But keep in mind some of today’s vehicles are equipped with a standard power outlet, so we also include a few recommendations for those. It’s more convenient to purchase a 12-volt air compressor, this way you can keep it in your car and use it on the go.

Lastly, you’ll want to pay attention to whether the product uses a 12-volt car outlet, clips onto a car battery, or a uses a household power outlet. If time is important to you, you’ll want to see which products inflate a tire quicker, while others have a maximum pressure limit. Some are manufactured better than others, which makes them more reliable and likely to last a longer time. There are many small differences between the portable tire inflators and air compressors available. Purchasing a tire inflator is a small investment in helping make sure your tires last as long as possible, saving you money in the long run. Underinflated or overinflated tires have many adverse effects on your driving experience, hurting your fuel economy, tire wear, and even safety.

Owning your own tire inflator means you can conveniently and routinely check your tire pressure, making sure they’re in an optimal range, and easily refill them when the light gives you a warning. And knowing a tire is low doesn’t mean you can ignore it. But that’s not the case, because all tires lose air over time, even if you don’t have a puncture. He's a former Rust Belt mechanic and gadget enthusiast who presents the best gear for your automotive endeavors.All new vehicles come equipped with pressure monitoring systems (TPMS), and many have run-flat tires, so you might not think having one of the best portable tire inflators is a necessity. Collin Morgan, an Associate Commerce Editor at Hearst Autos, collaborated with Langston to test the best portable tire inflators. An avid motorcyclist and gear collector, his work has appeared in Men’s Journal, Cycle World, The Drive, Rider, Iron & Air, Motorcyclist and more. Testing for this story was conducted by Deputy Commerce Editor at Car and Driver Jon Langston. The Hearst Autos Gear Team promises to deliver honest evaluations, hands-on tests and product reviews driven by decades of knowledge and experience. Hearst Autos combines the forces, talent and knowledge of three of the largest, most influential automotive publications in the world: Autoweek, Car and Driver and Road & Track. To select the picks featured above, she consulted our partners at Car and Driver and the Hearst Autos Gear Team, who have more than 206 years of automotive publishing experience. Not only does she regularly collaborate with the Good Housekeeping Auto Lab to evaluate some of the best family cars, but she reviews handy car accessories and equipment. She continues to stay on top of the industry’s latest innovations and helps readers make better buying decisions by testing and reviewing the best gadgets to hit the market. Media and tech reviews analyst and writer Olivia Lipski oversees product testing and covers everything from consumer tech to autos, travel, home and more. Having a variety of attachments is also handy when inflating items other than tires. ✔️ Extra features: Some extras to consider when shopping for a tire inflator include a built-in light to help you see in low light conditions, a digital display for pressure readings and a clamp-style valve attachment which tends to be easier to use than screw-on counterparts. Our experts recommend opting for a portable tire inflator with at least one other alternate source of power. Some tire inflators are even able to be plugged into wall sockets to make it easier to use on items other than tires. ✔️ Power: Consider whether you want a battery-powered tire inflator that can be recharged, or if you prefer one that plugs into your car’s 12-volt outlet (or both!). Handheld devices are ideal to always keep in the car in case of emergencies as these tend to be lightweight and compact, while console units are better suited for the garage as they're heavier and larger but, on the bright side, can inflate almost anything from basketballs to air mattresses and tend to be more feature-rich. ✔️ Type: There are two main types of tire inflators: Portable and handheld models vs.

Portable 12 volt air compressor