Are Portable Tire Inflators Any Good?

[isisdave]

I have this one and am happy with it. I use it for the travel trailer, so the fact it's battery powered is good -- you don't need a long cord. Handles 60psi very well although of course not terribly fast.

 

[Koolau]

I have an old cheapie (about $10 that is very slow - but works from auxiliary power port in car.) The gauge is amazingly accurate. But it warns to let it cool often - and I see why. The cylinder head gets extremely hot during use.

I also have a DeWalt that is "primarily" a jumper battery but also has a tire pump. It's also relatively slow (not as slow as the cheapie.) It cost like $90. It's also kinda heavy to lug around in the car. I use it when I want to pump up all the tires a few PSI every few months. I make certain it is charged and then drag it down to the garage on a cart. Out on the road, I rely on the cheapie - which is still working after many years.

I do like the look of OPs device. I'll be looking for one as a replacement for my cheapie as it must be about ready to give up the ghost.

Good discussion!

 

[GA_Brown]

Purchased this one back in June, has a lithium battery and/or power cord. Has usb charging for phones and such. Carry it on my motorcycle but have used it on my truck tire. It takes a while on the truck tire.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Sun-Joe-ATJ-CA100-Ultra-Compact-Cordless-Digital-Air-Pump-Inflator-Power-Bank-12-Volt-DC-Adaptor-USB-Type-A-Output-SOS-LED-Flashlight-140-PSI-Portabl/813235410?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&wl13=787&adid=22222222278813235410_117755028669_12420145346&wmlspartner=wmtlabs&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=m&wl3=501107745824&wl4=pla-294505072980&wl5=9010895&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=local&wl12=813235410&wl13=787&veh=sem_LIA&gclid=Cj0KCQiAgribBhDkARIsAASA5bsHVzQIFPHOz6pbDaLJ0wxcVpFG89RIC6Z1KcM8smIzsEHOxa8NEw0aAkOrEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[Dean56]

I have purchased (from Walmart, IIRC) several of the cheap, generic, 12V-plugin tire inflators over the years. They work perfectly fine and are nice to have in case of a slow (or even moderately fast) leak that catches you by surprise while out and about somewhere.

I have purchased a couple of these myself. And they have worked great. One time I was out of town and spent the night at a hotel. The next morning I found one of my tires was flat. I used my portable air compressor and filled the tire back up. I was back on the road and later had the tire repaired.

 

[Retired Expat]

What about a can of Flat-fix? Which also has a sealant? I have always kept one in with my spare and have found them quick and easier than changing the tire for a slow leak.

But then nothing works on a real blowout

 

[Joggernot]

Fix-a-Flat isn't recommended by me. I have a somewhat larger tire inflater that takes a while to pump up a 50 psi truck tire and a 44 psi car tire. Doing eight requires one Churchill cigar and a book to read. I just add this time to my meditation/zen moments for the day.

 

[a60dan]

I received a Viair that connects to the vehicle battery.

Saved us in a campground when the DW picked up a sharp chunk of metal.

It’s rated to fill the. 80 PSI travel trailer tires but haven’t “battle tested” that yet.

 

[nobody]

I have a GSPSCN, I off road and it will fill my 35's from 10 psi to 32 in a couple of minutes per tire. Mine gets used a couple time a month. I've had it almost 2 years.

 

[ERD50]

Can anyone recommend a specific model that does not use a battery (just plugs into the 'cigarette lighter' (or cables to the battery), and is reliable (based on 1st hand experience)?

TIA - ERD50

 

[nobody]

GSPSCN B077N9PXV3 Might be more then what you need.

You can plug into cigarette lighter but also has a connector to connect to your battery. I use the connector to the battery never tried from the cigarette lighter.

 

[bltkmt]

Can anyone recommend a specific model that does not use a battery (just plugs into the 'cigarette lighter' (or cables to the battery), and is reliable (based on 1st hand experience)?

