


It’s also helpful to understand this major caveat: Portable inflators are meant to inflate tires that are already inflated. Most use a 12-volt power outlet from your car, but others may require a direct connection to your car’s battery (this is helpful for newer cars without a 12-volt outlet). Portable tire inflators range in size and output (how quickly they inflate). If safety doesn’t concern you, how about preserving the life of your tires so you’re not buying new ones as often? What about saving gas? A portable tire inflator is your wallet’s best friend, and it just might save you from an accident or blowout due to an underinflated tire. But the general advice is absolutely correct: You should always monitor and keep your tires at the recommended pressure on a regular basis, especially during shifts in ambient temperature or if you’re driving a different car for the first time (like a rental). Read Less Read Moreīridgestone says checking tire pressure should be a “monthly ritual.” Of course it would say that. To make things easy, we rounded up a short combination list of some of the best light- and heavy-duty portable tire inflators on the market. These are dedicated tire inflators that can handle a truck or SUV that is either stranded in a remote location or has purposely “aired down” on the trail (more on that later). The heavy-duty units tend to be larger in size, weigh more and demand more power, typically sourcing its electricity directly from a car battery or from a large battery. The light-duty inflators often are compact, good for inflating average-sized vehicles and tires, and often come with their own internal rechargable batteries, or may work off your vehicle’s cigarette lighter socket. There are typically two types of tire inflators: light-duty and heavy-duty. Circumvent all of this by keeping a portable tire inflator in your trunk. It’s a frustrating thing to drop a quarter into one of those machines only to have it cut out when you are in the middle of inflating the fourth tire.
High psi light compressor free#
You can inflate tires at most gas stations, but those pumps are not always accurate, functioning or free to use. New vehicles have tire pressure monitoring systems, though it’s always important to keep a tire pressure gauge in your glove box. Tire inflation determines how well your car grips, stops and rides, but it also affects tire life and how much energy your car consumes. It’s something simple we largely overlook but is the most critical element for safety and efficiency. In every car, truck, or SUV that has ever been on the road, one thing is true-the only four parts of the vehicle to make contact with the road are the tires.
