theyre probably one of the first brands that comes to mind for battery-operated drills and so on, but their portable air compressors are very highly rated too. First on the list is the fact that it can inflate to a maximum pressure of 125 PSI, though there is an 80 PSI max for car, mid-size SUV, and motorcycle tires. This tire inflator from Craftsman is an almost perfect choice to keep in your car or garage. It uses a 12V lithium-ion battery for power, so you won't have to worry about draining your car's own battery or looking for a wall outlet when you need air. But, if you dont mind spending a little more, the Milwaukee M12 compressor is an excellent option. Your vehicle might have a lot of power ports, but if youre stuck on the side of the road you dont want to have to open a door into traffic, or unpack a load to get at one. A team of product testers thoroughly researches top products, unboxes and puts our hands on each component, and tests the items on real vehicles before making recommendations to readers. All rights reserved. But theres a whole lot more to this feature-rich inflator/air compressor, including the ability to be used via your 12V outlet in your vehicle or your 120V home outlet. Some critical reviews report spotty customer service and say the product isnt reliable. An automatic-shutoff system Milwaukee calls Truefill senses the rate of inflation and stops inflating at the desired pressure; an illuminated LCD pressure gauge displays both current and target pressures. With a premium, high-quality build and multiple power options, this unit is ideal for a roadside service technician or someone looking to make a solid investment in their automotive care equipment. 'ZDNet Recommends': What exactly does it mean? The American Automobile Association (AAA) has its own branded air compressor, which is a 12-volt option that uses your cars cigarette lighter power port. Purchasing a tire inflator is a small investment in helping make sure your tires last as long as possible, saving you money in the long run. After completing a degree project in automotive design, Dave wrote and photographed for almost a decade in print car magazines (remember those? It can handle anything from truck to bicycle tires. The battery-operated models are great for anyone who already has that brand of tool and that kind of battery since they can seamlessly integrate into your workshop while 12V or 120V power models are better for anyone with less experience and skill who just want to keep their tires filled. This model retails for under $50 and is a great light-duty unit for topping up tires on cars, small trucks, and bicycles. Speed and ease were are the DeWalt excels. Our review team thoroughly researched popular air compressors to find the best tire inflators with gauges. Air flow peaks at 70L/min on the GSPSCN, which allows you to inflate a standard vehicle tire in from zero to 40 PSI in about 1.5 minutes. Pull in as close to the compressor as possible, if youre using one at a gas station. It gets a lot of love from users at Harbor Freight, where its sold, but we had low expectations for this tiny little unit. It plugs into a car's 12V outlet, and the 156-inch cord gives you plenty of room to move around your car and reach the back tires. And the intuitive push-button controls make this tire inflator easy for everyone to operate. 2022 ZDNET, A RED VENTURES COMPANY. If you want something more powerful from VIAIR, it will have to connect to the cars battery for power. Use air pumps with longer cycles and more power for vehicles with larger tires, but also check the vehicles owner manual to find the recommended tire pressure for your car. Theres even an automatic shut-off mode that lets you pre-set how much pressure you want to add and shuts off once that has been achieved. Air compressors are also used for many more things than just inflating tires; you can purchase air-driven tools like sanders and torque wrenches or use your air compressor for high-powered cleaning of dust and debris in your workshop. Theres a wide range of portable inflators and air compressors available, some that use your cars built-in 12-volt cigarette lighter, or a standard power outlet. And because of its powerful dual, solid metal motors, it inflates quickly. The best way to choose a tire inflator is by your vehicles tires and the size of your car. We also deducted points because it doesnt include a carrying case or rechargeable battery, which should be available for a price tag over $100. The 5 best portable power stations of 2022, The 5 best electric pressure washers of 2022. Photo credit: David Traver Adolphus / AutoGuide.com. The product is simple to use with controls on the face, with cord storage on the back so everything stays nice and tidy when it isnt being used. Our review team chose the AstroAI Air Compressor, the DeWalt 20V Max Cordless Tire Inflator, the Viair 84P Portable Compressor, and the Avid Power Tire Inflator as the best tire inflators. The inclusion of a rechargeable battery saves the headache of needing to buy one separately, so you can store the tire inflator in a trunk or workbench. Not only is it speedy, but the inclusion of a digital pressure gauge and 12-volt adapter make it great for both maintenance and a roadside emergency. Photo credit: David Traver Adolphus / AutoGuide.com. Size and max PSI are the main differences between the two tools. We then purchased several of the most popular brands and tested them in real-life situations. Finally, a bright LED flashlight lets you shine some extra light when and where its needed. If you dont want to purchase a portable inflator, most gas stations will have an air compressor. But if youre looking for the absolute smallest and lightest tire inflator, with the ability to fill rafts and yoga balls, this might be the one for you. