With all new vehicles coming equipped with pressure monitoring systems (TPMS), and many having run flat tires, people start to think that a portable tire inflator or air compressor is no longer a necessity. But that’s not the case, because all tires do lose air over time even if you don’t have a puncture. Owning your own tire inflator means you can conveniently and routinely check your tire pressure, making sure they’re in an optimal range. Underinflated or overinflated tires have many adverse effects on your driving experience, affecting your fuel economy, tire wear, and even safety. Purchasing a tire inflator is a small investment in helping make sure your tires last as long as possible, saving you money in the long run.

There are many small differences between the portable tire inflators and air compressors available on the market. Some are manufactured better than others, which makes them more reliable and likely to last a long time. If time is important to you, you’ll want to see which products inflate a tire quicker, while others have a maximum pressure limit. Lastly, you’ll want to pay attention to whether the product uses a 12-volt car outlet or a standard power outlet. It’s more convenient to purchase a 12-volt air compressor, this way you can keep it in your car and use it on the go. But keep in mind some of today’s vehicles are equipped with a standard power outlet, so we include a few recommendations for those as well. Here are our picks for the best portable tire inflators.

One of the highest-rated portable inflators on Amazon is the EPAuto 12-volt DC portable air compressor pump. Rated at 120 watts with an inflation speed of 1.06 cubic feet per minute (CFM), this pump has a maximum working pressure of 100 PSI. There’s a digital gauge that reads in four display units: PSI, KPA, BAR, and kg/cm. Like similarly priced products, EPAuto’s inflator has an auto shutoff feature once it reaches the desired air pressure. The product also has an overheat protection, which automatically shuts off the compressor when it overloads.

Designed to inflate tires on cars, bikes, sedans, and midsize SUVs, this compressor does not support LT, HT, and truck tires. It does, however, come with adapters so it can be used on other inflatables. There is also a bright LED flashlight built-in for nighttime use.

The EPAuto portable air compressor pump weighs 3.81 lbs while measuring 9.6 inches by 7.8 inches by 5.4 inches.

This compact inflator ticks a lot of boxes for us. First on the list is the fact that it can inflate to a maximum pressure of 125 PSI, though there is an 80 PSI max for car, mid-size SUV, and motorcycle tires. It can also be used for deflating when the need arises. And because of its powerful dual, solid metal motors, it inflates quickly.

But there’s a whole lot more to this feature-rich inflator/air compressor, including the ability to be used via your 12V outlet in your vehicle or your 120V home outlet. That makes it perfect to keep in your truck to use on the road or anywhere else you might need it. And because it comes with a variety of nozzles, it can be used to inflate or deflate air mattresses, balls, and pretty much anything else you can think of.

Another nice feature is the easily visible digital gauge, which tells you exactly how much pressure your tires currently have. There’s even an automatic shut-off mode that lets you pre-set how much pressure you want to add and shuts off once that has been achieved. Finally, a bright LED flashlight lets you shine some extra light when and where it’s needed.

The Avid Power tire inflator/air compressor comes with three nozzle adapters, 28-inch high-pressure hose, 19.3-inch high-volume hose, 9.18-foot 120V AC cord, and 9.8-foot 12V DC cord.

 *This is a sponsored placement.

Featuring a double cylinder design and maximum pressure of 150 PSI, this is our recommendation for heavy duty use. Air flow peaks at 70L/min on this unit, which allows you to inflate a standard vehicle tire in from zero to 40 PSI in about 1.5 minutes. One feature we like with this inflator is that it’s equipped with rubber feet at the bottom, so the pump stays in place while operating. Many of the inflators we’ve used in the past vibrate quite a bit while in use, sometimes to the extent that they start walking themselves away.

It’s equipped with an 11.5-feet air hose and the cigarette lighter power cord is the same length, giving you a total of 23 feet of reach to easily inflate your tires front to back. Unlike some of our other recommendations, this inflator doesn’t have a digital display and while that may be more difficult to read, there’s not much to fail. The built-in handle makes it convenient to carry the tire inflator, and it can be flipped so it doesn’t get in the way when it’s not in use.

Included with the inflator are battery clamps, in case you don’t have easy access to a cigarette lighter receptacle; three adapters to inflate household objects;, and a bag for easy storage. Many users report inflating 35-inch off-road tires with ease.

One of the more premium options on the list is the Kensun AC/DC Rapid Performance Portable Air Compressor Tire Inflator. As its name indicates, Kensun’s inflator works both with a standard power outlet or your car’s 12-volt cigarette lighter. It’s designed to work with a variety of inflatables in addition to your car’s tires, with a digital pressure gauge, LCD display, and unit conversion. There are even digital presets to easily deliver the ideal pressure to whatever you’re inflating.

Kensun says the unit is capable of working for a continuous 30 minutes at 35 psi. On the front of the device is a white LED work light for easy illumination in the dark. It comes with a pair of attachment nozzles for other inflatables.

