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There is no such thing as an opportune moment for a flat tire, only bad or worse times. It's bad when you get a flat tire near your home and need to take the time to fill it up or fix it. It's worse when it's on the side of a busy highway. But the absolute worst time to get a flat is when you don't have a temporary patch, your spare tire is also flat, and you're nowhere near an air compressor.
Unpreparedness creates more headaches, wastes more time, and costs more money. One way to ensure you always have, at the minimum, a fully inflated spare tire is to keep a portable tire inflator in your car. You can use it to keep your tires at the designated optimum pressure at any time, and you'll have a backup plan for your spare tire just in case.
The Drive and its partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links. Read more., DepositphotosThese devices go by many different generalized names, including tire inflator, mini air compressor, and portable air compressor, which can be confusing when considering many people think of air compressors as the large tanks that sit in the corner of a garage. So is it really an air compressor if it doesn't have a tank?
To clear up this confusion, the Guides & Gear team decided to 'open up' a tire inflator and lay out all of its guts in an easy-to-understand explainer. Let's begin.
Tire inflators are not the same as simple air pumps; they're actually miniature air compressors. To better understand how they work, we've broken down the main components that make up these devices and explained how they work together to put air into your tires.
The most common types of portable tire inflators will plug straight into a wall, plug into the 12V cigarette lighter in your car, or use battery power. Each has its own pros and cons, but the type that plugs into the 12V port is the most universal for drivers.
The switch, whether in the form of a dial, slider, toggle, trigger, or a button, completes the device's power circuit and turns the device on by engaging the motor. Essentially, the switch is how you turn the device on and off.
The internal electric motor is the tire inflator's powerhouse. The motor's output shaft is primarily connected to gears that transfer the energy to the piston. In some cases, however, the output shaft is also connected to a fan that spins while the motor is running to cool down the device.
Some tire inflators feature built-in handles., DepositphotosIn most tire inflators you'll have two gears, one attached to the motor and one attached to the piston. When the motor moves, it turns its gear, which is inset with the piston's gear. So, when the motor moves, the gears make the piston move. In some cases, there might also be a third gear to turn a fan.
It's not exactly the same, but your gas-powered vehicle does share a component type with a tire inflator: a piston. Although the motor drives the mechanism, the piston and the cylinder in which it is housed is where the action happens.
As the gears turn, the piston is pulled down to bring air into the cylinder through an intake, then pushed up. When the piston goes up, the air is compressed and pushed through the tube that connects to the tire. The piston steadily repeats this cycle to continue compressing and pumping air into the tire.
Most tire inflators will be air-cooled by a small fan built into the device. The placement of the fan will vary, but it is likely next to or near the motor where a majority of the heat is created.
The piston wouldn't be able to complete its purpose without valves working in tandem. The valve types, whether ball, flap, or other, will vary, but they all serve the same purpose: to get air into the cylinder when needed and prevent air from coming in when not needed.
Your tire inflator might also use a pressure sensor. This can be used for reading the pressure to display it on a digital gauge, and/or they might be used to control a valve for automatic closing.
The connector, or the tubing at the end of the tire inflator, is what pairs the inflator to the tire, ball, or whatever else needs inflating. It is typically made of rubber and is sometimes covered in a fabric wrap. Many new models offer a variety of tips that pair with the connector to allow for a variety of uses.
In short, you flip a switch, the motor turns on and drives a piston, which pressurizes and pumps air into your tire through the connector.
Coiled hoses make storage easier., DepositphotosTechnically, yes, a portable 12V tire inflator is an air compressor. However, it doesn't have a tank to store compressed air, nor does it have the ability to power pneumatic tools. Therefore, it's often referred to as a tire inflator or simply an inflator because that is the only specific job it is intended for and capable of.
You've got questions, The Drive has answers!
A. The motors inside tire inflators can heat up pretty quickly, and if the cooling isn't adequate, they can't run for very long. Some of the most common run times you'll see are only for about 5-10 minutes, but each inflator will be different. Check the owner's manual/service manual for specifics on your machine.
A. There are always exceptions, but a vast majority will not. Most tire inflators you encounter, especially if it's new, are oilless.
A. To use pneumatic tools, you need an air compressor that can consistently produce high amounts of pressure and steady air flow for extended periods of time. Small tire inflators cannot accomplish any of these things, so they cannot power pneumatic tools.
