Tires are often overlooked, but they’re essential to the smooth operation of any car or truck. The best tires last for years and will provide a smooth and comfortable ride for your family. However, tires will eventually wear out; therefore it’s essential to know how to fix a flat tire if you’re going to be on the road for any length of time.
However, some minor problems with tires are fixable with a tire inflator.
These devices allow you to inflate tired anywhere.
These little tire inflators can be used to inflate the tires in the car, truck, SUV, minivan, minibus, RV, or at home. They also eliminate the need to use a gas station; a tire inflator is affordable, lightweight, portable, and easy to use, so you can always keep one handy in your car or tool kit.
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| DEWALT 20V MAX Cordless Tire Inflator | Best Overall |  |
| Slime 1034-A Automotive Accessories | Budget Pick |  |
| Viair 00088 88P Portable Air Compressor | Upgrade Pick |  |
1. DEWALT 20V MAX Cordless Tire Inflator
Pros:
- Good design – you can carry it on the go for convenience
- Includes a DC power cord for use as cordless or corded
- Automatic shutoff prevents overuse
- Lightweight
- Includes a 2-year limited warranty
Cons:
- Takes a lot longer to inflate a flat tire
- There are manual pumps that are much more portable
- It’s not as tough as an air compressor
- You need an extension cord with the cordless option
Some tires come with fill valves that make them a breeze to fill up. If you’re used to filling up your tires with a manual pump or an air compressor, the DEWALT 20V MAX Cordless Tire Inflator could be a good solution for you.
This pump is capable of filling tires from 0-35 psi in less than 5 minutes. That’s faster than most pumps out there. In addition, this one operates cordlessly or corded so you can plug it into an outlet for unlimited use or operate it on battery power.
The design includes an LED light that helps you better monitor the fill process. Plus, you receive an automatic shutoff feature that prevents overuse. Reviewers have offered positive feedback about the battery life and the overall construction of the pump.
2. Slime 1034-A Automotive Accessories
Pros:
- 10 inches long, ideal for easy storage
- 3 months warranty
- Can fill a car tire or bike tires
- Comes with a built-in pressure gauge
- Flexible hose for easier storage
Cons:
- Not recommended for large truck tires
- Inflates/deflates naturally
When you are looking for a car tire inflator, or if you are hunting the 10 best tire inflators, there are quite a few things that you should know. Fortunately, with the Slime 1034-A Automotive Accessories Tire Inflator, you do not have to worry about that. With this product, you get a portable and durable tire inflator.
The Slime is easy to store and easy to use. This is because it is 10 inches in length. The size makes it easy to tuck away in your home or in the trunk of your vehicle. Do not let the length fool you, though. This tire inflator can handle both car tires and bike tires.
Because of the size, you can fill two tires at once. One of the nice things about the Slime 1034-A is that it comes with a built-in pressure gauge. This will save you time filling up tires and will help ensure that they are at the correct tire pressure. There is nothing worse than dealing with a flat tire because the pressure was off.
3. EPAuto 12V DC Portable Air Compressor Pump
Pros:
- Economical tire inflator to buy
- Portable and lightweight design
- Requires minimal maintenance
- Acceleration ABS to avoid any air leakage
- Easily inflates car, SUV, truck tires in minutes
- Includes an LCD screen for easy monitoring
Cons:
- Large display means fewer buttons with limited information
- Plastic hose is not the most durable
If you’re looking for the best tires inflator that provides you with maximum ease and convenience, then this EPAuto tire inflator is perfect for that purpose. This unit integrates a large LCD panel, which allows you to monitor and control all the functions of the unit in a user-friendly manner.
The panel also provides an instant pressure reading and comes with a control panel which enables you to operate the device with minimum fuss. The product features a dual channel dual air outlet and a dual LED battery indicator which is designed to provide you with a clear picture of the remaining battery life.
The EPAuto tire inflator is designed to work on 12V batteries and boasts of an extra-powerful output of 1500PSI, which makes it easy for you to fill tires within a short span of time.
4. Viair 00088 88P Portable Air Compressor
Pros:
- Lightweight
- Quick inflation time
- Attaches to the tire valve
- Inexpensive
The Viair 00088 88P is a portable air compressor that is easy to use. It comes with a hose, air nozzle, and with an air-inlet attachment that’s compatible for a variety of tire valves.