Airflow rate is 30L/min, making it one of the faster inflating pumps on the list. The black woven hose measures 23.6 inches, while the DC power cord is just under 11 feet. The AC power cord is shorter at just under six feet. This inflator is heavier than most of the competition, weighing five pounds. It measures 11.8 inches by 4.3 inches by 6.7 inches. Lastly, it comes with a two-year warranty.

Slime’s portable unit may not be the single best tire inflator, but it has something other models don’t: A dedicated high-volume hose for filling larger, low pressure things like air mattresses and pool floats. It’s a convenient unit, all packaged into a little one-pound, ‎7 x 5 x 9 inch cube with a top carrying handle. It includes the basics: The two inflators, emergency LED lamp and 100 PSI pressure gauge.

The price for the micro size are short cords and hoses, and a small air compressor that struggles with larger jobs. But if you’re looking for the absolute smallest and lightest tire inflator, with the ability to fill rafts and yoga balls, this might be the one for you.

A trusted brand in the power tools industry, Ryobi offers a battery-powered, cordless tire inflator. The inflator itself isn’t very expensive, but keep in mind you will have to purchase a separate battery and charger if you don’t already have a plethora of Ryobi tools in your garage. Capable of inflating tires and small inflatables from zero-to-150 PSI, the cordless convenience of the tool makes it easy for you to go from tire to tire without worrying about any power cords or air hoses.

The attached hose measures 20 inches and can be stored on the tool itself. There’s a built-in two-inch pressure gauge for easy reading. Included with the tool is a sports equipment needle and two high-pressure nozzles. The Ryobi P737 18V ONE+ Portable Cordless Power Inflator comes with a three-year limited warranty.

There are a variety of packages available online if you’re shopping for the Ryobi P737 and need a battery and a charger. There is even a 12-volt charger option, so you could charge the P737’s battery from your car.

Pittsburgh Tool’s High Volume Air Inflator is a very popular compact electric air compressor which we like for it’s included storage bag, three included inflator nozzles, solid steel pump body and screw in connection. Inside is a solid aluminum direct drive connecting rod, piston and solid metal sleeve for extreme durability. Under seven inches long and weighing just over four pounds, it’s a small compressor you can tuck into your car almost anywhere. The self-coiling cord eliminates the biggest complaint with tangling we have with other compressors we’ve used, although at five feet with a 10-foot power cable you will have to relocate it if you’re filling more than one tire. 

It’s also nice to see a portable air compressor that uses standard air compressor fittings, making it very easy to change or replace the hose and other parts. Please note that Pittsburgh says you need to plug it in and turn it on in a specific order or risk blowing the replaceable 15-amp fuse. Pittsburgh’s little tire inflator is one of the best tire inflators on the market and has performed excellently testing and has thousands of excellent reviews.

The American Automobile Association (AAA) has its own branded air compressor, which is a 12-volt option that uses your car’s cigarette lighter power port. One of the cheaper options available, AAA says its product can inflate a standard spare tire in eight minutes. It features a heavy duty and powerful motor, with a 10-foot power cable and 1.5-foot quick connect hose. The compressor measures 8 x 6 x 4 inches while weighing just two pounds.

The product is designed to be portable and stored in your car, so you always have access to it when on the road. It includes a needle ball inflator and an air nozzle for things like yoga balls, in case you need to inflate something other than your car’s tire. It has a built-in digital pressure gauge on the exterior, which you can set for your desired pressure, so you can walk away while it fills.

AAA also offers a Mini version that’s only about 6 x 6 x 2.5 inches. Our experience with mini inflators says that while it would definitely be better than nothing and would get you out of a jam, expect to spend a long time filling a tire, and a long time cooling the unit down between tires.

It may just be a portable tire compressor, but if you want something that’s stylish and looks good, H Helteko’s portable air compressor pump is an excellent option. Constructed from durable ABS plastic and stainless steel, this portable tire inflator is available in red, yellow, or black and features an LCD digital display that shows tire pressure in PSI, BAR, KPA, and kg/cm.

This air compressor is rated at 35L/min can inflate a standard midsize car tire in three to five minutes. You can set the desired air pressure on this unit, which will automatically shut off once it reaches that value. It connects to any vehicle’s 12-volt cigarette lighter receptacle with an 11.5-foot long cable for extra reach. It comes with three additional nozzles so you can inflate household items such as basketballs and other sports equipment.

H Helteko also provides a two-year warranty with its portable tire inflator.

If you care about how your inflator looks, then Fortem’s digital tire inflator might interest you. Featuring a stylish design, this 12-volt system comes with a built-in LED flashlight and a bright LCD display for easy reading. The product is simple to use with controls on the face, with cord storage on the back so everything stays nice and tidy when it isn’t being used.

