Inflating tyres in my own garage (no 50p required)

[Kermitgreenmeanmachine]

Well i've had it with driving round multiple petrol stations trying to find a compressor that actually works. Anyone found a proper solution to inflating tyres at home. Would prefer mains powered and digital. Maybe they dont exist, as Amazon search reveals about one option!

[KungFuPanda]

You'll probably have to buy a full on garage compressor and then separately buy an attachment with a gauge on it. The benefit is that you'll be able to buy other compressor tools like and impact wrench etc.

[Conscript]

Personally, unless you are doing it regularly, I would just invest in a good quality footpump. I have the Michelin double-barrelled digital thingymabob.

[Cupramax]

Sounds like form over function to me, ive had one of these for donkies years and never had a problem.

https://www.holden.co.uk/displayproduct.asp?pCode=...

[rs990]

Why not go for an inflator that is powered from your 12v socket? You will have far more options, plus you will be able to use it anywhere.

[dazwalsh]

rs990 said:

Why not go for an inflator that is powered from your 12v socket? You will have far more options, plus you will be able to use it anywhere.

This

[carl_w]

rs990 said:

Why not go for an inflator that is powered from your 12v socket? You will have far more options, plus you will be able to use it anywhere.

Agreed. Have had several cars that shipped with these in the boot. Perfectly adequate for inflating tyres.

[Rick101]

Just use a cheap 12v pump. Perfectly adequate for top ups and I have also used it to inflate from flat.

[Fattyfat]

Ring RAC610 about 11 quid on amazon.

Ok its a 12v job but I have one and my garage compressor never gets a look in for doing the tyres

[V6Alfisti]

I have used a Wickes version of something like this for about 4-5 years now

https://www.amazon.co.uk/PORTABLE-STARTER-COMPRESS...

Used in conjunction with a decent tyre pressure gauge = done

This looks decent too, if happy to run off the cig. Preset option also

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ring-RAC600-Digital-Infla...

[Emeye]

I've had an older version of one of these for ages. No idea if this seller is any good, just the first I found.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/191085649063?lpid=1...

[giger]

I used to use the 12v that came with the car, but It does take a while to inflate if your tyre is a few psi down. You may also need to have the engine running to get decent power.

I also wanted mains power so opted for a small compressor - should have bought one earlier! No messing about and 10 times quicker that a 12v. If you have a car is used infrequently so the tyres lose pressure or you just want to get the job done quicker, get a small compressor.

I managed to pick this up for about £70 from screwfix a while ago
http://www.screwfix.com/p/stanley-a6bb304scr512-6l...

[E-bmw]

As above, used one of these for years, cig lighter powered, leave it in the car, digital, plug it in, set pressure, press start, couple of min later compressor stops, tyre is done, bish, bash, bosh!

[Sheepshanks]

Fattyfat said:

Ring RAC610 about 11 quid on amazon.

Ok its a 12v job but I have one and my garage compressor never gets a look in for doing the tyres

I've got 635 which was a bit dearer although it was bought for me one Christmas. I much prefer that they screw onto the valve rather than clip on. As someone else mentioned, if you've got to put more than a couple of psi in, it works much faster if the engine is running.

However it is bit of faff to unpack and to get around both sides of the car. I saw a plumber use an inflator that was like a rechargeable drill to pressurise a boiler pressure vessel and thought that would be good for marginal top-ups. However the only one I've seen for sale looks more like a toy.

[Dogwatch]

I bought one of the cheap ones - lasted for one tyre then went out in a cloud of smoke! I only wanted 31 psi.

I use a halfords one powered off the 12v socket on my jump-starter pack. A pre-set function is essential but calibrate it with a proper pressure gauge.

[chrispj]

I used to use a Halfords 12v compressor, but it was noisy and slow. The past few years I've used a bike floor pump. Quick and easy for topping up car tyres, obviously would be more work to inflate from scratch but how often do you do that...

Something like this:

https://www.canyon.com/en-gb/accessories/?channabl...

Combined with a good digital gauge it works for me. I get some odd looks from passers-by though!

[Gafferjim]

If you want a portable one, then this is the one, made for heavy duty use. http://www.paddockspares.com/pm982-twin-cylinder-1...

Otherwise get a mains compressor, they vary in size, but you'll find that once you've got one, you'd wish you had a bigger one as there's so many uses for it, ie; air tools, spraying, sand-basting, and of course blowing up tyres.

[GreenV8S]

I don't have one, but I like the sound of the cordless pumps somebody mentioned below. A few years ago I'd have assumed they were a waste of time, but battery technology is making all sorts of things practical these days.

[MrBig]

Kermitgreenmeanmachine said:

Well i've had it with driving round multiple petrol stations trying to find a compressor that actually works. Anyone found a proper solution to inflating tyres at home. Would prefer mains powered and digital. Maybe they dont exist, as Amazon search reveals about one option!

Pretty much impossible. I only use one every couple of months, so battery powered versions are either flat when I go to use them or the battery is toast rendering the entire unit scrap. I have a compressor in the garage but it's a ballache to plug it in, pump the tyres up and then empty the air tank. Would much rather have something I could just plug in and inflate tyres in less than the 10 minutes the poxy 12v things take.

[TR4man]

I've alsways understood that tyre pressures should be checked when the tyres are cold, so have always checked and adjusted them at home.

I'd be interested to know whether there is that much difference between hot and cold tyre pressures though - does anyone know whether it really matters?