The compressor comes with an automatic shut-off valve once the tire is up to pressure and has an overheat protection mechanism to prevent motor damage. It weighs 10 pounds and is built with a 150PSI air pressure rating. The power cord length is 10 feet and can inflate a typical car tire in 3 minutes.
It is powered with 12V DC and comes with a 120-watt motor and pulsing current technology – a feature that helps improve the overall product life. The Viair provides fast inflation for recreational vehicles but can be used for a variety of functions like winter and snow tires.
5. Avid Power Tire Inflator Air Compressor
Pros:
- Fast inflation time
- Easy to use
- Very convenient and portable
- Extra 12V power adapter included
Cons:
- Does not include a buton to stop pumping once desired pressure is reached
- Prone to leaking
And LED Light.
If you’re looking for the best car air compressor, this is a great option to consider. It comes from Avid, a well-known brand in the tire inflator industry, and is battery operated. The unit operates on a rechargeable Li-ion battery that helps cut down on the hassle of dealing with power cables while you inflate your tires.
6. Kensun AC/DC Tire Inflator Portable Air Compressor Pump
Pros:
- Comes with a carry bag
- Takes just a few minutes to inflate a car tire up to 35 psi
- USB plug-in with included adapter
- Comes with a separate air line attachment and pressure gauge
- Multiple sizes and types of nozzles included
- Very compact design with 4-foot long power cord
- 4-foot air hose
- AC and DC tire inflator
- Dual 110V and 12V DC power sources
- Detachable LED light and on/off switch
Cons:
- Cannot repeatedly inflate tires which are punctured
- Lights should be bright enough for a dark night
- Tire gauge doesn’t seem to be very accurate
Kensun AC/DC Tire Inflator Portable Air Compressor Pump for Car is rightly efficient, lightweight, and compact. It is a pumphead with a very smart design. Its dimensions are 3.1 x 3.3 x 1.9 inches. The smartest thing about this tire inflator is that it helps you to change the tires very quickly and efficiently and that too without putting much effort.
7. Oasser Air Compressor Electric Inflator Portable Hand Held Pump
Pros:
- Portable
- Easy to use
- Works fast; inflates a car tire from flat in less than 6 minutes
- Easy to store and put away; rolls up easily
- Attractive price tag
Cons:
- Tires will heat up while pumping; recommended to use a fan or an island to spin them to cool them down before checking the air pressure
- Somewhat limited ability to inflate tires
- LCD Display is hard to read under direct sunlight
In searching for the best tire inflator, it is important to find a product that will get the job done, and at a reasonable price. This portable inflator from Oasser made our list of the best tire inflators. It offers some of the features of much larger and more expensive models but can easily be stored in your trunk or glove compartment.
This inflator is capable of pumping up car tires from almost any vehicle, ranging from a car up to 18-inches wide to a large truck tire. It even includes a few other features, like a built-in stand to keep the pump upright while the display is facing you and a convenient carrying handle that is compact and doesn’t take up a lot of space.
8. TIREWELL 12V Tire Inflator-Heavy Duty Double Cylinders Direct Drive Metal Pump 150PSI
Pros:
- Heavy-duty construction
- Good value for money
- Compact design
- Motor is built right in
- Includes a free carry bag
- Can be used for other purposes as well
- Good for traveling
Cons:
- Pumping requires some effort
- Relatively low pressure
- No cigar port to inflate a radio, etc.
If you’re looking for a basic, affordable tire inflator, or you need one for your car, truck, or other vehicle, we recommend the TireWell 12V Heavy-Duty Direct Drive Tire Inflator. This is a great value for money tire inflation pump that works on both cars and light trucks.
The TireWell 12V tire inflator not only inflates your tires but also does it quickly. You can fully inflate a standard car tire in just 4 minutes. The TireWell 12V tire inflator weighs less than one pound, which means you can easily carry it with you anywhere .
Thanks to its compact design , this tire inflator can easily fit between the seats in your car or in the trunk. It also comes with its own carry bag, so you can easily store it without taking up too much space. In addition, the TireWell 12V tire inflator can be used for much more than just inflating tires.
9. HAUSBELL Portable air Compressor
Pros:
- Great all-around inflator
- Powerful and portable
- When adapter is attached, it works as an air compressor, too
- Affordable
- Lightweight and compact
- Includes a USB port and a pass-through cigarette lighter
- Doesn’t use a lot of power
- Comfortable to hold
- Puts out a lot of pressure vs. a regular air pump because it isn’t designed to be gas powered
Cons:
- Plastic construction
- Can’t pump super-sized tires
- Cable (which provides power) is short
Air Mattress, Running Balls, Sporting Equipment, etc.