A. Different size air compressors are used for different tasks, so it depends on your goals, your budget, and the pneumatic tools you will be using. For more detailed information visit our guide, how garage air compressors work and what size you'll need,
A. This will be different for every vehicle and tire, so you'll need to consult the information posted on the inside of your driver's door or your owner's manual. The tire itself will often show maximum tire pressure, but that's not the same as recommended tire pressure.
A. First, if you are unaware, PSI stands for pounds per square inch and it's a measurement of air pressure. When your inflator is plugged into your tire, it will register a PSI on the built-in gauge, if your device has one. But, those readings will be off while the tire is in the process of inflation. So, make sure you take your measurements while the inflator is turned off.
Now that we've explained what a tire inflator does and how it works, we'd like to show you what the parts all look like. In the video below, the presenter takes apart a cordless Ryobi unit that has had some issues.
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A tire inflator is a specific type of air compressor that is specialized for tires. As with air compressors, tire inflators function by converting electric energy into potential energy which is then stored as pressurized air. This pressurized gas means that there is no longer a need for the strenuous pumping of the manual tire inflators of the past.
PSI= This stands for pounds per square inch, which refers to how much pressure your tire compressor is able to put out. For example a tire compressor with a PSI of 150 will be able to fill up a tire faster than a tire compressor with a PSI of 100.
CFM = This stands for cubic feet per minute. This is related to the PSI and refers to the speed at which the tire inflator can release air into the tire. The term SCFM occasionally is shown with regards to tire inflators, but is the same as CFM it merely states that it is the standard cubic feet per minute.
12- Volt DC = This refers to the powersource for the tire compressor being the cigarette lighter in your car.
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110-Volt AC= This refers to the power source for the tire compressor being a wall socket.
Many question whether a tire inflator is a worthwhile purchase. This is definitely something to take into consideration, so here are a few reasons why you need a tire inflator.
Owning your own personal tire inflator means you do not need to go to the garage to fill up your tires. The recommended frequency for checking and filling tires is every month, and most garages require payment to use their systems. The freedom of owning your own portable tire inflator means you can safely go on road trips and more without getting stranded or needing roadside assistance.
There are many important reasons why it is vital to keep your tires at the correct PSI. It is dangerous for your tires to be under or over inflated. Having tires at the correct PSI also reduces carbon footprint, uses less fuel, improves handling and control and ensures your tires last longer. The correct PSI also reduces the risk of accidents and blow outs.
The most obvious time to use a tire inflator is when you have a flat. In many cases if the tire can still hold air a tire inflator will keep you going until you can get a repair or new tire. Additionally in many cars a pressure warning light will go on in your car. This tends to happen when the tire has lost 25% of its PSI. However it is important to check and refill your tires each month as cars tend to lose 1 PSI per month on average which is negative for the wear of the tires, fuel efficiency and more.
There are many different tire inflators, each of them with a unique combination of features. There are several standard features that are vital for the functioning of a tire inflator as well as a few bonus features in each one.
The first vital feature is the power source. With regards to the power source, there are a few different options. 12Volt DC which plugs into your car charging port - this is probably one of the most convenient options as you can keep it in your car and use it on the go, without needing to worry about keeping the battery charged. The cordless tire inflator which runs on batteries and does not need to be plugged into a power source while functioning - this is helpful in limiting long cords and helping keep the tire inflator compact and lightweight. 110Volt AC plugs directly in the wall socket of your garage or home - this provides a high power charge often speeding up the process of inflating the tire. The final option is a multi powered tire inflator meaning there is more than one option available for powering the tire inflator.
Inflation speed is the next feature to look at. Some tire inflators have a maximum PSI of 150. This is typically the highest in the range and means it will have the fastest inflation time in comparison to tire inflators with a PSI of 80 or 100. When deciding which PSI you want in a tire inflator, it is important to keep in mind the tires of your car, what size, how heavy duty and more. A truck, for example, cannot have its tires filled by a tire inflator that is suited for a Mini, as it would take too long and likely overpower the duty cycle of the tire inflator.
The size and weight of a tire inflator is also important to take into consideration. Most want the tire inflator to remain in the car to be used in case of emergencies as well as for the monthly refill. Therefore it is important to have a compact lightweight tire inflator to make it easier to fit the tire inflator in the car, especially when filling the trunk before going on long road trips.
Cords are the next important feature. It is helpful to have a tire inflator with a long enough cord length to reach all the tires on your car without needing to move the tire inflator. The desired length then depends on the size of your car. You also want to ensure that the cord is not too long giving the possibility of tangling and tripping unnecessarily. A bonus feature is that some tire inflators also have adaptors that allow you to inflate other household items like blow up mattresses, inflatable decorations and more. When looking at the cords it is also important to ensure that it is made from a durable material so that the lifespan of the tire inflator can be guaranteed even in the more replaceable parts such as the air hose.