Along with the air compressor, the product comes with three nozzle attachments, an extra fuse, and a carrying case. The power cord measures 9.84 feet, while the hose is 1.64 feet. Those figures are a little shorter than some of the competition, but the inflator only weighs 1.9 lbs so it’s not as big of a deal to move around. Overall dimensions are 8 inches by 6.5 inches by 3.3 inches, making it one of the more compact inflators available.

It has a maximum pressure value of 150 PSI, although that’s only for bicycle tires. It can continuously work for 8 minutes before needing to cool off.

If you follow the automotive aftermarket, you may have heard of VIAIR for its air suspension systems. The company also offers a portable air compressor, that weighs 4.3 lbs while measuring 9.1 inches by 3.1 inches by 5.6 inches. It is capable of filling a 225/60/R18 tire from zero-to-30 PSI in under three minutes with a maximum working pressure of 60 PSI. It has a duty cycle of 20 minutes, meaning it needs to cooldown after 20 minutes of use.

The compressor features an LED work light, a 100-PSI pressure gauge, solid brass twist-on tire chuck and includes an accessory power plug, three-piece inflation tips kit, and a deluxe carry bag. The 85P compressor is capable of inflating tires up to 31 inches in diameter. Its power cord measures 10-feet long, while its air hose is 3-feet long.

It’s the most powerful compressor VIAIR offers that uses a car’s 12-volt outlet. If you want something more powerful from VIAIR, it will have to connect to the car’s battery for power.

Having properly inflated tires not only makes driving safer, but it can have an impact on your wallet. Underinflated tires have an adverse effect on both fuel economy and premature wear, potentially costing you hundreds of dollars if you don’t check it periodically. Even if your car is equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS), you don’t want to wait until the light illuminates to check your tire’s pressure. That’s because most TPMS only warn you when the pressure is 25 percent below the manufacturer’s recommendation, and by then, you’re already sacrificing your fuel economy.

You don’t necessarily need to have a puncture or a leak for your tire to lose pressure. It is estimated that for every 3 PSI below the recommendation, your vehicle is using one percent more fuel and adding 10 percent more tire wear. Doesn’t that mean you can just overinflate your tires and not have to worry about any pressure loss? Not quite, as overinflated tires make for a rougher ride and are more easily damaged by potholes since they’re stiffer.

You’ll want to get in the habit of routinely checking your tire pressure once a month or so, to make sure they’re as close to spec as possible. This will ensure your tires last as long as possible while maintaining estimated fuel economy figures.

We’ve used a lot of tire inflators a lot of times, and with experience have figured out some of the most important features that make the best tire inflators.

You want as much as you can get of both. Your vehicle might have a lot of power ports, but if you’re stuck on the side of the road you don’t want to have to open a door into traffic, or unpack a load to get at one. For that reason we’d tend to look for models with a coiled hose, although you do have to take care not to tangle it.

If you read the instructions on a tire inflator, most of them will tell you to let the unit cool down for 10 minutes or more between tires. That’s fine if you just have one low tire, but if you have more than one, or are filling SUV or truck tires, you want more capacity. In this case, bigger is better, even if that’s less convenient.

We love having a built in flashlight and emergency signal, but we’ve used tire inflators that power their lights only through the 12-volt cord. With no built in-battery, it can be very inconvenient to use. You also want a big, easy to read gauge and preferably an auto shutoff when you reach a desired pressure.

Almost all vehicles have a sticker located on the driver’s side doorjamb with the recommended tire pressure. Pay close attention to the values listed on the sticker, as some vehicles have different recommended pressures for the front and rear tires. If you aren’t able to locate the sticker inside your driver’s side doorjamb, the car’s manual will also have the recommended tire pressure values.

It’s recommended that you purchase your own portable tire inflator or air compressor so you can refill your tires at home. There’s a wide range of portable inflators and air compressors available, some that use your car’s built-in 12-volt cigarette lighter, or a standard power outlet. More powerful compressors that fill up tires quicker will need to hook up to your car’s battery. Most 12-volt inflators won’t do the job quickly, but they’re more convenient and you won’t have to pay to use an air compressor at a gas station.

If you don’t want to purchase a portable inflator, most gas stations will have an air compressor. Some stations charge and some don’t. Once you’ve determined which method you’ll be using to refill your tires, follow these steps:

February 24, 2022: Added a promoted product recommendation.

January 4, 2022: Updated link to Slime 40034 inflator.

November 30, 2021: Removed sold-out PI Auto Air Compressor.

November 24, 2021: Changed model of AAA tire inflator.

October 19, 2021: Updated and corrections to links and specifications. Added Slime Tire Inflator.

October 11, 2021: Added details and specifications, added FAQ section.

October 07, 2021: Added a new promoted product recommendation.

September 3, 2021: Removed unavailable Audew, replaced with Pittsburgh High Volume Air Inflator.

June 16, 2021: Updated some of the product images to reflect the latest version of a product. Revised warranty information for some products with most up-to-date information.

March 12, 2021: Replaced the Tirewell recommendation due to availability with the GSPSCN tire inflator.

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