A tire inflator or an air pump is an important tool that is used to pump air inside the wheels to make them run smoothly on any road. It comes in handy for everyone, and having an air pump for your car is a must, whether you are a vehicle owner, a mechanic, a weekend tinker, or a complete novice. During travel, an air pump or tire inflator will help solve minor problems that arise due to a flat tire and make your ride comfortable, as you might have noticed that there are plenty of options available for a single type of air pump. So, you as a customer should have some prior knowledge of the air pump before buying the right pump according to your needs. This article will guide you to select the best portable tire inflator for car by considering your ride conditions and cost.
After reading a lot of article reviews and watching YouTube videos, we have prepared a list of the 6 Best Portable Tire Inflators that would best suit your car for a happy journey.
| Name | Image | Maximum Pressure (PSI*) | Display type | Air Pump Weight | Rating | Price |
| 1. EPAuto 12V DC |
 | 70 PSI | LED Display | 1 Pounds | 4.5/5 | Check here |
| 2. AstroAI Air Compressor Tire Inflator |
 | 100 PSI | LED display | 2.2 Pounds | 4.5/5 | Check here |
| 3. Merece Air Compressor Tire Inflator |
 | 150 PSI | LED Display | 2.83 Pounds | 4.8/5 | Check here |
| 4. FORTEM Digital Tire Inflator |
 | 150 PSI | LED Display | 1.9 Pounds | 4.5/5 | Check here |
| 5. Helteko Air Compressor Tire Inflator |
 | 80 PSI | LED Display | 2.58 Pounds | 4.5/5 | Click here |
| 6. Energizer Air Compressor Portable Tire Inflator
|
 | 120 PSI | LED Display | 4.30 Pounds | 4.6/5 | Check here |
*PSI stands for Pound force per square Inch
How to Choose a Suitable Air Pump or Tire Inflator:
When you do market research for the availability of the different Air pumps for your vehicles, you will come across different classes. We can’t use any pump for our car, and Hence, it becomes essential to understand the different types of pumps available in the market to fulfill our needs. In this topic, we will be seeing different types of air pumps available in the market and factors to be considered while buying an air pump.
Types of Air Pump:
1. Air Compressor Pump:
This type of pump converts the power (from Gasoline Engine or Motor) to potential energy. The energy converted is stored in the tank and pushes the air out of the tank through the hose. The transfer of energy from the tank to air compresses it and increases its velocity and pressure. The compressed air is then inflated into the tires. It is the most widely used air pump.
2. Bellow Air Pump
The oldest mechanism for air compression consists of a flexible bag, nozzles, and handles. The turning of handles takes air in and out of the pump. When the handles are opposite to each other, the bag opens and takes air in, and when handles are pushed together, air comes out of the nozzle with high pressure and velocity to inflate in the tire.
3. Bicycle Pump
It is a manual pump that inflates compressed air inside the bicycle through Man Power. It can only be used for Non-Motorised vehicles and is not suitable for Cars, Scooty, Etc.
4. Diaphragm Pump
It is a type of pump that utilizes positive displacement. This type of air pump consists of diaphragm, which, when compressed, expels air and when decompressed, the chamber refills with air.
5. Reciprocating Pump
A simple reciprocating pump consists of a piston, a cylinder chamber, and air flowing in and out of the chamber through an inlet and outlet valve. The air entering the chamber is compressed by the piston motion and moves out of the outlet to discharge.
6. Rotary Vane Pump
It uses gears that are meshed to capture air and compress it. The pressure developed at the discharge is very high for these types of Air Pumps.
The most important thing to notice is that we have listed down Only Air compressor Pumps. The reason is that they are widely used and are most reliable among all the other types of Air Pump. We will now discuss the factors needed to be considered while buying an Air pump for Car.
Also Read:
- Top 5 Best Cordless Impact Wrench For Changing Tires
- Top 5 Best Digital Tire Pressure Gauges for your car
- Top 5 Best Jump Starters for Cars
Factors to be Considered while Selecting Air Pump:
The list contains the factors that are to be considered while buying an Air Pump, with decreasing order of their priority:
1. Air Pressure gauge
The Maximum pressure mentioned in the specification sheet of the Air Pump is significant. When you are buying an Air Pump, see the Maximum pressure specification of your tires, which should be less than the Air Pump’s maximum pressure. For Example, if your tire’s maximum pressure is 58 PSI, then the Air Pump should have a Maximum pressure rating of 58 PSI or more.