TIA - ERD50

I use this one - very accurate and fairly quick. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Audew-150PSI-120W-12V-Portable-Tire-Inflator-Digital-Air-Compressor-Pump-with-10ft-Cord/428974462?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=101075573&adid=22222222227000000000&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=42423897272&wl4=aud-1651068663826la-51320962143&wl5=9003441&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=416748024&wl11=online&wl12=428974462_101075573&veh=sem&gclid=Cj0KCQiApb2bBhDYARIsAChHC9u7c0Tvn-WFgqrnqnBDltV25hWF4RraDeRznAkHrxDq3i1La-Nc3DYaAh1wEALw_wcB

 

[NoEZmoney]

I've had two, both cheapies from Wal-Mart or Big Lots. <$10 each. Replaced one after it gave up the ghost after about 10 yrs of service. Used them for various things, car tire pressure low at first temperature drop, air matresses, inflatable float devices, lawnmower tire refill, etc. Not real fast but they worked. I used my cheap-o inflater just a few minutes before I wrote this and topped off all the tires since car sensor showed them below recommended pressure since we had a temperature drop last night. Beats paying $1.50 at the DIY gas station or hassling with going to the garage.

 

[BobMW]

I am with the one I recently purchased, but it's intended use if for the air bags I added to the truck. For that it's working great so far. But I have not used it for auto/truck tires yet.

 

[SnowballCamper]

I received a Viair that connects to the vehicle battery.

Saved us in a campground when the DW picked up a sharp chunk of metal.

It’s rated to fill the. 80 PSI travel trailer tires but haven’t “battle tested” that yet.

I've been happy with mine. Haven't needed it in an emergency situation yet, but it works great for the seasonal check/fill, even on the big pickup truck tires. Works for winterizing the camper too...

 

[Koolau]

What about a can of Flat-fix? Which also has a sealant? I have always kept one in with my spare and have found them quick and easier than changing the tire for a slow leak.

But then nothing works on a real blowout

Fix-a-Flat isn't recommended by me. I have a somewhat larger tire inflater that takes a while to pump up a 50 psi truck tire and a 44 psi car tire. Doing eight requires one Churchill cigar and a book to read. I just add this time to my meditation/zen moments for the day.

I've used fix-a-flat and it does work to get you where you are going. I've never had it "fix" the tire and I found out that tire repair shops do not like fix-a-flat in the tire (and may refuse to repair the tire.) Don't know why though I suspect it's 'cause it's gunky but YMMV.

 

[wolf]

I have the Ryobi One+ 18V inflator, a little bigger than the one you're looking at. It's good for topping off a low car tire that's a few psi under but it is slow, takes about a minute to add 3-4 psi to a tire, but probably faster than using a compressor and the time needed to get it charged up. I keep it in my car all the time in case I need it when travelling.

One of mine, works off House AC, and Car DC. Gauge, etc. Accurate. Can preset to exact PSI.
Purchased several years ago. So not sure if current model is still available. Works great.

Just purchased the Ryobi One+. ($24.99, Home Depot), Good deal if you already have the
battery. Accurate to +/- .5/1 psi. NOT a good deal, if you have to buy the battery.

Super convenient. No need to "run" electrical cord to power source. If adding only, 2-3 psi, takes less than 30-40 seconds.

Like you, I just leave in Van. Easy to check battery life, Ryobi has "4" green lights.

OH. Good idea to check any tire inflator with against know "accurate" tire gauge.

 

[jimbee]

If I'm only adding a few psi, I use one of these. No battery needed. The gauge is built in. Takes very little time. Bought it at Walmart, cheap.

 

[Koolau]

If I'm only adding a few psi, I use one of these. No battery needed. The gauge is built in. Takes very little time. Bought it at Walmart, cheap.

I like the built in gauge. I'd never seen that on a hand pump. Since it's Schwinn I would tend to trust it. Now, whether I have the "ooommpphh" to keep my SUV tires inflated to 35 psi with such a pump, I'm not too sure. Probably good exercise.