Powered tyre inflators have come a long way in recent years - but there are still several key differences that separate the very best from the run-of-the-mill. Here are the top 10 on sale...
Powered tyre inflators are an essential piece of maintenance equipment for any driver, helping car owners inflate or deflate the tyres on their car with ease.
But with heavier electric cars and SUVs growing in popularity, tyre inflators have had to up their game in order to effectively move air from the outside and into the tyre itself.
With the rise of such vehicles, tyre inflators have become more advanced, with digital dials making it easier for users to read the device and inflate their tyres to the desired pressure.
Some units are also equipped with an Auto-stop function, where you simply dial the target pressure into the inflator and it pumps out air until that pressure is reached. Simple. Most tyre inflators also feature screwed valve couplings which are faster and more effective than the old-fashioned lever coupling, making it even easier to add an accurate amount of air.
But with a number of powered tyre inflators available, which one should you actually buy? Here we reveal the best tyre inflators on sale today, while also pinpointing which one you should avoid.
1. BEST BUY: Ring RTC6000
Our overall winner isn’t actually the fastest tyre inflator here. However, it only misses out on that title by 20sec, and because it’s cordless, we think you’ll get that time back by not having to plug it in.
Despite its smaller size, the Ring performed well, inflating the tyre faster than some of the larger models in this test. The Ring also retains a leisure inflator/deflator and is fitted with a Deflate button. We were also a fan of the foolproof knob and display set-up, and the smart carrying bag.
What Car? rating: Five stars out of five
How we tested the tyre inflators
We kicked off our testing by checking how long each product took to inflate a 205/55/16 tyre – designed to fit a 16in wheel – from flat to 30 PSI. During the inflation process, we evaluated how easy each unit was to fit to our tyre and, in particular, whether the power cable and air hose were long enough for our needs.
We also compared each inflator’s gauge reading to a pinpoint-accurate pressure measuring device to check its precision, while also appraising the extra features that some units have, such as lights.
2. BEST FOR BUDGET: Wolf Glovebox Genie
Wolf’s Glovebox Genie is definitely the best all-rounder for the money thanks to its solid inflation time and reasonable price. It may be slower than some tyre inflators ranked lower in this test, but it’s only 25 secs slower than the brisk result set by the Sealey MAC01.
Although there isn’t a deflate button, the Glovebox Genie has a digital gauge, auto-stop and a screwed valve coupling. The power lead is marginally shorter than many others in our test, but that’s really the only compromise to price we could find.
What Car? rating: Four stars out of five
Other tyre inflators to consider
3. Sealey MAC01
Buy from: ClampCo
Price from: $49.95
The Sealey MAC01 smoothly adds air to a flat tyre in an excellent time – but it’s let down by its lever-type valve which feels primitive when compared to other inflators in this test.
It is similar in design to the fourth-placed Sakura, but pips the aforementioned model thanks to its smoother and more energetic air delivery. Plus, its quick inflation time makes it great value for money, with prices around £55 – it shaved more than two minutes off the Sakura’s inflation time.
Despite its inflation capabilities, the Sealey lacks some of the more modern features that are more commonplace, such as a digital gauge and auto-stop.
What Car? rating: Four stars out of five
4. Sakura SS5332
Sakura hasn’t skimped on the extras here, with the SS5332 featuring a digital display, a built-in auto-stop function and a deflate button. The air hose and power lead are both decent lengths, too.
It’s smaller than its rivals , but it has enough grunt to tackle most tyres from fully flat. The time taken to inflate our test tyre, though not particularly speedy, was comfortably within this unit’s 15-minute duty cycle.
And even though the Sakura is beaten by its closely related Sealey sibling, its modern attributes make it an appealing alternative, albeit at the compromise of speed.
What Car? rating: Four stars out of five
5. Ring RAC830
Ring’s RAC830 takes second place in the speed stakes, behind Michelin’s Superfast model. But it only lost out by a mere 2.0sec.
Yet in all other ways, and features, there’s almost nothing to choose between the two models – despite the almost £20 price difference. In fact, few inflators are as intuitive to use as this one.
The large display shows actual pressure as well as target pressure, and a single knob is used to set the target level. You press it to toggle through PSI, Bar and other units, and twist it to set the value. Couldn’t be easier.
What Car? rating: Four stars out of five
6. Sealey MAC04D
This leftfield unit from Sealey gets the bulk of the basics right – but often in an odd way. For instance, the generous 5m power lead means the inflator can always be positioned right by the wheel, making its 2m coiled air hose a little excessive.
We like the digital gauge and auto-stop facility, but pressure has to be expressed in PSI only, unlike with all the other units here. The gauge, annoyingly, shows target pressure rather than actual pressure, leaving a coloured bar display to chart inflation progress. Our final niggle is the old-school lever-type tyre coupling.
What Car? rating: Three stars out of five
7. Michelin Programmable Superfast 4×4/SUV Digital Tyre Inflator
It probably took longer to type in that mouthful of a name than for the unit to inflate our test tyre from flat. This is the outright fastest inflator here and it’s a cracking piece of kit. The 3m power lead, 85cm air hose, screw-on valve coupling and auto-stop at the desired pressure make it a doddle to use.
The Deflate button means correcting over-inflated tyres accurately is just a press away. The best feature of all, though, is a tiny rubber nubbin to place the removed valve cap on, meaning you’ll never misplace one again. Only the premium price robs it of more points here.
What Car? rating: Three stars out of five
8. Draper 20582
Here’s a great concept: an inflator that’s cordless for maximum convenience but can also be connected to a 12-volt supply so it can continue pumping if the battery drains down.
But while its portable nature and trigger style are perfect for squeezing in the odd PSI or two, this model’s rather slow inflation speed and short (15cm) air hose make longer pumping jobs tedious.
If, for instance, the tyre’s valve is even a few inches above the ground, that short hose means you’ll have to hold the unit for the duration. At that point, the auto-stop, when target pressure is reached, becomes rather academic.
What Car? rating: Three stars out of five
And the tyre inflator to avoid…
9. Michelin Digital Micro Tyre Inflator
Compact? Michelin isn’t joking. This inflator is barely bigger than a small tablet computer or Kindle (albeit a rather fat one). Not only will it slip into most gloveboxes, but it’s also possible to put it in a door pocket. Diminutive size means compromised performance, though – hence Michelin putting Top Up in the name.
The inflator is simply too slow to pump up most tyres from flat without exceeding its 8 mins on/8 mins off duty cycle. Using it with tyres needing more than 40 PSI isn’t recommended either. Although this is a nicely made product, cheaper – and only slighter bigger – rivals are much more versatile.
What Car? rating: Two stars out of five
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Keyword: Best tyre inflators 2023