The 5 Best Portable Tire Inflators On The Market (2023)
Photo by Jaye Haych on Unsplash
One of the worst things, but not wholly unexpected, you can experience as a car owner is a flat tire. Considering that they’re the only part of the car that comes in contact with the ground, it’s a wonder that they don’t break that often. As such, having a flat tire is never a fun experience, especially if you don’t have the right gear or a nearby gas pump to deal with the problem yourself.
If you don’t want to find yourself in such a pickle, you may want to invest in a portable tire inflator.
A portable tire inflator is precisely what it sounds like – a handy device to ensure your tires are properly inflated. If you’re in a flat-tire situation, the best portable tire inflators will bail you out instead of calling roadside assistance.
If you tried searching for the best portable tire inflators, you’ve likely come across products claiming to be the best. To help you cut out the noise, we have rounded up some of the best portable tire compressors/inflators on the market. Let’s get to it.
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1. OAK & IRON Battery Tire Inflator
Price: $89.95 (on sale)
The award-winning OAK & IRON Battery Tire Inflator is our pick for the best portable tire inflator, which works as advertised. Dubbed the “World’s #1 Smart Tire Inflator” and winner of the Red Dot Design and iF Design Awards in 2023, the OAK & IRON portable inflator can inflate a 195⁄65 R15 tire in just three minutes. It boasts a 99.9% PSI accuracy and will automatically shut off once optimal pressure is reached. We also love the unit’s 3.2-inch screen that displays real-time information, including tire pressure, battery life, and inflation modes – so there’s no guesswork needed.
This OAK & IRON inflator is a genuinely portable unit with a slick, cordless design, powered by a 10,400 mAh rechargeable lithium battery and over 400 hours of standby power. Hence, you can store it in your car and trust that it will be ready when you need it. On top of that, this is a very user-friendly device with four selectable presets and a custom setting.
Product Features:
- 99.9% PSI accuracy
- Automatic shut-off with optimal pressure
- 10,400 mAh rechargeable lithium battery with 400 hours of standby time
- Four built-in presets and a custom setting
- User-friendly 3.2-inch screen
2. AstroAI Handheld Cordless Air Compressor
Price: $65.99 (on sale)
The AstroAI Handheld Cordless Air Compressor is a solid option if you want a good balance of portability and power. It features a metal cylinder, metal gear, and a powerful battery, so it could keep inflating your tires for 20 minutes straight at 160 psi – more than enough to inflate four tires at a time. This AstroAI air compressor has a dual power supply system: DC 12V power supply and 20V rechargeable battery pack. This system does wonders for the unit’s versatility, knowing you can use it anytime.
The unit also features an auto shut-off system where you can preset a value, and the tool will stop inflating once that value is reached. Inflation time is also impressive as it can inflate 195/65/R15 tires in only four minutes. Overall, the AstroAI Handheld Cordless Air Compressor is multipurpose and can be used for cars, motorcycles, SUVs, bikes, and more.
Product Features:
- Dual power supply
- Fast inflation of 4 minutes
- Maximum air pressure up to 160 psi
- Auto shut-off system
3. FBK Portable Tire Inflator
Price: $26.99
When it comes to the best portable tire inflators on a budget, look no further than the FBK Portable Tire Inflator. For less than $30, you get a lightweight 12V DC car air pump with a digital display that does the job and more. Weighing only 2.2 pounds, the FBK tire inflator is the ideal companion for long and short trips. It has a rated pressure of 150 psi, and the unit will automatically shut once the predetermined pressure is reached.
In addition, this digital tire inflator comes with a handy LED light in case you’re caught in a pinch at night. Plus, it may serve as an emergency signal light with its SOS and flash modes. Moreover, its portability is further enhanced with the shock-resistant power cord long enough to reach all four tires. Lastly, this tire inflator has six additional nozzles for inflating things like basketballs, balloons, motorcycles, and more.
Product Features:
- It comes with six different nozzles for multipurpose use
- Automatic shutdown feature
- Lightweight and space-saving design
- Built-in flash, SOS, and light modes
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4. VIAIR Portable Compressor Kit
Price: $89.95
Sometimes, you just want something more comprehensive from your portable tire inflator. In that case, the VIAIR Portable Compressor Kit should more than fit the bill. It’s a 12-Volt portable tire inflator, so it doesn’t have a rechargeable battery, but you can easily connect it to your vehicle’s battery via alligator clamps. From our tests, it’s one of the fastest inflators and can quickly fill up a 225/60/18 tire in less than 50 seconds.
While it’s not the most portable unit on this list, it’s still sufficiently handy and comes with its carrying bag for easy storage and transport.
Product Features:
- Fast and powerful tire inflator
- 12-Volt portable tire inflator with alligator clamps
- LED/power indicator
- It comes with a carrying bag
5. Avid Power Tire Inflator
Price: $69.99 (on sale)
The Avid Power Tire Inflator is a cordless, pistol-grip tire inflator that includes its battery pack but also has a secondary power option, a 12V outlet. The pistol grip ergonomics make it easy for anyone to use this product, even for beginners. As one of the most popular tire inflators on Amazon, Avid Power can inflate a 195⁄60 R14 in 3 mins and a 215⁄60 R16 no-gas tire in 5 mins.
The auto-shutoff function ensures that you don’t under or over-inflate your tires. Simply input your desired pressure and go to work. This portable tire inflator works with cars, motorcycles, inflatable pool toys, etc.
Product Features:
- Auto shut-off function
- Dual power supply
- Built-in LED lights
- Cordless design with ergonomic pistol grip
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