Best Portable Tire Inflator
You’re riding the car of your dreams in the most epic road trip of your life. All seems perfect but all of a sudden… poof! A flat tire brings you back to reality. You now have to find a local car service. Or, if you’re wise enough, you could open your trunk to take out the best portable tire inflator.
With this device, roadside flat tires are not a nightmare anymore. Adjusting the pressure in your tires whenever needed is also a breeze.
Here's a list of Best Portable Tire Inflator
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When it comes to choice, there is a bountiful range of products on the market. From 12V DC units for your car to larger 120V AC units for a garage, there are plentiful options to choose from. But there are also a few things to know before buying.
Types of Portable Tire Inflators
Portable tire inflators are either corded or electric. Picking the right kind is often a matter of preference and applications, but I tend to prefer the 12V DC units. Preference apart, there are a few objective things to consider before buying.
How to Choose a Portable Tire Inflator
1. PSI Settings
Some of the best portable tire inflators on the market come with preset PSI settings that allow you to inflate tires, air mattresses, and beach toys in a breeze. Others allow you to input the desired PSI settings manually.
Regardless of your choice, make sure to invest in a unit that turns itself off when inflation is done to avoid over-inflation and associated risks.
2. Accessories
Most portable tire inflators come with a standard valve which allows you to inflate car and RV tires. Some have attachments for bike and motorcycle tires too, while others come with a variety of nozzles and inflation accessories that allow you to use them for all tasks.
Useless to say the best models come with all possible accessories, providing a versatile use in all circumstances.
3. Duty Cycle
Unless you’re a mechanic, this term might sound confusing. The duty cycle is the time the unit needs to recover after prolonged use before it can be used again. For the best performance, get a unit with a short duty cycle, or you might have to wait for ages before the tool is ready to use once again.
4. Inflation Time
While a short duty cycle is essential if you want to use the machine for a long time, the inflation time will give you an indication of how fast the inflator can fix your flat tire.
In this case, a short inflation time can be a matter of safety, as it will help you get on the road as quickly as possible.
5. Portability
Despite their name, not all portable tire inflators are portable. Some 120V units are quite heavy and cumbersome to transport. This might not be an issue if you’re looking for a garage unit, but if you aim for versatility, get a compact and lightweight inflator.
Compact and lightweight also has advantages when it comes to storage, so it’s a win-win situation.
Top 5 Portable Tire Inflator
1. EPAuto 12V DC Portable Tire Inflator
Highlights
Compact Design
The EPAuto portable tire inflator is designed for roadside emergencies and promises to become your trustworthy companion on every trip. This compact unit easily fits in the trunk of a small car and is ideal for inflating the tires of any vehicle up to a midsize SUV.
Auto Shutoff
Designed to prevent over-inflation, this portable tire inflator comes with an auto shutoff function which turns off the compressor when the desired pressure is reached. Furthermore, the unit also boasts an overheat protection shutoff that protects the motor from current fluctuations and overloading.
Overall Assessment
Ideal for roadside emergencies or to use while camping, the EPAuto is more than a portable tire inflator. This mini air compressor connects to your vehicle’s lighter socket and produces up to 15 amperes, which is sufficient for inflating tires, toys, and airbeds. An easy to read LCD shows the specs in four units to meet all needs.
EPAuto 12V 120W Portable Tire Inflator Video Review
2. BRILL'S 12V DC Portable Tire Inflator
Highlights
Powerful
Ideal to use on all your trips as an emergency measure in case of flat tire, the BRILL'S 12V DC Portable Tire Inflator can the tires of most vehicles and is ideal to use for inflating bike or motorcycle tires, sports equipment, and other inflatables too. The unit outputs up to 150 PSI and inflates a car tire in under 4 minutes.
User Friendly
This portable tire inflator can be used in all light conditions thanks to the convenient spotlight. A large LCD displays all the parameters of the work carried out, and the device comes with all accessories needed to inflate more than just tires.
Overall Assessment
Perfect for multiple purposes and coming at a more than attractive price, this portable tire inflator brings versatility to your trips and can handle most recreational inflatables and a wide range of tires.
Brills Portable Tire Inflator Video Review
3. Audew Auto Digital Tire Inflator
Highlights
Multipurpose
If you want 360° versatility, the Audew Auto Digital Tire Inflator is perhaps the best portable tire inflator to consider. This reliable unit can handle all tires, including ATV and truck tires, and is also ideal to use for alternative purposes, such as inflating sports equipment, toys, or camping gear.
Design
The innovative design of this tire inflator makes it ideal to use on the roadside. The yellow middle arranged in a sort of triangle makes you more visible to the traffic participants, enhancing your safety.
Overall Assessment
This portable tire inflator is perhaps the best you could buy. It comes with dozens of advantages and is capable of inflating all your tires and additional gear. Its space-saving design enhances the unit’s value while the long power cord allows you to reach the back of your car in a breeze. Compact and lightweight, the unit also makes a convenient warning sign.
Audew Aut Digital Tire Inflator Video Review
4. P.I. AUTO STORE
Highlights
Simple to Use
Designed to inflate your tires to 30 PSI in under 3 minutes, this portable tire inflator is one of the quietest and simplest to use on the market. It connects to your 12V cigarette lighter socket and comes with sufficient accessories to inflate all your gear and toys in a breeze.
Super Bright LEDs
This portable tire inflator brings versatility and boosts up safety when a flat tire happens in the middle of nowhere or in the middle of the night. The super bright LEDs have three settings which include a red flashlight and an emergency SOS mode.
Overall Assessment
A great companion in all your travels and compact enough to keep in the back of your car, the P.I. AUTO STORE is a valid alternative to the portable tire inflators above. Capable of inflating most tires in a breeze, robust, and versatile, this is a unit to consider.
P.I. Auto Store Video Review
5. Helteko Digital Tire Inflator
Highlights
Digital Display
Ideal for most users, the Helteko Digital Tire Inflator comes with a convenient digital display that helps you calculate the desired inflation parameters in PSI, KPA, BAR or KG/CM². No matter what unit you’re accustomed to, this unit will help you regulate the inflation in a language you understand.
Long Cable
Equipped with a 10-foot cable, this portable tire inflator can easily reach all your wheels and is suitable to inflate all tires of cars, bikes, motorcycles, and SUVs. The pressure is however too low to inflate truck tires.
Overall Assessment
Boasting a high-quality construction and ideal for multiple purposes, the Helteko Digital Tire Inflator comes at an accessible price and benefits most users. The digital display enhances this product’s value while the compact design fits in most trunks.
Helteko Portable Air Compressor Video Review
Conclusion
A portable tire inflator comes in handy in many situations. Whether it’s a flat tire or some gear that needs new air, this device is often essential. There are many things to consider before buying and many models to choose from, but at least now you know which are some of your best options.
We also put together a guide to Best Portable Air Compressor.