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When you’ve got the best tyre inflator to hand, it’s easy to check the pressure of your tyres and pump them up whenever needed. They plug into your vehicle’s 12V power socket and typically take around two minutes for a top-up.
With all new cars now fitted with tyre pressure monitors, having an inflator means that you can respond immediately to any warning that your tyres are running low.
Keeping your tyres at optimum pressure delivers maximum grip and braking performance, can reduce wear and may lower fuel consumption. It makes sense to check them regularly and a tyre inflator makes the task a whole lot easier than an old-fashioned foot-pump.
To help you find the best tyre inflator for your needs, we tested inflators from a range of manufacturers for the accuracy of their gauges, the time taken to pump up tyres, their ease of use and additional features.
Car manufacturers list the correct pressure for each tyre on a sticker that you’ll either find close to the fuel filler cap or around the driver’s door. In the latter case, it’s usually on the frame or the edge of the door itself.
The stickers often carry the pressures for different wheel sizes and specifications. Each one is identified by a series of numbers and letters that describe the tyre’s size and width. You just need to find the sequence that matches the one on the wall of your tyres.
The pressure is usually shown in two formats: bar and psi. There are typically two sets of these. The lowest is for normal use, but you may well see another set of higher pressures for when the car is heavily loaded, increasing the weight that’s pushing down on the tyres.
Tyre pressures are typically between 30psi and 40psi (or 2 bar and 2.8 bar).
Each of the inflators tested here has a gauge that gives you an instant readout that lets you know whether the tyre needs pumping. To use them, simply remove the dust cap from the valve on the tyre and push the end of the air hose over it, before pressing or releasing any catch to clamp it in place. Petrol station tyre inflators have pressure gauges, too, but these aren’t always accurate so it’s best to test using your own equipment.
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The AA recommends checking your tyres every fortnight and doing so when they are cold, as the pressure increases slightly when your tyres warm up through driving. According to Michelin, one of the major tyre manufacturers, tyres that are under-inflated by 15psi (1 bar) will raise fuel consumption by 6% and increase your braking distance by 5m when travelling at 56mph.
It’s a good idea to examine each tyre’s condition at the same time, testing the amount of tread left and ensuring that there are no cracks or bulges that could lead to one of them bursting. It’s illegal to have less than 1.6mm of tread around the central part of the tyre, covering three-quarters of its area. One quick way to test your legality is to place a 20p piece between the grooves. If the border is still visible on the side touching the tyre, your tyres will probably need replacing soon.
Size is probably the most important thing. The smallest inflators are around 20 x 20cm, so you can leave them in your car without losing too much luggage space. The best don’t skimp on the length of the power lead and air hose, which makes it easier to reach all four valves. Most can be preset to stop inflating when your tyre reaches the correct pressure.
Larger inflators include rechargeable batteries, which make them completely portable. These are a better option if you want to pump up, say, bicycle tyres, without having to wheel the bike next to your car. You may also need a larger inflator for tyres that need higher-than-average pressures, such as a larger van or campervan.
With mini torches, adaptors and USB ports, some tyre inflators sound like they’ve dropped out of a Christmas cracker, but these features can come in surprisingly handy. Any light source can be useful when you find yourself having to inflate a tyre late at night, while adaptors allow you to pump up bicycle tyres, children’s toys and footballs.
Some inflators have 12V ports so they can effectively be used as an extension lead that connects other accessories to your car’s power. If your car isn’t fitted with a USB port, it’s useful to have a tyre inflator with this feature so that you can charge a tablet or smartphone on the road.
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Price: £39 | Buy now from Amazon
An accurate pressure gauge, decent performance and extremely competitive price make the RAC 635 compressor the best all-round tyre inflator here. It’s simple to use, thanks to a rotating dial that sets the required pressure and ensures the pump switches off when the tyre is correctly inflated.
The compressor is small, at 20cm long, and weighs just over 1kg. A long air hose and power lead offer plenty of reach, although stowing them is a bit fiddly. The 635 includes a large white light, as well as a red one for alerting other drivers. There’s also a three-piece adaptor for use with bicycle tyres, blow-up toys and footballs, along with a padded case for tidy storage.
Key specs – Inflation time from 20-30psi: 2mins 12secs; Power lead length: 3.5m; Air hose length: 70cm
Price: £45 | Buy now from Halfords
Many Michelin tyre inflators lack the ability to preset the pressure you want. However, that’s not the case with the 12266, which makes it that little bit more convenient, as you don’t need to monitor the compressor while it’s at work.
With the most accurate gauge on test and a swift inflation time of 2mins 18secs to add 10psi, this Michelin device is efficient – as it should be, given the price. It includes 12V and USB power outlets, bright LED lights, adaptors, and a less-than-straightforward stowage system for the hose.
Unlike the lower-specification version, it also comes with a carry-case.
Key specs – Inflation time from 20-30psi: 2mins 18secs; Power lead length: 3m; Air hose length: 60cm
Price: £60 | Buy now from Halfords
Weighing less than 2kg, this Halfords inflator is easy to carry between deflated cycle tyres, flat footballs and sagging airbeds.
It offers plenty of flexibility, with the option to charge from either mains power or your car’s 12V socket. There are a USB port and 12V socket to power mobile phones and other devices, in addition to the air pump, which comes with four adaptors. You can set your desired pressure, so there’s no need to watch over it while it’s inflating, which is good as it’s a slow and noisy process. After inflating a tyre by 10psi, then pumping up an airbed and deflating it, the battery indicator showed that only half the power remained.
Key specs – Inflation time from 20-30psi: 2mins 38secs; Power lead length: 3.2m; Air hose length: 60cm
Price: £36 | Buy now from eBay
If you choose a tyre inflator with the aim of impressing your neighbours, this flying saucer design will be top of your list because it’s as stylish as these products get. However, most buyers will be more interested in the fact it’s relatively light at 1.3kg and has a neat removable pressure gauge, which makes it easier to check whether your tyres need pumping before positioning and connecting the inflator.
The cable wraps neatly into a storage compartment that also contains four adaptors, while the air hose is housed in the base. Inflation time is fairly average and you can’t set the desired pressure, but the bright integrated lights mean you’ll always see what you’re doing.
Key specs – Inflation time from 20-30psi: 2mins 32secs; Power lead length: 3m; Air hose length: 65cm
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