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. The whole package is better thought-out than the Pittsburgh, but its a slower inflator. Featuring a stylish design, this 12-volt system comes with a built-in LED flashlight and a bright LCD display for easy reading. There are many small differences between the portable tire inflators and air compressors available on the market. Positive reviews often mention the units quality and portability, making it a solid addition to the 20V Max family of DeWalt products. An easy-to-use tire inflator with a small footprint and good design. If any of your tires have pressures lower than their recommended values, you will want to inflate them to ensure youre getting the best fuel economy possible, while making sure your tires dont experience premature wear. You will want to do this when the tires are cold. TheAstroAI Air Compressortire inflator is our top pick for a few reasons. Find your recommended tire pressure in the drivers side doorjamb or in your manual, making sure you note whether the front and rear tires have different values. It has a max PSI of 160, three power sources, and plenty of attachments for multi-purpose use. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. A tire inflator can be a valuable tool by letting drivers put air in tires virtually anywhere. If you care about how your inflator looks, then Fortems digital tire inflator might interest you. Our team ordered the four-tire inflators that best met these standards to use the products for testing. It has a built-in digital pressure gauge on the exterior, which you can set for your desired pressure, so you can walk away while it fills. Weve used a lot of tire inflators a lot of times, and with experience have figured out some of the most important features that make the best tire inflators. If youre using a standard gauge, it doesnt hurt to do the check two or even three times to make sure you have an accurate reading. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Here's a short list of alternative portable tire inflators that I thought were great choices: What is the best portable tire inflator? For our picks and more on proper tire inflation, see the Table of Contents. Back to school: Must-have tech for students, How to answer "tell me about yourself" in interviews, Apple explains why iPhone cases are a waste, Best portable power station: Emergency power when you need it, The 6 best Samsung phones: Explore a new Galaxy, The top home batteries: Essential battery backup systems, Our favorite pellet grills: Alternatives to gas and charcoal, The 5 best wireless headphones: Great sound untethered, The top GPS trackers and devices for kids: Find your child fast, May be a bit bulky for smaller car trunks, Analog dial may be difficult for some to read. Indeed, we follow strict guidelines that ensure our editorial content is never influenced by advertisers. We use cookies to improve your experience on this website and so that ads you see online can be tailored to your online browsing interests. This tire inflator competes with the other products weve profiled in terms of design and value, but we placed it lower on the list because its airflow isnt as powerful. You should first identify what you want a tire inflator for. ), before transitioning to digital. Its power cord measures 10-feet long, while its air hose is 3-feet long. 2022 VerticalScope Inc. All rights reserved. First, you will want to get yourself a digital tire pressure gauge. Cheap and tiny, this is the inflator we reach for. . The Black+Decker multi-purpose inflator is a great option for anyone who doesn't like to have single-purpose tools in their workshop. Two of the compressors we tested werent good enough to make it into our list, so well be doing another round in the future. Along with the Craftsman 120 air inflator, here are other portable tire inflators earning top marks. What is the difference between a tire inflator and an air compressor? Runner Up: Pittsburgh High Volume Air Inflator, 3. Great tool capable of inflating and deflating tires. Its recommended that you purchase your own portable tire inflator or air compressor so you can refill your tires at home. Once youre done refilling all four tires, do a final check on the pressure with your digital gauge. We subtracted points because the DeWalt is by far the bulkiest car air pump we tested. If you arent able to locate the sticker inside your drivers side doorjamb, the cars manual will also have the recommended tire pressure values. Truck tires or tires for other heavy-duty vehicles require more air than most car