With some modern vehicles equipped with run-flat tires and tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS), a common misconception is that a portable tire inflator or air compressor is no longer a necessity. But it's not, because tires can lose air over timeeven if you don't have a puncture.
Having your own tire inflator means you can conveniently and regularly check your tire pressure to make sure it's in the optimal range.Under-inflated or over-inflated tires can have many adverse effects. for your driving experience, potentially affecting fuel economy and tire wear. Purchase Autocompressor is a small investment that will help extend the life of your tires and save you money in the long run.
In truth, portable tire inflators or air compressors available on the market do not always meet all quality standards. But some are better made than others, making them more reliable and likely to last a long time. It's more convenient to buy a 12 volt air compressor so you can keep it in your car and use it on the road. But keep in mind that some of the modern cars are equipped with a standard socket, so we also give a few recommendations for them.Here's our pick of the best portable car tire compressors.
One of the most popular portable inflators on Amazon is the EPAuto 12V DC Portable Air Compressor Pump. Rated at 120 watts at a pumping speed of 1.06 cfm, this pump has a maximum working pressure of 100 psi. The digital gauge shows four units of measure: PSI, KPA, BAR, and kg/cm. Like similarly priced products, the EPAuto inflator has an automatic shut-off feature when the desired air pressure is reached. The product also has an overheating protection that automatically turns off the compressor when it is overloaded.
Designed for inflating passenger car, motorcycle, sedan and mid-size SUV tires, this compressor does not support LT, HT and truck tires. However, it comes with adapters so it can be used on other inflatable boats. There is also a built-in bright LED flashlight for use at night.
The EPAuto Portable Air Compressor Pump weighs 3.81 pounds and measures 9.6 by 7.8 by 5.4 inches.
- Pros:Digital sensor, bright LED flashlight, one of the most popular and popular products, automatic shutdown
- Minuses:Does not support truck tires
With a twin-cylinder design and a maximum pressure of 150 psi, this is our recommendation for heavy-duty applications. Peak airflow on this unit is 70L/min, allowing you to inflate a standard car tire from zero to 40 psi in about 1.5 minutes. One feature we love about this inflator is that it comes with rubber feet on the bottom so the pump stays in place while you work. Some of our other recommendations will vibrate quite a lot during use, which can be annoying for some.
It features an 11.5-foot air hose and the cigarette lighter power cord is the same length, giving you a total of 23 feet for easy front-to-back tire inflation. Unlike some of our other recommendations, this inflator doesn't have a digital display, and while it's harder to read, it's more accurate overall. A built-in handle makes the tire inflator easy to carry, and it can be flipped over so it's out of the way when not in use.
The inflator comes with battery clips in case you don't have easy access to a cigarette lighter socket, three adapters for inflating household items, and a bag for easy storage.
- Pros:Powerful and fast pump, long range, battery clips included, built-in handle
- Minuses:Some may prefer a digital sensor, no auto-off feature
One of the most expensive options on the list is a Kensun AC/DC Rapid Performance portable air compressor for tire inflation. As the name suggests, the Kensun inflator works with both a standard outlet and your car's 12-volt cigarette lighter. It is designed to work with a variety of inflatable boats in addition to your car's tires, with a digital pressure gauge, LCD display and unit converter. There are even digital presets that make it easy to apply the perfect pressure to whatever you're inflating.
Kensun says the device is capable of running continuously for 30 minutes at 35 psi. On the front of the device is a white LED work lamp for convenient lighting in the dark. Comes with a pair of nozzles for other inflatable boats.
The airflow rate is 30L/min making it one of the fastest pumps on the list. The black woven hose is 23.6 inches long and the DC power cord is 10 feet 9.9 inches long. The AC power cord is shorter at 5 feet 10.8 inches. This inflator is heavier than most competitors, weighing in at 5 pounds. It measures 11.8 by 4.3 by 6.7 inches. Finally, it comes with a two-year warranty.
- Pros:Quick inflator, AC/DC compatible, LED work light, digital pressure gauge, two-year warranty
- Minuses:One of the most expensive options on the list, heavy
A trusted company in the power tool industry, Ryobi offers cordless cordless tire inflators. The inflator itself isn't very expensive, but be aware that you'll have to purchase a separate battery and charger if you don't already have tons of Ryobi tools in your garage. Able to inflate tires and small inflatable boats from zero to 150 psi, this tool makes it easy to go from tire to tire without worrying about power cords or air hoses.
The attached hose is 20 inches long and can be stored on the tool itself. For ease of reading, there is a built-in two-inch gauge. The tool comes with a needle for sports equipment and two high-pressure nozzles. The Ryobi P737 18V ONE+ Portable Battery Pump comes with a three-year limited warranty.