2. Auto-Inflate features
It is also an essential feature to look at, making Air inflation into the tire easier. This will allow you to enter the Air pressure, and the Air Pump will do all the work.
3. AC/DC Compatibility
You might be traveling from one place to another. Hence, it becomes essential to know the Air Pump’s Charging compatibility, as this will allow you to pump air at any place and any time.
4. Duty Cycle
It is often seen that Inflators get Heated, and the air pump stops working. This happens because of the continuous use of air pumps. It Is always advised to see the allowable pressure and time for the Operation. For Example, The Air pump manufacturer company has specified a Pump for 10 Minutes with 120 PSI pressure. Hence, it is advised to use the Pump for 10 Minutes in one go and then let it cool for reuse.
5. Size of the Air Pump
Of course, this is a very important point of consideration, but Air pumps are available in various sizes and ranges. Hence, this Point is not as crucial as Point mentioned above. When you are buying an air pump, you might have many requirements that Include, Easy to carry on Car, less storage space, Etc. You have to see the size of Air pump from the Specification sheet before buying.
Apart from the factors mentioned above, Other Important factors to be considered are LED Display, Fast Inflation, User-friendliness, Size of Inflator, delivery at your location, Etc. We suggest you create a checklist based on the above Points and list down your list of the best three from the 6 Air pumps mentioned in our list. Score them accordingly and put out the best as per your use.
Best Portable Tire Inflator for Car: Review
1. EPAuto 12V DC Portable Air Compressor Pump
We have the EPAuto 12 V DC portable Air compressor Pump, which is the Overall best on the list. It is a lightweight and small-sized Air compressor that can be used for a wide range of Vehicles. It supports Cars, Bikes, Sedan and Mid-size SUVs. However, it does not support Inflation on any truck tires. The Air pump is entirely automatic and provides Inflation with a maximum pressure of 70 PSI. It is charged through a 12 V DC charger and rated power 180 W.
Features:
- It is lightweight and compact and can be easily fit into the car.
- The Inflation process is entirely automatic, and We can see reading on LED Display.
- The Air pump is cost-effective.
- It provides an Anti- Overinflation mechanism that automatically off the pump after the desired pressure is reached.
Specification:
| Manufacturer | EPAuto |
| Brand | EPAUTO |
| Model | 1 |
| Item Weight | 1 Pounds |
| Product dimensions | 13.5 x 8.1 x 5.6 inches |
| Rating | 4.5/5 (30,924 reviews) |
| Maximum pressure rating (PSI) | 70 PSI |
| Suitable for vehicle | Bikes, Simple cars, Sedan and Mid-size SUVs |
| Pros | Cons |
| It is fully Automatic with LED Display | Maximum pressure rating is very less as compared to other Air Pumps in the list |
| It prevents from Over Inflation | It is not suitable for Truck tires |
| It is light weight and Compact | |
| Can be used for wide range of vehicles | |
| CE Certified | |
| It is very Portable device |
2. AstroAI Air Compressor Tire Inflator for Car Tires
In the second place in our list of the best portable tire inflator for car, we have AstroAI Air Compressor Tire Inflator Portable Air Pump. It is a lightweight and small-sized Air compressor that can be used be used for a wide range of Vehicles. It supports Cars, Bikes, sedans, Mid-size SUVs, Bicycles, and even light trucks. However, it does not support Inflation on Heavy truck tires. The Air pump is entirely automatic and provides Inflation with a maximum pressure of 100 PSI. It is charged through a 12 V DC charger and rated power 120 W.
Features:
- It is lightweight and compact and can be easily fitted into the car.
- The Inflation process is entirely automatic, and reading can be seen and changed on LED Display.
- The Air pump is cost-effective as compared to EPAuto 12V DC Portable Air Compressor Pump.
- It provides an Auto shut-off mechanism that shuts the compressed air supply as the desired pressure is reached.