In addition to finding a tire inflator with the right length hose for your car, it is also important to find the correct pressure hose chuck. This is the connection from the hose to the air system valve in the tire. Some tire inflators have a screw on chuck, some have a click on chuck and others require you to hold the hose to the pipe manually if the chuck is not strong enough. Finding the correct chuck, that can allow you the freedom to use your hands and do other things while the tire inflator is functioning is beneficial to the overall experience.
Tire inflators are generally loud and noisy when operating, so another factor to take into consideration is how quiet the tire inflator is. This does not impact the ability for the tire inflator to function properly, however it does impact the comfort in the experience of using it.
Duty cycle is also an important factor to keep in mind when looking for a tire inflator. This refers to the ability for the tire inflator to work for an extended period of time without needing to shut off to cool down. A 50% duty cycle means that the tire inflator can run for 30 minutes but then would need a 30 minute cool down, as opposed to a 100% duty cycle which can run for a full hour without needing to cool down.
Almost all tire inflators come with a pressure gauge. A tire inflator that has a built in gauge is helpful to know when to stop filling the tire. It also means you do not need to buy both a pressure gauge and a tire inflator, as you have both features in one product. It is important for this to be accurate so that you can reach the desired PSI for your tires. Not all gauges are 100% accurate so make sure to choose a tire inflator with an accurate gauge. There are two types of gauges, analog and digital. The analog looks like a clock and can often be a little harder to read, digital gauges show you a precise PSI however these can also be a little inaccurate. If the tire inflator does have a pressure gauge, ensure it is the correct reading for your tire, if the gauge can only read up to 15 PSI, a car tire that is on average 30-35 PSI will not be possible to read on the gauge. Make sure to test first and read reviews to understand the accuracy of your tire inflator's pressure gauge.
A bonus feature that is very handy is an automatic shut off. This means that the inflator will shut off as soon as it has reached the desired PSI. This means you do not need to worry about constantly checking the PSI of the tires and you are guaranteed to not over inflate the tires. This in itself can be dangerous, increasing the risk of a blow out and can cause extreme damage to the tire if the car hits any bumps or potholes in the road. Some tire inflators that have automatic shut off also have specific programs for different things which lends a natural versatility to the tire inflator while also ensuring that it does not overheat.
LED lights or work lights are another helpful feature on some tire inflators. It helps you fill your tires at night or in dark spaces as well as see under the car. Some of the lights can also function as warning lights. This is particularly useful when you need to pump your tire in the middle of the road and or at night.
A carrying case is another helpful bonus feature on some tire inflators. It helps you keep all the cords tucked away neatly, take the tire inflator with you should you be traveling to rent a car, and many other purposes.
Generally it is also important to look for a good build quality, comfortable easy to read gauge and easy to use design. As always it is helpful to read reviews and rankings of the best tire inflators.
The first step, before even beginning to use the tire inflator, is to find out the required PSI for your car's tires. This information can be found in the car manual, or on the car itself. Generally do not look at the tire pressure on the tire itself as that is generally the highest PSI possible, however it is not the ideal for fuel efficiency, safety and control. Once you know the desired pressure, make sure that the tires are cold. Tires that are warm will measure with a higher than accurate PSI, on average being around 3-5 PSI off, so make sure to take this into consideration when measuring the PSI of the tire. Then you can check the tire pressure to see how much inflation is needed. This is more relevant in tire inflators that do not have automatic shutoff as you would need to check the pressure frequently to make sure the tire reaches the correct PSI.
Once you have the tire inflator set up, take off the valve stem caps and ensure to keep them in a safe space. They are small and easily lost so keep track!
Connect the air pressure hose to the tire's air valve system.
Turn on the tire inflator and wait until the desired pressure is reached. Depending on how much inflation is needed you should be able to see it working. If the tire is near flat or has lost a large percentage of the PSI you should see the inflation quickly, however if it is merely the monthly refill of 1 or so PSI, you might not see a difference.
If the tire is not inflating check for punctures as you would need professional assistance to help solve that problem.
Once the correct PSI is reached reattach the valve stem caps and you are ready to drive safely.
Tire inflators are the perfect tool to help you maintain your car, have great fuel efficiency, and ensure that you can be safe on the go. A tire inflator in your car will give you peace of mind on long road trips and give you the freedom to take care of your car yourself.
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