The Benefits of Owning a Tyre Inflator & How to Get the Best One

One of the most essential car parts in terms of performance and safety are the tyres. I can't emphasize just how important they are for your vehicle's handling ability. In order to ensure they're in top-notch condition, you need to frequently check the pressure inside them. You can do that at the local service station, but it's best you have a tyre inflator available in your trunk at all times, so that you can ensure your tyres have the optimum pressure level. They aren't just useful for inflating your tyres, but basically, anything that needs a high volume of air.

You can find tyre inflators at automotive tools and equipment stores around the country, and buy one to save yourself a lot of money down the road by not having to take trips down the local service station to check the pressure. In order to get the best tyre inflator, you need to consider a couple of things. You aren't looking for commercial-grade tyre inflators like the ones found in service stations, because they can be very expensive, and they're overkill for the average user. However, if you're a repair shop owner, you might want to look at the commercial section of tyre inflators in automotive tools and equipment stores.

But for most users, a tyre inflator with a capacity of one or two gallons is sufficient enough. Roadside tyre inflators, for example, are a great solution, because they're portable, small and electric powered. You can turn them on by plugging them to an outlet or your car's lighter. Worth knowing is that tyre inflators are slower at inflating the tyre than actual air compressors, but they do get the job done.

Most inflators have a gauge that lets them check the pressure inside the tyres. Some models feature a flashlight, allowing you to clearly see during the night, while some also feature warning lights that signal oncoming traffic of your presence. Some inflators even have auto shutting mechanisms once they're done inflating the tyres. As briefly aforementioned, electric-powered inflators are the most common ones, but there are also battery-powered models that are more practical, but you have to remember to recharge the battery.

Lastly, you need to consider the duty cycle of the inflator. For example, if you come across a model that has a 50% duty cycle - it means that the inflator can work continuously 100 PSI at 25° for about 5 minutes. However, it means that it will also take about 5 minutes to cool down once you're done with it. So if the tyre inflator has a 100% duty cycle, it means it can keep working without having to cool it down.