Car tire air compressor pump

[johngross]

I like to check my car tires about once a month for proper air pressure. Going to the gas station can be a bit of a pain (need exact change, machine doesn't work, air hose broken, etc.).

So I'm thinking about getting something like the compressors pictured below which sell in the $30-$40 range. Do these things work ok? How about AC vs. DC power source?

Thank you.

 

[DeathGrip]

I have the Ryobi 18V.

It works good on my cars and I usually check them every couple of weeks. It beats listening to my compressor and they're handy to have on board.

You'll have to decide if you want one with a removable battery or not and the option of charging off of 110v or 12v.

I have lots of Ryobi stuff and batteries are rotated regularly.

 

[bigwheelzip]

We've had a different DC Black and Decker compressor for at least 10 years. Gets the job done, but it's noisy and slow.

My SIL is a scuba diver, and he rigged a small compressed air dive tank with a hose attachment for tires. Works fast filling tires, quiet, and lasts forever. Far superior system, but you'd need a way to refill it on occasion.

 

[DWalt]

I have a couple of them, but they just plug into the car's cigarette lighter socket. They are a little slow if a tire pressure is down more than 5 psi, but slow is better than using a hand pump. One has a built-in pressure gauge, the other does not. The built-in gauge is not very accurate, so I use a conventional (digital) tire gauge.

This is very similar to the one I have (with the pressure gauge), but not exactly. Mine is about five years old.
12V Analog Tire Inflator | Slime – Slime Products

 

[DeathGrip]

Added, They all have itty bitty compressors no mater how they're shaped. They take a lot of time to air up a flat esp when its sitting on the ground. But sometimes you gotta do with what ya got.

The trick is not to run them hot and that's what happens when you run them constant, esp. in hotter weather.

 

[ContinentalOp]

I've been using a Kobalt air compressor for a few years. I think when I bought it it was on sale around your price range, maybe into the $50 range. I can't remember what the regular price was. I like it. It can run off either a 110v outlet or use the 12v car plug. The cord for the car plug is long enough that I can leave it connected and fill all 4 tires on my car. No batteries. It's pretty quiet for an air compressor. It's compact enough that I usually just leave it in the trunk of my car in case I need it. I most recently used it a couple of weeks ago, so after bouncing around in my trunk and being exposed to all the temperature changes for the past few years it still works well.

Edit: After reading the other posts, I will add that it's not the fastest air compressor around, but I don't think it's particularly bad in that respect, either.

 

[ddixie884]

The cigarette lighter pumps are great and the three I have had over the years all had guages. Air them just a little over and let out the excess checking with a tire guage.

 

[ContinentalOp]

Used my Google Fu to find the compressor I use.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-DC-...Inflator-Power-Source-Car-Electric/1000092575

 

[swsig]

I have a Black and Decker Air Station 120v AC. It is about 40 years old, and it still works perfectly. It is MUCH faster than any 12v DC type I've used. It is also much noisier. However, if you're on the road much, you'll probably want to carry a portable 12v model anyway.

 

[Protocall_Design]

I have the Ryobi one and love it. It's a little slow for big car tires, but will do them. I use it a lot for the riding mower, trailer, power washer, etc. tires. It's extremely portable, has it's own pressure gage, and works like a champ. Similar to a cordless drill in size and shape.

 

[TripLeader]

I have a Viair 450p. It can air up four 33 inch tires from 20 lbs. to 34 lbs. in about 10 minutes.

 

[snubbyfan]

Depends on the car and tire size. I have a 12 volt compressor under the back seat on my full size Dodge Ram 1500 and a manual bicycle floor pump in the spare tire well of our Toyota Yaris.

 

[soFlaNative]

Like swsig in post #9 my B&D air station has been around for 30+ years. Works fine albeit a bit slow with truck tires and loud but it does the job. Gave it a Harbor Freight quick connect set when the clamp quit on me couple years ago.
Good luck with your choice.

 

[ladder13]

If you want small with oomph check out Griots Garage.

 

[BC38]

Here is the best bang for the buck I have found in 12v high volume compressors. As a Jeeper, i frequently "air down" the tires on my Jeep for better offroad traction. This compressor will pump all 4 of my 33" tires up from 15 to 30 PSI in under 20 minutes - around 4-5 minutes per tire. For a $70 compressor that is pretty impressive. Its performance is pretty comparable to the Viair 450 which costs $250-$300.

Q Industries MV50 12 Volt High Volume Air Compressor | Quadratec

 

[LVSteve]

The problem I find with the cheap 12V compressor/gauge devices is that the pressure reading is often way off. The one I have reads low compared with my three other gauges by at least 3.5 PSI. That's just hopeless.

 

[The Big D]

Have the B&D Air Station.

Have had it for about 10 years. Works great and rather fast. I don’t trust the gauge, though, and always confirm the pressure with a gauge I know to be accurate.

Be safe...be well.

 

[Salty RI]

The one I have Im sure is no longer made, it is a Lazer 750, it is 12V, 40 yrs old and still working, I think I paid around 40 bucks for it at the time.

Sent from my LGL52VL using Tapatalk

 

[Farmer17]

Ryobi 18V for me and have one in my truck and another in the garage, I have about every Ryobi 18V tool they make and have 6 or 7 batteries. People are always borrowing mine on the construction site to air up their truck tires, skid steer, wheel barrow, etc. and Home Depot had them on sale for $19.95 not long ago. They will fill a car tire about as fast as the truck stop compressors and I have rubber band on the handle so I can inflate a flat and stand there watching the gauge and don't have to stay bent over for several minutes.

 

[FlyFish]

I have one of the cheap Slime brand (who would choose that for a brand name??!) compressors in each of our cars - they run off the 12V cig lighter socket. Got them at Wally World a few years ago. They have a gauge and you can set them to stop at a set pressure. Usually only takes a minute or two to adjust the pressure where I want it. Picked up a nail in a tire last year in a pretty remote location and was able to limp to a tire repair shop, stopping briefly every 15 minutes or so top the tire off. Lots easier than putting the spare on. Cheap insurance.