Specification:
| Manufacturer | AstroAI |
| Part number | A220B |
| Model | A220B |
| Item Weight | 2.2 Pounds |
| Product dimensions | 8.43 x 6.61 x 4.17 inches |
| Rating | 4.5/5 (16,768 reviews) |
| Maximum pressure rating (PSI) | 100 PSI |
| Suitable for vehicle | Bikes, Simple cars, Sedan, Mid-size SUVs, Bicycles, Light weight trucks |
| Pros | Cons |
| It is fully Automatic with LED Display | It is not suitable for Heavy Truck tires |
| It Contains Auto Shut off mechanism | |
| It is light weight and Compact | |
| Can be used for wide range of vehicles Including trucks | |
| It is very Portable device | |
| It has high Maximum rated pressure |
3. Merece Air Compressor Tire Inflator
In third place in our list, we have Merece Air Compressor Tire Inflator. It is a lightweight and small-sized Air compressor that can be used be used for a wide range of Vehicles. It is compatible with bikes, motorcycles, cars, sedans, midsize SUV, sports balls, balloons, and other home-use inflatables. However, it does not support Inflation on Light and Heavy truck tires. The Air pump is entirely automatic and provides Inflation with a maximum pressure of 150 PSI. It is charged through a 12 V DC charger.
Features:
- It is lightweight and compact and can be easily fitted into the car.
- The Inflation process is entirely automatic, and reading can be seen and changed on LED Display.
- It provides an Auto shut-off mechanism that shuts the compressed air supply as the desired pressure is reached.
- It has a high range of pressure varying up to 150 PSI maximum.
- It supports a large variety of vehicles and other Inflatables.
Specification:
| Manufacturer | Merece |
| Brand | Merece |
| Model | CZK-3659 |
| Item Weight | 2.83 Pounds |
| Product dimensions | 9.8 x 7.64 x 3.66 inches |
| Rating | 4.8/5 (462 reviews) |
| Maximum pressure rating (PSI) | 150 PSI |
| Suitable for vehicle | Bikes, Simple cars, Sedan, Mid-size SUVs, Bicycles |
| Pros | Cons |
| It is fully Automatic with LED Display | It is not suitable for Light and Heavy weight Truck tires |
| It Contains Auto Shut off mechanism | |
| It is light weight and Compact | |
| Can be used for large number of vehicles and Other Inflatables | |
| It is very Portable device | |
| It has highest maximum rated pressure among all other Air Pump |
4. FORTEM Digital Tire Inflator for Car
In fourth place in our list, we have FORTEM Digital Tire Inflator. It is a lightweight and small-sized Air compressor that can be used for a wide range of Vehicles and various other Inflatables. However, it does not support Inflation on Light and Heavy truck tires. Air pump is entirely automatic and provides Inflation with a maximum pressure of 150 PSI. It is charged through a 12 V DC charger with a power rating of 120 W.
Features:
- It is lightweight and compact and can be easily fitted into the car.
- The Inflation process is entirely automatic, and reading can be seen and changed on LED Display.
- It provides an Auto shut-off mechanism that shuts the compressed air supply as the desired pressure is reached.
- It has a high range of pressure varying up to 150 PSI maximum.
- It supports a large variety of vehicles and various other Inflatables.
- The Inflating process is quicker than Others
Specification:
| Manufacturer | FORTEM |
| Brand | FORTEM |
| Model | FRTM-DAC |
| Item Weight | 1.90 Pounds |
| Product dimensions | 8.27 x 6.77 x 3.7 inches |
| Rating | 4.5/5 (12426 reviews) |
| Maximum pressure rating (PSI) | 150 PSI |
| Suitable for vehicle | Cars, SUVs, Motorcycles equipped with 12V Outlet |
| Pros | Cons |
| It is fully Automatic with LED Display | It is not suitable for Light and Heavy weight Truck tires |
| It Contains Auto Shut off mechanism | The vehicle carrying the Air pump should have 12 V Outlet for charging |
| It is light weight and Compact | |
| It can be used for different vehicles and other Inflatables | |
| It is very Portable device | |
| It has the Highest rated maximum pressure (150 PSI) among all the Other air pump in the list |
5. Helteko Air Compressor Tire Inflator DC 12V
In fifth place in our list, we have Helteko Air Compressor Tire Inflator DC 12V. It is a lightweight and compact Air pump that can be used for different vehicles. It has a maximum pressure rating of 80 PSI. It can be used as an Inflation device for cars, bikes, vehicles, bicycles, motorcycles, or SUVs.