tires, so make sure your tire pump matches your vehicles needs. You also want a big, easy to read gauge and preferably an auto shutoff when you reach a desired pressure. If you follow the automotive aftermarket, you may have heard of VIAIR for its air suspension systems. Were not sure we did this every time, but we didnt have any problems. We started by searching Amazon for top products, looking at factors such as eligibility for Prime shipping, customer ratings, Amazon superlatives, and price. June 7, 2022: Added hands-on reviews of EPAuto and Pittsburgh inflators. We are committed to finding, researching, and recommending the best products. The Craftsman 120 air inflator is our top pick based on our analysis of tire inflator price, weight, size, max PSI, included attachments, usability, power source, and hose length to find the best portable tire inflator for your roadside emergencies. The EPAuto portable air compressor pump weighs 3.81 pounds, and measures a compact 9.6 x 7.8 x 5.4 inches. We have mixed feelings about the screw in connection, which is fiddly but makes a better seal than clamp-on ones. The LCD screen makes it usable in low-light situations, and the auto-shutoff feature is a plus. They provide a quick and easy way to top up low tire pressure before you head off to work, school, or on a road trip as well as to fill spare tires in order to get to a repair shop. The compressor measures 8 x 6 x 4 inches while weighing just two pounds. The Pittsburgh has a short 90-day warranty, but the EPAuto has none, and you can exchange it at and Harbor Freight store within the warranty period. Many users report inflating 35-inch off-road tires with ease. Push-button controls and easy-to-read screens make operation simple even for someone who has never used a tire inflator before, where more experienced users can appreciate multi-purpose attachments, multiple power sources, and quality of life features like cable management. Along with the air compressor, the product comes with three nozzle attachments, an extra fuse, and a carrying case. Happy customers praise the 12.0-volt tire inflator for its portability and power. The AstroAI lost points in the features section for not including a carrying case, and in the end, we gave it 4.5 stars. An air compressor is typically a large, metal tank with a motor and pressure valve attached to cold and release pressurized air; they're typically capable of much higher air pressure than a tire inflator, with max PSIs of 200 or more. Reinstall your valve stem caps before you forget! Tire pressure often changes, whether from a hole in the rubber or the relentless miles tires endure. We also monitored the responsiveness of the buttons in adjusting tire pressure, the accuracy of each products pressure gauges, and the consistency of the automatic shutoff feature. Thats fine if you just have one low tire, but if you have more than one, or are filling SUV or truck tires, you want more capacity. Doesnt that mean you can just overinflate your tires and not have to worry about any pressure loss? If you want to keep your tire inflator at home, you'll want to choose a model that is capable of multiple power sources so you can easily move around vehicles and your space. The recommended tire pressures listed on the sticker in the doorjamb or in the manual are for cold tires. It weighs in at an easy-to-handle 3.47 pounds and measures 7.5 x 6.5 x 6.5 inches. This inflator is heavier than most of the competition, weighing five pounds. Thats because most TPMS only warn you when the pressure is 25 percent below the manufacturers recommendation, and by then, youre already sacrificing your fuel economy. The best air compressor depends on the size of your tires and the amount of air pressure a tire has lost. Many of the inflators weve used in the past vibrate quite a bit while in use, sometimes to the extent that they start walking themselves away. It does comes with adapters so it can be used on other inflatables. Also:Best portable power station: Emergency power when you need it, Power: 12V lithium ion battery| Max PSI: 160 | Hose length: 28 inches | Dimensions: 8 x 5.5 x 5.5 inches | Weight: 2.5lbs. It uses an analog pressure gauge instead of an LCD like the other tire inflators. It can continuously work for 8 minutes before needing to cool off. There are even digital presets to easily deliver the ideal pressure to whatever youre inflating. Some are manufactured better than others, which makes them more reliable and likely to last a long time. Most air compressors will have a built-in gauge so you can check your tire pressure while you are refilling. You can set the desired air pressure on this unit, which will automatically shut off once it reaches that value. The AC power cord is shorter at just under six feet. The 85P compressor is capable of inflating tires up to 31 inches in diameter. Why Driving on Underinflated Tires is Bad. This inflator is ideal if you need an all-purpose air compressor. Setting up the valve stem is easy, although hose length could be better. The company also offers a portable air compressor, that weighs 4.3 lbs while measuring 9.1 inches by 3.1 inches by 5.6 inches.
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