Having properly inflated tyres is important, essential - a must. For your safety and the safety of other road users, you've got to keep your tyre pressures up to the mark. And to do this, you need a reliable tyre inflator.
We don’t need to make up too many fictional scenarios to help you understand why a cordless tyre inflator is a good thing. Even if you have access to a mains power supply or use your car’s 12v socket, a cordless tyre inflator is just so much easier than running cables all over the place to get the job done - this is true, whether you're sitting on your driveway or staring at a low tyre in a service station on the A1.
Store it in your boot to give you the ultimate convenience tool; CAR has looked through plenty of tyre inflators, from portables to digitals and even the best under £50.
So, let’s look at the best cordless tyre inflators that will help you out of a flat pickle.
Best cordless tyre inflator
CAR has previously reviewed the Ring Automotive Digital Tyre inflator and we rated it well for its build quality and inflation time. We trust it as a reliable tyre inflator worth having in an emergency. Its only downside was the size, but with more car boots having extra space now, ditching the tyre for sealants, you should find somewhere for it.
Pros
Easy to use
Solid
Good inflation time
Cons
A bit bulky
Here’s another one which CAR has reviewed in the past – we liked the Worx thanks to its impressive power. This one is best to use at home in the garage - it'll make short work of your inflation needs. It has a handy light on the front so you could see what you were doing in the dark and a good run time. However, it had a couple of drawbacks in that we found the valve attachments fiddly, and you couldn’t use it as a power bank to charge your phone.
Pros
Powerful
Long Run Time
Handy work light
Cons
Fiddley valve attachments
High price
Guess what? We’ve reviewed this one before, too. Interestingly, when we compared it to the Worx (above), we preferred the Ring, finding it more useable and with better value. However, it lacked behind the Worx performance. That is to be expected for something so small and handheld.
Pros
Powerbank
Easy valve attachment
Great value
Cons
It will not inflate your tyre fully, but enough to get you rolling.
We've had a lot of experience with Ryobi products, rating them for their build quality, form factor and performance. As with all Ryobi products, the only slight downside here is that you'll need to purchase a Ryobi battery separately - unless you already own one. This also means that if you're wanting to take the inflator out on the road with you, you'll need to carry a battery too. This isn't ideal, so we prefer this for our garage.
Pros
Easy-view pressure gauge
Compact design
Quick to inflate a tyre
Cons
Ryobi batteries can be expensive
www.screwfix.com
If you are a person who already owns Makita tools, then this is likely the one for you. Working off your Makita batteries, it will inflate at tyres up to 36psi in under three minutes. The auto-stop is a nice little feature on this, so you don’t have to babysit while your tyre is inflating.
Pros
Durable
Respected brand
LED Work light
Cons
Battery not included
Let’s finish with another tyre inflator which we’ve had our hands on here at CAR - the Sealy Cti120 Compact. We really rated it for not only its size and tyre inflating abilities but also because it’s a great bit of kit to have in your car, acting as an emergency power bank for your phone or other rechargeables. To top it off, it's also got a handy work light.
Pros
Works really well
Handy extras
Fantastic quality
Cons
Noisy when in use
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the battery last?
This is obviously product specific but you should be able to get air into all four corners of your car off one battery, providing the tyres aren’t completely flat. You should check the batteries weekly, just to be sure – the last thing you want is to be out of power when you need to inflate your tyres.
How do I know how much pressure to put in my tyres?
When inflating your tyres, always revert to the car's guidebook, which should be in the glove box. If it’s not, a quick google could get you out of trouble, but correct tyre pressures are essential for safe driving.
What to look for in a tyre inflator?
Find one product that has what you need. If you already own Ryobi or Makita products, it’s probably worthwhile buying one of those as you'll already have some compatible battery packs. However, if you're looking for something to throw into your boot in case it's needed on the road, pick something with good battery life and reliable performance, like one of our top picks from Ring.
Does this replace my car’s tyre inflator?
We wouldn’t like to think you throw your car’s tyre inflator away if you buy one of these. After all, if the battery is flat on your cordless, your car’s own tyre inflator could get you out of trouble and be a perfect backup. If your own tyre inflator is broken, these could be an adequate replacement.