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The primary use for a portable compressor (certainly when it comes to motoring) is to top off your tires. Just squeezing a few psi back into them when they’re slightly low. A small battery-powered inflator isn’t designed to compete with a shop compressor. And it won’t run pneumatic tools or inflate bouncy castles, but that’s missing the point.
The Best Portable Tire Inflator
The best portable tire inflators are all a handy size. This means you can keep them in the trunk without taking up too much space. You should understand though, that some of the portable inflators have a fairly short duty cycle.
They can only run for a limited time before needing to be stopped to cool down. While we’re talking about limitations, you need to figure out what you want from it. Inflating a huge truck tire is a no-no for example, at least for the smaller tire inflators, as is anything that’s high pressure.
We’ve chosen six tire inflators, all very good in their own way. But, depending on your exact use, you may find one or two better suited to your needs. So, as usual, you need to think about what you’ll be doing before purchasing.
EPAuto 12V DC Portable Air Compressor Pump
- Rating: 4.8 / 5
- Brand: EPAuto
This is kind of mid-range pricing. It offers some pretty useful features, but the big ‘must know’ fact here is that it has a maximum pressure of just 70psi. It’s ideal for regular cars, bikes, bicycles, and light trucks. But, if start going up in size and pressure, you’ll need to look for something different.
The EPAuto portable inflator is fitted with a 12V accessory plug. It’s rated at between 10-15A or 120-180W, so there shouldn’t be any issues with running it to your accessory outlet. The hose (which is around 2.5′ in length) has a screw-on Schrader valve adaptor. It also comes with a long & short cone and needle valve adaptor.
It also has a digital display that can display four different units of measurement – BAR, PSI, KPA, and KG/CM. You can preset the unit for an auto shut off at a predetermined pressure. The unit pumps slightly over the set pressure for the inevitable air loss while decoupling. The compressor shifts around 1.06 CFM (Cubic Feet Minute) which is about average.
Other good features are the included LED flashlight built-in and an overheat protection to save itself from damage under hard use. The cord storage is perhaps the best out of all six inflators. They’ve done a great job to make it fit properly; all 9′ (approximately) of it.
All in all, the EPAuto compressor is a great all-rounder that will work for near all situations and priced for great value for money.
Slime 40026 2X Heavy Duty Power Tire Inflator
- Rating: 4.6 / 5
- Brand: Slime
Clarifications first: the direct-drive refers to the need to be attached directly to the battery with the alligator clips. The ‘2X’ is actually something unique in this category. It refers to a dual cylinder inflator for maximum speed. Slime says it will inflate a standard car tire in less than two minutes.
This is a neat kit. Everything stores away in the hard carry case, including the almost professional styled coiled inflation hose. Between that and the power cord, you have a total reach of 30′. That’s enough for regular domestic use. You won’t need anything longer.
There’s an analog gauge in-line on the inflation hose. Again, it’s semi-accurate (same as the all the others here) but I’d always check pressures with a separate gauge when it’s important. Finally, there’s a bright LED work light that’s been built-in.
It’s at the higher end of the pricing structure, but it’s an all-rounder, and it all comes as a complete kit with a good case.
There are a couple of noticeable differences here. The first being that this portable air compressor doesn’t use a 12V accessory outlet. It has alligator clips for direct connection to the battery. The second is that the body of this compressor is metal and looks really robust – I like it.
The Viair 88P pumps around 1.47 CFM of air, making it one of the fastest inflators in the group. Rated a maximum of 120 PSI, Viair says that it can be used with huge tires up to 33″ in size (a regular sedan is around 18″). The maximum amperage draw is 20A, which is why it needs a direct connection to the battery rather than power through the accessory outlet, and ideally, the vehicle that it’s attached to should be running.
The power cord is an average 10′ in length, but the inflator hose is a huge 16′ – you’ll have no issues reaching around any vehicle with this. The other neat touch is the adaptor on the inflation hose (Schrader valve) is made from brass, it will stand a lifetime of use without having a problem.
There’s a built-in pressure gauge, but no auto shut off feature. The biggest feature that’s missing is that there’s no carry or storage bag. It’s going to get messy.
