Garage Tyre Inflation Kit!

[Graham Hutton]

So, I've got bored of taking our cars to the garage to blowup the tyres/check pressures and want to get some kit to do it at home. Being a man I immediately thought I should buy a massive compressor with fixed airlines but clearly that's nuts. However, I'm not sure what to get as I want something that will be fairly accurate and I have things from very low pressures (Caterham) up to high pressures (van).

I need to inflate the tyres away froma power socket so I could go for a decent foot pump or maybe I was thinking a little air compressor cylinder on wheels with an inflator. Anyone got any experience of this kit? The little air compressors on machine mart etc look like they'd be good but would an 8l cyclinder be enough to top up tyres??

Any thoughts appreciated and any excuse to buy new tools taken..!!

[Jonathan Kay]

What's the highest pressure that you need?

How portable?

And would you consider a compressor combined with one of those amazing little lithium battery jump starters?

Jonathan

[aerobod - near CYYC]

I find a good quality hand pump is fine for most car and bicycle tyres. A Topeak Joeblow pump is what I've been using for past 10 years for the tintops, Caterham and road bike. 5 pumps per tyre per PSI on the Caterham, 10 per PSI on the BMW and 15 per PSI on the Macan.

The hand pump is also great for use at the track, no messing about with compressors for a quick change in tyre pressure.

[ScottR400D]

I'd go for a small 8/10 bar oil free with a 24l cylinder. A 5-10m hose, an ALG and a few fittings will do whatever you need. £150 or so. 

Once charged up it'll top up plenty of tyres unplugged and they're easy to move around. 

[Graham Hutton]

Thanks everyone. The max pressure I need to do is about 45psi.

I've got a joe blow track pump for my road bikes but how do you adapt it to connect to a car valve and do you think the gauge is accurate enough?

I quite like the look of some of the 24l compressors on wheels but what is an ALG?

 

[Jonathan Kay]

My Joe Blow track pump has a double-ended head: Presta and Schrader. (As does my brilliant Lezyne Micro Floor Drive.)

I use a separate analogue gauge, as discussed recently elsewhere. But it stays in the garage except for track days.

Jonathan

[ScottR400D]

#5 Air Line Gauge, ALG. 

Remember a 24L tank at 7bar holds a lot more air than one at lower pressure, 8. 10 bar even more so. 

[Rich.E]

I bought a makita 18v tyre inflator as I already had the 18v battery and charger. You pre set the pressure required and hold the trigger until it stops.

[7 wonders of the world]

I use my bike track pump no problem at all.

[SM25T]

Stirrup type bike pump with double ended connector. Separate pressure gauge. Cheap and simple. Much nicer than chasing a foot operated pump around the floor !

[Billy.Whizz]

HEYNER do a single and a double cylinder foot pump in their pro range, they are powerful and very well built, I know coz I have one, and we can get a club discount of 15%.

[andy_harries]

I bought this

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Inflator-Portable-Rechargeable-Cordless-Motorbike/dp/B09MF6Z8CR?th=1

Works with all things I need inflated (different cycles, trailer tyres, Caterahm, road cars etc).  There are quite a few like it on Amazon if this particular one doesn't kit fit the bill.  I did buy a cheap soft case for it as they supplied a bag for it which was rubbish.  Only annoying thing is I hamfistedly keep switching on the light when I use it.

[Roger Ford]

Not the cheapest option by a long way but love my Milwaukee pump. Perhaps a little hard to justify if you don't already have the battery and charger - so buy one of these as well.

[Mrp]

I use the exactly the same as Roger, really good bit of kit

[krisfl]

Never thought of using my Bike track pump! Good idea!

I use a halfords 12v compressor with a screw on connector which always leaks air when you undo it. So I over inflate then bleed it back down to what you need using an accurate hand held gauge and its cunning button. 

[Doc007]

Very happy with this. Wish I'd bought one years ago. So much easier than a foot pump and no irritating leads to plug in to the cigarette lighter that Bly works with the ignition on.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Oasser-Inflator-Compressor-Rechargeable-Inflatables/dp/B08FM5BLN6/ref=mp_s_a_1_6?crid=XD4E4CDTSIYT&keywords=battery+pump+tyre&qid=1643237929&sprefix=battery+pump+tyre%2Caps%2C55&sr=8-6

[SLR No.77]

I use a Halfords branded twin barrel foot pump, steel frame and far more stable than the single barrel versions. 

And of course, non of those environmental nasties that are so derided on the EV car thread! 

Stu.

[orangepeel61]

I use one of these:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ring-Automotive-RTC2000-Cordless-Rechargeable/dp/B08ZSR8N5P/ref=asc_df_B08ZSR8N5P/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=500890667741&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=2934755602137236549&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=t&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006622&hvtargid=pla-1298663975757&psc=1&th=1&psc=1

Easily handled topping up 3 bikes and 3 cars, pre set the pressure you want, press the button and leave it till it stops automatically when the pressure is reached. Very neat and compact, I carry it around in the bottle cage on my bike.