How good are 120-Volt 'Inflators' for car tires?

[preslove]

Like this
http://www.homedepot.com/p/t/202871...252_desktop&AID=10368321&cj=true#BVRRWidgetID

I hate taking my car to the gas station for an air pump. $20 to be able to fill up at home seems like a good deal. Most of the reviews say that they use it for things other than car tires... Would this thing be a pain in the ass to use on my car?

I'm going to be close to a home depot with a couple in stock tonight, so getting this thing wouldn't even require an extra car trip, lol. Should I buy it?

 

[Jimzz]

Those work ok but they wear out fast and take time to fill a car tire up. Couple PSI not to bad but if flat I would use something else.

If you do get one don't run it to long. If it starts to get hot stop and let it cool down. They will burn out real easy if you work it to hard.

 

[highland145]

for $20, I don't see where you can go wrong.

I have a battery powered battery jumper/compressor/etc one. Great for bike tires....real slow for car tires but it works.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Like this
http://www.homedepot.com/p/t/202871...252_desktop&AID=10368321&cj=true#BVRRWidgetID

I hate taking my car to the gas station for an air pump. $20 to be able to fill up at home seems like a good deal. Most of the reviews say that they use it for things other than car tires... Would this thing be a pain in the ass to use on my car?

I'm going to be close to a home depot with a couple in stock tonight, so getting this thing wouldn't even require an extra car trip, lol. Should I buy it?

I have one that you can plug into a car lighter that I can in my trunk. It's a little slow but still works fine after ten years or so. The gauge on mine is inaccurate so I have a separate tire pressure gauge to check pressure.

 

[preslove]

How long is long? My car's tires are 32 psi. Let's say they go down to 29. How long would it take to get them back to 32?

 

[preslove]

I have one that you can plug into a car lighter that I can in my trunk. It's a little slow but still works fine after ten years or so. The gauge on mine is inaccurate so I have a separate tire pressure gauge to check pressure.

I have a 120 volt plug in my car, so I guess I could run this from that in an emergency .

 

[Meghan54]

Like was said before, they work alright, but S L O W. And their lifetime isn't very long....burn out easily. Been there, done that. My replacement for those things was this:

http://www.harborfreight.com/air-to...psi-oilless-pancake-air-compressor-95275.html


Add in a dusting nozzle and you have a very effective computer dusting instrument.

 

[PottedMeat]

How long is long? My car's tires are 32 psi. Let's say they go down to 29. How long would it take to get them back to 32?

i hook up my 12v inflator to my car, turn on the car and it takes ~2 minutes i think for that little

 

[Capt Caveman]

How long is long? My car's tires are 32 psi. Let's say they go down to 29. How long would it take to get them back to 32?

A minute or a little more.

 

[WilliamM2]

How long is long? My car's tires are 32 psi. Let's say they go down to 29. How long would it take to get them back to 32?

I got a 4 gallon air compressor for $50 10 years ago at Advance Auto, it has held up very well, even did a couple of roofs with it. Still looks and works like new.

But if a tire only needs 3-5 pounds, I can fill it with a $5 bicycle pump faster than I can uncoil the hose, and coil it back up on the compressor.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

I like the 'jump boxes'. They're self contained 12v batteries you can take on vacation, camping, wherever just in case you need a jump.

They usually have built in air pumps. $60 or so at costco.

 

[NutBucket]

But if a tire only needs 3-5 pounds, I can fill it with a $5 bicycle pump faster than I can uncoil the hose, and coil it back up on the compressor.

This. I use a bike pump all the time. Works great and burns a few extra calories.

 

[Imported]

I have this one: http://www.amazon.com/VIAIR-85P-Port...=tire+inflator

Works great.. Probably takes a couple minutes per tire and I release down to the appropriate pressure with my gauge. Use it quite frequently for autox/track days and maintaining the daily driver.

 

[thirdeye]

I've had pretty bad luck with those type, I use one like this: http://www.lowes.com/pd_146781-4088...rentURL=?Ntt=kobalt+air+compressor&facetInfo=

In the summer I use it almost every weekend for auto-x events and while it's not crazy fast, it's the longest living portable compressor I've used yet. It also has a 120v plug so you can use indoors without having to use an adapter for 12v.

 

[Spicedaddy]

I have one that you can plug into a car lighter that I can in my trunk. It's a little slow but still works fine after ten years or so. The gauge on mine is inaccurate so I have a separate tire pressure gauge to check pressure.

Same here, useful for slow leaks...

If I was getting something to keep at home, I'd get a cheap compressor instead of the 120V inflator.

 

[JCH13]

If it's something you're going to take on the road, one of the battery powered jobbers is a good call. If it's going to be AC powered get a small compressor for $50-60. It will be useful for many other things in addition to making car tire inflation go much more quickly.

I've got a 12v guy to do tire pressure adjustments at the track... can take several minutes to raise pressure 4-6 psi on a 15in wheel/tire combo. Very annoying.

 

[Zenmervolt]

For emergency use, they're fine. To inflate a tire fully may take 15-20 minutes, but if you're only down a few PSI and need to "top off" the tire to let you limp to a repair shop having a little pump like this is helpful.

Still, I think these are better if they're 12-volt units designed to plug into your car's lighter. If you're going to have something at home, I tend to think that it's generally more efficient to just have a small compressor with a "pancake" tank.

ZV

 

[ElFenix]

http://www.amazon.com/Schwinn-Steel-...s=bicycle+pump

 

[Kelvrick]

I have this one: http://www.amazon.com/VIAIR-85P-Port...=tire+inflator

Works great.. Probably takes a couple minutes per tire and I release down to the appropriate pressure with my gauge. Use it quite frequently for autox/track days and maintaining the daily driver.

I have that one too. I don't know what you guys are talking about, but inflating my tires from say 30psi to 34psi only takes like 15-20 seconds per tire? I run it directly off the car battery with one of these though.
http://www.amazon.com/Roadpro-Batter...gy_auto_text_y

 

[mmntech]

They work okay but they're not great. I highly recommend investing in a good quality air compressor. You can get a decent small unit for not too much money. Fills up tires quick plus they have a huge number of uses around the house if you're in to any sort of DIY.

 

[wirednuts]

I use this little guy - http://www.harborfreight.com/12-volt-100-psi-high-volume-air-compressor-69284.html

I wonder how it compares to the op's. op's looks neater. mine plugs into 12v socket

mine works well. its still not ideal to use to fill up an air mattress, but it does work to fill up tires surprisingly well. 5min to fill a flat truck tire...

 

[JCH13]

I use this little guy - http://www.harborfreight.com/12-volt-100-psi-high-volume-air-compressor-69284.html

I wonder how it compares to the op's. op's looks neater. mine plugs into 12v socket

mine works well. its still not ideal to use to fill up an air mattress, but it does work to fill up tires surprisingly well. 5min to fill a flat truck tire...

That's the one I have. It's better than nothing, but it's not great after it's been used a dozen times or so.