Tyre Inflators Product Test

A decent 12v tyre inflator could get you out of trouble and keep your classic rolling.

WINNER – Michelin Hi-Power

£44.99 Item: 261917

We like…
Very fast inflating time. Extremely well screwed together – with its aluminium casing, this unit feels like it should last a while. Four powerful LED lights make night-time operation easy. Screw-on valve was more straightforward to use than the press-on type. Accurate gauge. Automatic cut-off means you don’t have to stand watching it. Quiet and stable in operation – easily the best on test in that regard. Both the hose and the lead tuck away nice and neatly. Comes with deflation valve and adaptors for other uses.

We don’t like…
This is a big, heavy unit. If your spare wheel well lends itself to it, though, it could easily be stored in the centre of the wheel. Otherwise, there’s not much wrong with it.

Speed 5/5
Build quality 5/5
Value for money 4/5
Ease of use 4/5
Features 5/5
Score 23/25

Halfords Tyre Inflator

£17.99 Item: 570937

Contact: 08450 579000, www.halfords.com

We like…
Compact design is easy to store away. Quiet in operation and doesn’t jump around all over the place. Hose tucks neatly away around the unit. Large gauge is accurate, easy to read and offers PSI and Bar measurements. Wire stores easily on reverse of unit.

We don’t like…
Very basic, with no lights. Accessories have to be purchased separately. Inflation time was amongst the slowest on test but in reality was still acceptable. Has to be allowed to cool after every 10 minutes of use.

Speed 3/5
Build quality 3/5
Value for money 3/5
Ease of use 4/5
Features 1/5
Score 14/25

Draper Mini Air Compressor

£22.47 Item: 659958

Contact: 02380 494333, www.draper.co.uk for stockists

We like…
Compact and well-built little unit. Includes handy light for night-time use. Accurate, easy-to-read gauge. Nozzle adaptors supplied. Twelve-month guarantee.

We don’t like…
Slowest inflation time of the units tested. Lead just wraps around the base, which isn’t as tidy as on some of the other inflators here. Quite loud and feisty in use.

Speed 2/5
Build quality 4/5
Value for money 4/5
Ease of use 4/5
Features 3/5
Score 17/25

Sealey Automatic Compressor

£57.52 Item: MAC2250

Contact: 01284 757500, www.sealey.co.uk

We like…
Neat, compact design with digital gauge. Decent performance in the inflation test. Can be used in either automatic mode (where you preset a pressure and it cuts out when it reaches it) or manual. Hose wraps tidily away. Supplied with adaptors for other applications.

We don’t like…
It’s expensive. Needs to cool down for 10 minutes after each 10 minutes of use. The power lead always manages to work free instead of storing tidily. No light, which you’d expect at this price.

Speed 4/5
Build quality 4/5
Value for money 3/5
Ease of use 4/5
Features 3/5
Score 18/25

Ring Digital Compressor

£23.99 Item: RAC600

Contact: 0113 213 7389, www.ringautomotive.co.uk

We like…
Second only to the Michelin in terms of inflation speed. Compact design. Hose and power lead store neatly away. Preset function means it’ll cut out once the required pressure has been reached. Includes a light for night-time use, plus an SOS mode that flashes that message in Morse code. Comes in a useful carry case. Screw-on valve connection is easy to use, and the build quality feels good. Superb value, too

We don’t like…
Not the lightest unit on test, but by no means the heaviest either. Lack of a handle makes it slightly awkward, but the carry case has one.

Speed 5/5
Build quality 4/5
Value for money 5/5
Ease of use 4/5
Features 5/5
Score 23/25

Mini Tyre Inflator

£11.48 Item: 000111201

Contact: 08714 101205, www.machinemart.co.uk

We like…
Undoubtedly cheap. Very small so it won’t take up much room in your boot. Comes with adaptors for different applications.

We don’t like…
Very slow inflation time. Loud. Need to let it rest for five minutes between uses, which isn’t ideal. Cheap feel even extends to the gauge, which looked a bit like a piece of paper that had been cut out in a hurry. Power lead just wraps around the unit – not the neatest solution.

Speed 2/5
Build quality 3/5
Value for money 3/3
Ease of use 5/5
Features 1/5
Score 14/25

Sealey Heavy Duty

£73.97 Item: MAC2300

Contact: 01284 757500, www.sealey.co.uk

We like…
Designed for trucks and 4x4s, so easily capable of looking after most classics. Accurate gauge and sits solidly while being used. Easy to use, and carry handle is useful. Can be used for up to five hours continuously.

We don’t like…
It’s certainly not cheap, but you can do better than the RRP if you shop around. No extra features (such as an automatic cut-off) to justify the higher price. One of the slowest inflators on test, too. Big and heavy, but in fairness that’s probably a result of its intended applications. Plastic cover for storing the power lead away is fiddly.

Speed 3/5
Build quality 4/5
Value for money 1/5
Ease of use 5/5
Features 1/5
Score 14/25

All prices and availability correct as of 13th January 2010

This entry was posted on Friday, March 26th, 2010 at 4:46 pm and is filed under Product Tests, Products. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.