Selecting Suitable Tire Inflator

A Tire Inflator is an essential tool in your garage. Maintenance of optimal tire pressure of your car tires regularly improves driving safety; it also improves fuel consumption efficiency and prolongs lifespan of your car tires.

Faulty tires or tire-related incidents cause many road accidents. Flat tire is one of the most common encounter for all drivers. Changing a tire on the road can be dangerous. A portable tire inflator can inflate flat tire in a short time and allow the driver to move the vehicle to a safer place for tire replacement. This reduce the risk of accidents.

Tires with perfect pressure reduces friction between the car tires and the road. This lessens the wear and tear of the car tires, and less frequent in replacement of tires and wheel balancing.

There is a wide selection of tire inflators in the market with a large range of prices. It may not be true that the most expensive one is the right one.

Considerations before buying a tire inflator

1. The speed of inflation – do fast inflation inflation a critical consideration? Faster inflation means more powerful compressor, also means more expensive price tag.

2. Portability- planing to  use it in your garage, or planing to take it along with your vehicle. Some heavy duty tire inflators can be cumbersome and not suitable for travelling. Choose a tire inflator equipped with complete power station, if the tire inflator is to be placed in your vehicle. It can inflate tires and supply electricity to other appliances. It can help jump starting your car, or for additional illumination in the dark.

3. Air compressor system vs CO2 system – Both have its pros and cons. I personally prefer air compressor system than CO2 system. Air compressor requires less storage space and more portable.

4. Stability during inflation – some tire inflator vibrate vigorously and “WALK” around during inflation. It is not a critical issue but may be a decent factor for consideration.

5. Last but not least, the price – do some research and look around for reviews and price comparison. Always look for a tire inflator that suits your needs and budget.