If you are buying a Ryobi P737 and need a battery and charger, there are many packages available online. There is even a 12V charger so you can charge the P737 battery from your car.
- Pros:Wireless, three-year warranty available if you already own a Ryobi battery and charger
- Minuses:Requires battery and charger, no digital sensor
Previously, we did a hands-on review of the old generation Audew portable air compressor, which you can read here. The company has since released a new offering with an upgraded engine. This recommendation is based on an airflow rate of 38 L/min, which allows you to inflate a tire from 0 to 35 psi in 3-5 minutes.Like the company's previous offering, this tire inflator has an auto shut-off feature so you simply set the pressure you want and let it do its job. As soon as the tire is inflated to the set value, it will automatically turn off.
Featuring an interesting design, the front of this inflator features a digital LCD display that displays psi, bar, kPa, and kg/cm. Additional features include built-in power cord storage and emergency light mode. This device provides a range of up to 10 feet so you can easily inflate both tires from the same side of the car. Three extra nozzles are included so you can inflate a variety of household items such as air mattresses, sports equipment and more. The device is made of ABS material and stainless steel.
- Pros:flow rate 38 L/min, inflates from 0 to 35 psi in 3-5 minutes, auto shut off, LCD display, SOS warning light, 10 ft cord, compact size
- Minuses:The motor is a little noisy, gets warm when in use, the air hose is a little stiff
The American Automobile Association (AAA) has its own 12 volt air compressor that uses your car's cigarette lighter. AAA claims it's one of the cheapest options, able to inflate a standard spare tire in eight minutes. It features a heavy duty and powerful motor with a 10ft power cable and a 1.5ft quick release hose. The compressor measures 8 inches by 6 inches by 4 inches and weighs just 2 pounds.
The product is designed to be carried and stored in the car, so you will always have access to it on the road. It includes three injector adapters for different size inlets in case you need to inflate something other than your car tire. And, like most portable inflators, it has a built-in pressure gauge on the outside.
- Pros:Price, compact, lightweight, includes injector adapters
- Minuses:Some owners complain about build quality
It might just be a portable tire compressor, but if you want something stylish and good looking, the Helteko portable air compressor pump is a great option. Made from durable ABS and stainless steel, this portable tire inflator is available in red or yellow and features a digital LCD display that shows tire pressure in psi. Inch, bar, kPa and kg/cm.
This 35L/min air compressor can inflate a standard medium size car tire in 3-5 minutes. You can set the desired air pressure on this device, which will automatically turn off as soon as it reaches this value. It plugs into any vehicle's 12-volt cigarette lighter outlet with an 11.5-foot cable for greater reach. It comes with 3 extra nozzles so you can inflate household items such as basketballs and other sports equipment.
Helteko also provides an 18-month warranty for the portable tire inflator.
- Pros:35l/min airflow rate, automatic shut-off, LCD display, 11.5m power cable, includes extra nozzle, good design, 18 month warranty
- Minuses: uptime estimated at 10 minutes, some early failure reports
If you care about how your inflator looks, then the Fortem Digital Tire Inflator might be of interest to you. Stylishly designed, this 12V system features a built-in LED flashlight and a bright LCD display for easy reading. The product is easy to use: the controls are located on the front side, and there is a place on the back to store the cord, so everything stays neat and tidy when not in use.
Along with the air compressor, the product comes with three nozzle attachments, an additional fuse and a carrying bag. The power cord is 9.84 feet long and the hose is 1.64 feet long. Those numbers are a bit shorter than some of the competition, but the inflator only weighs 1.9 pounds so it's not that hard to move around. Dimensions are 8" x 6.5" x 3.3" making it one of the most compact inflators available.
It has a maximum pressure rating of 150 psi, although this is only for bicycle tires. It can continuously work for 8 minutes before cooling is required.
- Pros:Lightweight, compact, auto-off, bright LCD display, built-in LED backlight.
- Minuses:need to cool down after 8 minutes, shorter power cable and hose compared to competitors.
The 12V DC Premium Air Compressor, which PI Auto Store claims is the best in class pump, has an airflow rate of 35L/min. This allows you to inflate a medium size car tire from flat to 30 psi in less than 3 minutes. The company says it's also the quietest in its category.
Because it works like a 12 volt pump, it uses your car's cigarette lighter as a power source. The backlit LCD gauge makes it easy to read your car's tire pressure, and this device also has an auto-off function. Weighing in at 2.3 pounds, it's a fairly lightweight 7-by-3-by-6.5-inch unit, making it compact. Its price is in the middle of the package, which makes it a competitive offering with all its features.
Overall, the device has a total range of 13 feet, and the snap connector on the hose makes it easy to attach to a tire valve. The device comes with a carry bag, four spare dust caps, a bicycle valve adapter and an exclusive digital tire care guide.
Some users have reported overheating issues with this inflator.
