What is a Portable Tire Inflator? And Do You Need One?

Whether you’ve got low tire pressure on a road trip or want to top off the air on your tires at home, a portable tire inflator is a great option in a pinch. Having the correct tire pressure is important not only for your tire safety but also for your vehicle’s gas mileage and the longevity of your tire. If your vehicle’s TPMS notifies you that your tire pressure is low, the sooner you fill the tire, the better (also, don't rely solely on the TPMS; check your tire pressure regularly). 

What does a portable tire inflator do? What does it need to function? Are there different types of portable tire air inflators?

This article will answer these questions and help you decide whether or not you should buy a portable tire inflator. We’ll cover the different types of portable tire inflators and what they need to function.  

How Does a Portable Tire Inflator Work?

Portable tire inflators pump air into your tire powered by a wall outlet, battery, or 12-volt connection, such as the cigarette lighter in your car. 

Unlike air compressors that you’ll find at an auto shop or gas station, portable tire inflators are not fast. This is because the inner motor of a portable tire inflator is compressing and pushing ambient air into the tire and they tend to have lower PSI output. This single motor can only work so fast, which is why it’s not the optimal way to fill your tire. Also, it can only pump air for so long, as portable tire inflators are usually prone to overheating. 

Still, portable tire inflators are handy to have in your vehicle because they can work from anywhere as long as they’re powered. Portable tire inflators don’t require compressed air tanks to function, so you don’t need to do much more than just plug it in and turn it on. 

3 Types of Portable Tire Inflators

These are the three main types of portable tire pump for cars and other vehicles: electric, battery-powered, and 12-v. Tire inflators will differ in usage and function, as well as motor design. For example, some tire inflators will have multiple ways that they can draw electricity. Others will be larger and draw more power to pump more air. Let’s see what each general inflator is good at!

110V AC inflator

This is, more simply put, a tire inflator that hooks up to a wall outlet. It tends draw more power and be more efficient at filling tires with ambient air because of the power source. However, this is at the cost of portability, as tire pumps that support only a 110V AC connection won’t be useful on the go unless you have a portable power source. 

These inflators are good for use at home if you want to top off your tires from the comfort of your home. They can also be good for bike tires, topping off your spare tire, kids' inflatables, and anything else that needs air!

Cordless and battery-powered tire inflator

These 12V, 18V and 20V inflators can be completely cordless, functioning entirely off battery power. This results in a far more portable tire inflator that can be used on the go and in emergencies. While this sounds ideal, this is at the cost of efficiency and speed. The inflator will only function if the battery is charged and may be prone to overheating. 

These inflators are good for emergencies, but won’t fill up a flat tire, at least not without a high-capacity battery and shorter duty cycles. In other words, they’re good for topping off your tires while on the go.

12-V plug inflator

This type of inflator is very similar to a battery-powered inflator. The main difference is that it connects to your vehicle via a 12-V connection (such as through your car’s cigarette lighter). A 12-V inflator may have a battery built into it that it charges through your car. It may also be corded and always need to be plugged in. It will have the same limitations that a battery-powered tire inflator has: fairly portable but limited in use. 

These inflators are nice because you don’t have to remember to have the battery charged. However, you will need to use your car’s electricity in order for the inflator to function. 

How Do You Use a Portable Tire Inflator?

If you’ve used an air compressor at a gas station to top off your tires, you’ll probably have a general idea of how it works. Your tire has a valve stem somewhere on the wheel rim that is used for pumping air into the tire. This stem has a pin on the inside that needs to be pressed down on to pump air in (this is also where you check your tire pressure). 

A portable tire inflator will have a hose with a tire attachment. You will need to supply power to the portable tire inflator for it to function. If you’re using a 12-V plug or a 110V AC inflator, this means you’ll have to run a cord from the inflator to either your car or a wall outlet. Your vehicle may need to run, if it’s acting as a power source for a long run. Make sure it is safely in park and/or the emergency brake is engaged before filling your tires. 

Ensure the hose running from the inflator to your tire is as straight as possible, as you want to make sure there are no kinks. Then, turn on the inflator. 

Most modern inflators will have a built-in tire pressure gauge so you can see the pressure of your tire as you inflate it. If you haven’t already, check the inner door jamb of your vehicle to see your ideal tire pressure; PSI might also be on the inside of your fuel door or your owner's manual. Under-inflated tires are bad, but over-inflated tires can be just as dangerous. You may have to stop pumping air intermittently to check your tire pressure. 

Monitor the temperature of the portable tire inflator as you pump air. Most portable tire inflators have a time limit of 10 minutes before you need to let the inflator cool off. Some portable tire inflators will have a temperature warning, but generally, just be careful not to let it run for too long as not to damage the inflator. 

Remember that most consumer portable tire inflators are good for topping off tires, not for filling up flat tires because of their limited usage capability. Higher end models can fill tires, but do you really need to make that investment? If you need to get your tires functional to drive a very short distance to a gas station air compressor, small portable tire inflators can be great in a pinch. 

So, Should You Get a Tire Inflation Device?

Tire inflation devices are handy if you live in rural areas or commute over long distances and gas stations are few and far between. 

They might also be handy if you have older vehicles and older tires; however, if you live near a service station, it's fairly easy to check and top off your tire for free or for a few cents.

Remember, a tire inflator is ideal for topping off low tires, not for filling flat tires. Sometimes you just gotta get new tires.

ID 189977874 | Portable Tire Inflator | William Morgan | Dreamstime.com