Credit:
Dan Roth
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Credit:
Dan Roth
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Fast, powerful, and easy to use, this tire inflator deserves a place in your vehicle's emergency kit. Read More
Despite its versatility, we were disappointed that the battery for this compressor has to be purchased separately. Read More
The robust direct-drive motor will inflate tires quietly and with ease. The gauge is backlit and accurate. Plus, it stores away neatly. Read More
While great for use at home or at the side of the road, we were disappointed that this compressor's battery needs to be purchased, separately. Read More
While equipped with a rechargeable battery, the Air Hawk Pro does not come with a DC cable, leaving you stranded at the side of the road if it runs out of power. Read More
Getting a flat tire will never happen on your schedule. That’s why it’s so important to be prepared for roadside emergencies. When that low tire pressure warning lights up on your dashboard, you could be not just facing an angry boss awaiting your late arrival to work but putting your passengers in danger. You could be dealing with a slow leak from a puncture, a bad seal within the wheel, a faulty valve, or simply low pressure from a change in the weather.
A reliable portable air compressor can help you reach the closest service station to have your tires inspected by a professional. After weeks of vigorous research and testing, we’re naming the Avid Power 20v Cordless Inflator (available at Amazon) the best car tire inflator. It’s a lightweight, dependable gadget that almost anyone can use.
Our Best Overall pick is battery-powered, adaptable, and can either be held or sat upon the ground while in use.
Quick inflation
Easy to use
Battery and DC powered
Loud
This Dewalt air compressor performed well, and is a strong contender for those who need something heavier-duty to keep in their garage
Inflates tires and air mattresses
Battery power option
Impressive display
Battery sold separately
Some air compressors come with built-in lights, which are helpful on dark roads and driveways.
Beefy direct-drive motor
Auto shut-off function
Bright, accurate display
Slow to inflate
Another heavy-hitter, this Black + Decker isn't the most portable, but it's fast and features exceptional cable management.
Great cable management
AC power
No light
Battery costs extra
Easy to use
Rechargeable battery
No DC backup
Short hose
Can jump start a car battery
USB hook up to charge electronics
Heavy
Loud
Quick Excellent
build quality
Gauge isn’t backlit
Poor Cable Management
Quirky retro futuristic design
Digital read out
Questionable build quality
Poor cable management
Compressor slow to refill
Comfortable carry handle
Rugged
Quiet
Wildly inaccurate display
No backlighting
Slow to refill
We tested each of the portable tire inflators and air compressors in this guide, multiple times, to ensure our data was correct.
Roberto Baldwin is a freelance automotive and tech reporter whose work has appeared in Car and Driver, Motor1, Engadget, Wired, and a host of other publications. Roberto grew up with a mechanic father and a mechanically inclined mother. Both would typically interrupt his teenage-weekend fun by forcing him to help fix the family car. Nowadays automotive repair is no longer a chore and has become a way to relax after a long day of writing about cars.
To fairly test portable tire inflators and air compressors, we examined a number of different factors using the same vehicle, a 2014 Subaru BRZ. The vehicle’s driver-side front tire was subjected to dozens of deflations, only to be reinflated again and again. (Apologies to any neighbors wondering why someone would work on a car during the day, then again in the evening.)
First, we compared and recorded a number of objective attributes for each of the air compressors in our test group. We measured the power cord and hose length, size, weight, and what, if any, accessories the compressor came with.
To find the best air compressors and car tire inflators in our test group, we used each one multiple times in quick succession. Each one raised the inflation pressure from 25 PSI to 35 PSI four times in a row on 17-inch tires installed on a passenger car.
In order to ensure a starting pressure of 25 PSI every time, we used a Kobalt digital tire gauge. The Kobalt was also used as our control throughout the test to verify the readings that each inflator gave us.
We measured sound levels as well, taking A-weighted dB readings from 24 inches away. This test used OSHA sound measurement techniques, which define a two-foot sphere around the head as the “hearing zone.”
Since people crouch down in close proximity to a car’s tire when filling it with air, it’s conceivable that one or both ears would be within two feet of any inflator while it runs. Our readings are specific to this test, however, and may differ from officially published figures, which adhere to measurement and calibration specifications.
Finally, to test the brightness of built-in lighting and the legibility of each inflator’s display, we ran our tests both during the day and at night.
Once we had all the information we needed, we averaged and weighted the objective measurements we collected during testing. We combined our subjective results with our subjective impressions of each device in our test group to determine where we ranked each air pump.
This portable Stanley contains a car battery charger/jumpstarter and a compressor.
If you do any driving, it makes sense to get a tire inflator. It never hurts to be prepared for roadside emergencies. Being able to fix a tire issue can mean the difference between reaching a service station or waiting hours for an expensive tow.
The truth is, you can use the terms interchangeably. Tire inflators are a kind of air compressor. While some people use “compressor” to mean the large tanks you see at a repair shop, you’ll probably be understood no matter which term you use.
That said, if you’re using it for something larger, like a trailer or an RV, you may need a heavier-duty compressor than the ones we’ve tested here, which are meant for cars.
Properly using your tire inflator or air compressor is key to making sure your tires are safe to drive on.
The best place to find out how much air to put in your vehicle’s tires is in a very weird spot: on a label in the driver’s side door jamb. Unless you’ve replaced the tires on your vehicle with rubber that’s wildly different from what it shipped with (like one of our favorite all-terrain tires), the PSI numbers on the label should be spot on. Match this to the gauge on your portable air compressor.
There are plenty of reasons a tire may go flat over time. A slow leak from a puncture, a bad seal with the wheel, or a faulty valve can all make a tire lose air. Tires will also lose some of their pressure naturally over a long period of time.
Because so many different things can make a tire leaky, it’s important to check your tire pressure once a month. And, of course, if you have an immediate issue (like a puncture) it’s important to get it repaired as soon as possible.
A tire that’s losing air due to a puncture, bad seal, or faulty valve will not be fixed by putting air in the tire. In fact, as you use your portable tire inflator, you may hear some air escape as you increase the tire pressure. After adding air to the faulty tire, be sure to have it repaired or replaced at your local tire shop as soon as possible.
Roberto Baldwin
Contributor
Roberto Baldwin is a freelance automotive and tech journalist based in the San Francisco Bay Area. He’s currently in too many bands and longs for a rear-wheel-drive convertible electric car.
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