- Pros:Lightweight, compact, 35 l/min airflow, automatic shut-off
- Minuses:Possible overheating and quality control issues
If you follow the automotive aftermarket, you may have heard of VIAIR because of its air suspension systems. The company also offers a portable air compressor that weighs 4.3 pounds and measures 9.1 by 3.1 by 5.6 inches. It is capable of filling a 225/60/R18 tire from zero to 30 psi in less than three minutes at a maximum operating pressure of 60 psi. Its duty cycle is 20 minutes, which means it should cool down after 20 minutes of use.
The compressor features an LED work lamp, 100 psi gauge, solid brass screw-on tire chuck, and also includes an extra power plug, a 3-piece inflation kit, and a deluxe carry bag. The 85P compressor is capable of inflating tires up to 31 inches in diameter. Its power cord is 10 feet long and the air hose is 3 feet long.
This is the most powerful compressor that VIAIR offers, which uses a 12V car socket. If you want something more powerful from VIAIR, it will need to be plugged into the car's battery for power.
- Pros:LED light capable of inflating tires up to 31 inches in diameter highly rated on Amazon
- Minuses:No digital sensor, no automatic shutdown
Properly inflated tires not only make driving safer, but can also take a toll on your wallet.Under-inflated tires are detrimental to both fuel economy and premature wear, which can cost you hundreds of dollars if you don't check them periodically. Even if your vehicle is equipped with a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), you don't have to wait for the light to come on to check your tire pressure. That's because most TPMS only alert you when the pressure is 25 percent below the manufacturer's recommendation, by which time you're already sacrificing your fuel economy.
You don't have to have a puncture or leak for your tire to lose pressure. It is estimated that for every 3 psi below the recommended value, your vehicle uses one percent more fuel and increases tire wear by 10 percent. Doesn't that mean you can just over-inflate your tires and not worry about losing pressure? Not really, as over-inflated tires make the ride stiffer and are more easily damaged by potholes as they are stiffer.
You'll want to develop the habit of regularly checking your tire pressure once a month or so to make sure it's as close to specification as possible. This will ensure that your tires last as long as possible while maintaining fuel economy estimates.
Almost all vehicles have a sticker on the driver's side of the door frame indicating the recommended tire pressure. Pay particular attention to the values indicated on the sticker, as the recommended pressures for front and rear tires are different for some vehicles. If you can't find the sticker inside the driver's side door jamb, your vehicle owner's manual will also list recommended tire pressures.
- First, you need to purchase a digital tire pressure gauge. While standard gauges are cheaper and do the job, a digital gauge is more accurate and easier to use.
- Find the recommended tire pressure in the driver's side door jamb or in the manual, be sure to note if the front and rear tires have different values.
- You'll want to check your tire pressure when your tires are cold or if you haven't driven your car for at least 30 minutes. While driving, the tires heat up and the pressure increases, giving inaccurate readings. The recommended tire pressures on the sticker on the door frame or in the manual refer to cold tires.
- Remove the valve stem caps from the tires and put them in your pocket or somewhere safe where you won't lose them.
- Press the gauge against the valve stem and the gauge should read. If you are using a standard pressure gauge, it doesn't hurt to check twice or even three times to make sure you have an accurate reading.
- If any of your tires are below the recommended pressures, you'll want to inflate them for maximum fuel economy while making sure your tires don't wear out prematurely.
- Replace the valve stem caps before you forget!
It is recommended that you purchase your own portable tire inflator or air compressor so that you can fill your tires at home. A wide range of portable inflators and air compressors are available, some of which use your vehicle's built-in 12V cigarette lighter or standard outlet. More powerful compressors that fill tires faster should be connected to your vehicle's battery. Most 12 volt inflators won't do the job quickly, but they are more convenient and you won't have to pay to use an air compressor at a gas station.
If you don't want to buy a portable inflator, most gas stations will have an air compressor. Some stations charge and some don't. Once you have determined which method you will fill your tires with, follow these steps:
- Drive as close as possible to the compressor if you are using it at a gas station. This way you can easily access all four tires without moving the car.
- Remove the valve stem caps from all four wheels and put them in your pocket or somewhere where you won't lose them.
- Turn on the compressor and push the hose fitting onto the valve stem. You should be able to tell if the tire is inflating.
- Most air compressors have a built-in pressure gauge so you can check tire pressure while refueling. 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.
- When using a compressor, it is better to inflate the tires too much, as it is then easy to bleed the air back out of the tires.
- Adjust all four wheels in the same way. If you are refueling after your tires are warm, you will want to inflate about 3 psi above the recommended amount. Be sure to check tire pressure when they are cold.
- Once you have finished filling all four tires, do one last pressure check with the digital pressure gauge. This must be done when the tires are cold.
- Install the valve stem caps.