Imagine needing 12V DC air compressor tire inflator pump for your bike and realizing that you left it at home! How would you feel?
But what if all you needed was a small pump, one that you could fit in your glove compartment or in your trunk so that you could always have it available when you need it?
10. AstroAI Portable Air Compressor Pump
Pros:
- Comes with 2 different nozzles
- Digital gauge with multiple PSI ranges
- Extra fuse included
- Long power cord with 12 V DC cigarette outlet
- Short circuit protection, over-heat protection and auto-cut-off function
- Can inflate 80% faster than other pumps
- Can inflate vehicle tires with 3 times more power
- The main pump body and the nozzle are made from aluminum alloy. It is lightweight, sturdy and heat-resistant, which makes it durable
- The 2 main safety protection functions are built-in and will keep the inflator from overheating and keep it running safely
This is a great tire inflator that you can buy for personal use. It can be used to inflate car tires, bikes and other kinds of tires. It comes with a digital pressure gauge with an LED light and digital display. You can easily inflate any kinds of tires as it has 35 L/min air flow.
It has alligator clips and the fuse is included in the package. Since the size is small and the weight is light, you can easily take it anywhere you want with you.
11. P.I. AUTO STORE Premium Air Compressor Tire Inflator
Pros:
- Extremely cheap
- Small size and easy to carry
- Backlit LED display
- Available in many colors
- Backed by a one-year warranty
Cons:
- Noisy
- Leaking problem reported by some users
- Customer service could have been better
This little guy is capable of pumping out a maximum pressure of 100 psi, but it can also be operated in bursts to blow up things like pools and balls. It automatically shuts off once the desired pressure has been reached.
Verdict: Among the best car tire inflators, this one is the best pick as it is extremely cheap and comes with several nifty features like a LED display and a backlit button.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Which tire inflator is the best?
The best performing tire inflators are the ones that are powerful enough to inflate any large bicycle tire to desired pressure, and without much effort.
Of course, changing a bike tire is always a hard job, but the tire inflator you choose can make the job a little bit easier.
We have gathered the top rated tire inflators to make these tougher jobs easy.
Some of these are electric while others are pneumatic staple guns. The electric ones can take a little longer to inflate your bike tire and are also more expensive. The gas-powered ones are very powerful and are great for a quick tire fix. In some cases, they are also quieter and easier to handle.
If you have a puncture and it’s not a big one, a fully-laden puncture repair kit is all you need.
What is the best tire inflator with gauge?
Check the flow rate before purchasing so that you will have an idea of whether the device can handle your tire size. If you can, get both a tire inflator and a compressor.
More and more people are realizing the convenience of getting a high-quality all-in-one compressor/inflator combo. The only drawback here is that these tend to create a bit more noise, but it's a small price to pay for getting the convenience of a single machine.
Other inflators, like the Tekton Safety Relief Valve Tire Inflator fit both Schrader and Presta valves, which is a clever customization for this inflator.
Also, make sure the tire inflator comes with either a gauge or a gauge that is compatible with your car's own tire gauge so that you can check and see that the pressure is where it should be.
What is the best 12 volt tire inflator?
The top rated 12 volt inflator should have a guard to protect from breakage. The 12V inflator should have great durability and the best should charge quickly and hold high power when filling up.
The best 12 volt tire inflator should be of high quality and be able to hold its charge for a long time.
The inflator should be able to read the tire pressure level and fit the tires of various sizes. The inflator should be able to work well even in extreme cold and heat.
What is the best cordless tire inflator?
Conclusion
There are some important things to know before you go out and buy a tire inflator, or air compressor. First, inflators and compressors are not all created equal. Make sure to read the reviews carefully before you decide on which one to purchase. While some tire inflators are only designed to inflate the tires of your car, others have the added feature of being able to inflate other inflatable devices; like balls, toys, or inflatable furniture.
Our Recommendation
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| DEWALT 20V MAX Cordless Tire Inflator | Best Overall | |
| Slime 1034-A Automotive Accessories | Budget Pick | |
| Viair 00088 88P Portable Air Compressor | Upgrade Pick | |