Features:
- It is lightweight and compact and can be easily fit into the car.
- The Inflation process is entirely automatic, and reading can be seen and changed on LED Display.
- This air compressor’s maximum pressure rating allows many vehicles, Including cars, bikes vehicles, bicycles, motorcycles, or SUVs.
Specification:
| Manufacturer | H Helteko |
| Brand | H Helteko |
| Model number | 4336329793 |
| Item Weight | 2.58 Pounds |
| Product dimensions | 10 x 6.5 x 4.33 inches |
| Rating | 4.5/5 (6852 reviews) |
| Maximum pressure rating (PSI) | 80 PSI |
| Suitable for vehicle | Car, bike, vehicles, bicycles, motorcycle or SUV |
| Pros | Cons |
| It is fully Automatic with LED Display | It can’t be used for heavy vehicles, such as trucks, etc. |
| It is light weight and Compact | It requires AAA Batteries to charge and Operate |
| Can be used with wide range of Vehicles | It is not suitable for Truck tires |
| Auto Shut off facility is available | |
| Design very Portable |
6. Energizer Air Compressor Portable Tire Inflator
In the last place in our list, we have Energizer Air compressor portable tire inflator. It is a light-weight and compact Air pump that can be used for different vehicles. It has a longer continuous operation time of 15 minutes and has a maximum pressure rating of 120 PSI. It can be used as an Inflation device for small cars, sedans, midsize SUVs, motorcycles, bicycles, sports equipment, and many other inflatables.
Features:
- It is very compact and can be easily fit into the car.
- The Inflation process is entirely automatic, and reading can be seen and changed on LED Display.
- This type of air compressor’s maximum pressure rating allows application for a large number of vehicles and other equipment.
- It has a maximum Operating time for continuous usage of 15 Minutes.
- It can fill tires very fast, i.e., it takes 2 minutes to change the tire pressure from 20 PSI to 32 PSI for a standard 13-inch tire.
Specification:
| Manufacturer | Energizer |
| Part number | EDC12035 |
| Model | EDC12035 |
| Item Weight | 4.3 Pounds |
| Product dimensions | 8 x 4 x 6 inches |
| Rating | 4.6/5 (2509 reviews) |
| Maximum pressure rating (PSI) | 120 PSI |
| Suitable for vehicle | small cars, sedans, midsize SUVs, motorcycles, bicycles, sports equipment and many other inflatables |
| Pros | Cons |
| It is fully Automatic with LED Display | It can’t be used for heavy vehicles, such as trucks, etc. |
| It has long continuous working time of 15 Minutes | It requires AAA Batteries to charge and Operate |
| It is lightweight and compact | It is not suitable for truck tires |
| Can be used for wide range of vehicles and other inflatables | It is heavier than other air ump listed |
| Auto Shut off | |
| It is very Portable | |
| Advanced and effective heat dissipation system |
How to Use a Portable Tire Inflator for Car to Fill Air
Conclusion
This article ends with concluding a few points that are to be considered to buy the best portable tire inflator for car:
- If you are going to use an air pump for lightweight vehicles, a maximum pressure rating of 120 PSI will do the work.
- Always compare the cost for Air Pump with approximately the same pressure rating. For example, In the given article, you can compare the 80 PSI-rated Air pump with a 100 PSI air pump, but can’t compare it with a 120 or above PSI-rated air pump.
- Always search for Features such as Auto Inflate, LED Display, Automatic Shut off, etc.
- An extended warranty and ease of service from the company can also play an important role.
Considering all the Points mentioned in the article and under this Sub heading, we have listed the top 6 portable tire inflator for car. You can buy one of them according to your requirement and budget.
FAQs
Q1: How to use the Air Pump?
Ans: An Automatic Air pump is very easy to use. Firstly, you plug the pipe to the car for Inflation and position the Pump on the ground. Start the Air Pump and type the required pressure on the LED Display and click on the Power button provided. The Pump will start working automatically and will Auto Shut-off Once the required pressure is reached.
Q 2: How to choose the best Air Pump?
Ans – According to me, take three factors into consideration, first is the Maximum pressure rating, second is the Cost, and third is the Automatic features.
