A flat tyre is one of those really annoying occurrences that is guaranteed to spoil your day. You're immobile at the side of the road and therefore, thoroughly annoyed. With manufacturers more and more reluctant to offer full spare tyres it often means an awkward phone call to a roadside assistant who will breathe (almost literally) new life into your tyre.
It makes sense then, to invest in a tyre inflator to carry around in your car at all times to prevent the above scenario. Properly inflated tyres save you money as tyres last longer and make your car more fuel-efficient, so it's worth using a pump to check your tyres regularly.
Do I need a tyre inflator?
Motoring accessories can be categorised into two groups: good-to-own and must own. For the sake of keeping your car in driveable condition and your passengers safe, we would place a good tyre inflator into the latter category.
No matter how robust the set of rubbers you stick on your car, all tyres will eventually lose some air pressure over time. Keeping your tyres topped up will minimise rolling resistance through rubber to ground contact, saving you fuel and benefiting the efficiency of your engine in turn. The increased friction caused by low pressure tyres will also up the temperature in that area, leading to premature wear and tread separation.
Which tyre inflator is right for you?
There are several features and capabilities that differ between tyre inflators, most of which influence the price and other aspects of the design. It's worth considering these points so that whichever inflator you buy is right for you.
Budget: You'll have a figure in mind. As long as what you expect in return is reasonable, there will be an ideal tyre inflator for you. Cordless models are what everyone wants. Certainly, they're the most practical but usually cost more than a 12V corded model of the same performance. Typically, 12V corded models are the best budget tyre inflators.
Digital vs analogue: There are two main advantages to a digital tyre inflator: a backlit screen seeing in low light, and an auto shut-off function. Typically, you have to pay a few extra pounds for these features, just as you would for a cordless model.
Inflation speed: One day you may find yourself in a pinch, when getting back on the road is just about the most important thing in the world. In that moment, you'll want a tyre inflator to pump your rubber up as quickly as possible. Some tyre inflators are able to do the job in under two minutes - compared to an average of around four or five - however this extra power does come at a premium.
Size: Higher power tyre inflators can be quite cumbersome units, requiring large amounts of storage space you may not have. Conversely, there are small and sleek examples out there. Just be wary of performance, which often drops proportionally to pump size.
The best tyre inflators
Editor's pick
A safe choice to chuck in your boot and know it'll always work when you need it, the RAC635 digital tyre inflator is a great option for everyday use. It even comes with a programmable automatic shut-off to prevent you from over-inflating your tyres.
In terms of performance, it'll reinflate a 13-inch tyre from flat to 35psi in about three minutes. That's well above average and makes this an ideal model for all scenarios.
Pros:
• Excellent quality
• Includes a torch with multiple settings
• Auto shut-off
• Moderately powerful
Cons:
• You might want cordless
Specs:
Weight: 1.17kg
Voltage: 12V
Cable length: 3.5 metres
Adaptors included: 3
Best budget tyre inflator
This small, budget option carrying the AA stamp is our value choice for inflating a flat tyre. Simply plug this device into your car's 12V socket and it'll top up your tyre(s) in a few minutes. It isn't as powerful as the Ring RAC635, a full inflation can be done but takes twice as long.
The analogue screen is easy to read during daylight hours but not so much after dark. You'll also need to keep a close eye on it because this pump doesn't have an auto shut-off function.
Pros:
• Great value
• Compact
• Ideal for car tyre top ups
Cons:
• No auto shut-off
• Short air hose
Specs:
Weight: 0.335kg
Voltage: 12V
Cable length: 3 metres
Adaptors included: 2
Best tyre inflator for large tyres
ffx.co.uk
For regular-sized passenger cars, the Sealey MAC05D is overkill. It's aimed at larger vehicles such as campervans, and 4X4s with large off-road tyres. Although it's a 12V like the compact Ring RAC635, it's a lot more powerful, thus being able to inflate a 13-inch tyre from flat to 30psi in under two minutes.
The MAC05D comes with a much longer air hose than the others (4.5 metres) and features that desirable auto shut-off function. While it is considerably more expensive than the others here, it'll pay considerable dividends to those who'll use it to its potential.
Pros:
• Powerful
• Long air hose
• Auto shut-off
Cons:
• Relatively bulky
• A bit pricey
Specs:
Weight: 2.97kg
Voltage: 12V
Cable length: 3 metres
Adaptors included: 3
Best cordless tyre inflator
Combining the usual tyre inflator and work lamp with a power bank creates a very versatile device, especially in the event of a breakdown. There are quite a few cordless tyre pumps around but the RTC6000 is by far the best.
Even though the RTC6000 is cordless, it'll outperform the 12V RAC635. The trade-off is that it's a bit bigger and heavier. Another strong attribute of the RTC6000 is the inclusion of 10 adaptors. You can therefore use this beyond tyres and balls, for other inflatables such as airbeds. It's an excellent pump and competes very hard with the RAC635 for overall top pick.
Pros:
• Cordless
• Also a power bank
• 10 adaptors
• Auto shut-off
• Large digital screen
Cons:
• Not terribly compact
Specs:
Weight: 1.87kg
Voltage: 12V
Cable length: 3.5 metres (for recharging)
Adaptors included: 10
Best compact tyre inflator
The most attractive option for a tyre pump, the RTC2000 portable tyre pump fits neatly in your glovebox whilst still offering reasonable performance. Like Ring Automotive's other products, the build quality of the RTC2000 is excellent, and like it's bigger RTC6000 sibling, it's also a power bank.
In fact, the RTC2000 is kind of a culmination of the aforementioned tyre inflators. It bears the digital features and value of the RAC635, the compactness of the AA Inflator, and the cordless nature of the RTC6000. In terms of performance, the RTC2000 is in line with the AA Inflator: great for bike tyres and topping up car tyres.
Pros:
• Versatile
• Looks cool
• Also a power bank
• Auto shut-off
Cons:
• Not that powerful
Specs:
Weight: 0.485kg
Voltage: 3.7V
Cable length: N/A
Adaptors included: 2
Best manual tyre pump
If you want a simple and dependable tyre pump that isn't reliant upon batteries or even a 12V socket, this is ideal. All you need is to pump those leg muscles and you'll have a fully inflated tyre in no time. This model from German brand Heyner features two barrels for better performance and a convenient carry bag to tote it around in.
Sure, it takes more time and effort to use but in a no power scenario, the tortoise suddenly becomes the hare. We also like the long 65cm air hose and multi-valve connector.
Pros:
• Simple to use
• Affordable
• Durable
• Longer air hose
Cons:
• You'll get tired legs if you have big tyres
• Hard to use in the dark
Specs:
Weight: Circa 2.04kg
Voltage: N/A
Cable length: N/A
Adaptors included: 3
How to inflate a tyre
The first thing you need to know before filling your tyre with air is what its ideal pressure is, you'll find this in your car's handbook. Remember, however, that there will be two figures listed, one for normal driving and another for if you're carrying heavy loads. Once you've got the correct figure you're ready to start pumping (especially if you have a foot-operated pump).
Remove the screw cap (and any flashy dust caps) from the tyre valve and place your tyre pump's connector over the exposed valve. All our top picks have in-built pressure displays which will help you gauge how much air you need to add.
Simply turn on the digital tyre pumps or start pumping the manual one to begin to increase the tyres pressure. If you accidentally add too much air then it's simply a case of pressing the pin on the tyre valve to release some air. Although, some of these pumps have programmable shut-offs to prevent this from occurring. Re-attach your valve cap and you're ready to continue your journey.