JACO SmartPro Digital Tire Inflator Pump
- Rating: 3.9 / 5
- Brand: JACO
The JACO tire pump seems to be a step-up from the EPAuto in some senses. It can pump up to 100psi (against the 70psi for the EPAuto) but shifts around 25 liters per minute of air, which works out to just under 0.9 CFM, meaning that it will take slightly longer to inflate a tire.
However, it’s pretty similar – it uses smart pressure technology to auto shut off and preset, has a digital pressure gauge & display which can be swapped between BAR, PSI and KPA and it all plugs into the cars accessory outlet; it’s rated at 10A.
I like the fact that the hose and power cord are slightly longer – a 10′ power cord for example, and that the hose itself is a heavy-duty woven cloth material covering, it takes me right back to the days of the old foot pumps that came with similar. Another great feature is the built-in flashlight which has four different modes – off, regular flashlight, flashing red light and emergency SOS strobe.
The compressor can be used for around 30 minutes before needing to cool off for 15 minutes, which is quite a high rate of work for one of these small inflators. The manufacturers say that it’s accurate to within +/- 1psi – even if that’s slightly out, it’s close enough to not have to worry about it, get yourself a separate gauge to verify it.
P.I. Auto Store Premium Tire Air Compressor Pump
- Rating: 3.5 / 5
- Brand: P.I. Auto Store
Another fast inflator – moving 38 liters of air per minute, which is around 1.35 CFM. The reach is a little short when compared to the Slime or Viair compressors, at just 13′. But, it should be enough for regular domestic use on sedans or hatches. It’s perhaps a little lacking for the larger SUVs or trucks.
It uses a digital gauge which allows for an auto shut off feature, and P.I. Auto Store state that it can inflate a regular tire from flat to 30 psi in around 3 minutes. This shows you how fast the Slime compressor is. But, to be fair, the PI compressor is powered through the 12V accessory outlet, not as a direct power source from the battery.
Best of all, this device comes complete with a quality carry case, which stores the compressor, hose, power cord, adaptors, and 4x spare dust caps, and PI Auto Stores also make an adaptor to allow it to be used from a regular wall outlet. I also appreciate a bright (100 lumens) LED work light. It can swap to a red SOS signaling lamp. This is ideal for visibility if you’re ever stuck in the wilds.
Ryobi P737 Portable Cordless Tire Inflator
- Rating: 3.1 / 5
- Brand: Ryobi
I’ve included the Ryobi air compressor, but this is more of a handheld inflator. It’s very handy to have around. But, if inflating tires with it is your primary use, this isn’t the compressor for you. Aside from anything else, the power button is just that – a button and not a switch, so you need to keep pressure applied to it for the duration.
The price of the Ryobi inflator is low, but you should remember that the pricing structure really only works for you if you have other Ryobi tools that use the ONE+ battery system. There is no battery or charger included with this cordless air inflator. So, if you don’t have one to start with, you’ll need to buy a battery & charger separately.
That’s it for the irritations, the rest is all positive. The Ryobi P737 will pump up to 150psi, which is the highest pressure here. Of course, it’s completely cordless so there’s no worrying whether it will reach around the vehicle. It’s small enough to be thrown into a backpack.
Equipped with a 20″ hose, the unit allows slightly more convenience during air pumping. The hose has a quick release coupler for a Schrader valve rather than a screw-on coupler. It does come with a couple of other adaptors like ‘leisure adaptors’. It’s basically a cone and the regular needle adaptor for inflating balls and the like.
Overall, it’s a really useful inflator for most things, great if you’re an outdoorsy kind of person.
Other considerations
All six of these car tire inflators have a built-in pressure gauge. While it’s a handy feature to have, you’ll typically find that most of them are more of an indication to the pressure, rather than 100% accurate. Even the ones listed as accurate to +/- 1 psi may not actually be that close. They’re good enough for general use. However, if you need an absolute accurate reading, I’d recommend getting a separate digital tire gauge.
Also, if you’re topping up your tires, you should do this only when cold, this is because that the pressure will increase as they warm up (nitrogen-filled tires are much more stable), so taking a pressure measurement when they’re hot will always see a high reading.
And then we get to the power supply. Some of these tire inflators use a 12V DC accessory plug (or cigarette lighter socket.) This is handy and convenient, but if the inflator draws too much power, it will trip the fuse for the socket. Then, you’ll be left without power until you’ve replaced the fuse. If you need something a little more heavy-duty, choose an inflator that uses alligator clips direct to the battery.
