The Best Portable Tire Inflators of 2024

When you’re stuck in a remote location with a flat tire, need a quick inflation solution at home or in your workshop, or require adjustable tire pressure for off-road traction, a portable tire inflator is an indispensable tool. This comprehensive review will assist you in selecting the ideal option tailored to your specific needs, considering various criteria.

Whether you’re inflating bicycle, motorcycle, car, or truck tires, planning to re-inflate after deflating all four tires for traction or simply seeking an emergency backup plan, we’ve reviewed six of the leading portable units. Our assessment considers factors such as speed, battery capacity and power source, dimensions, weight, and cost to help you find the unit that best suits your needs.

If you you already own some DeWalt tools, save yourself some time and pick up the DeWalt 20V MAX Tire Inflator, it’s our favorite. And if you’re on a budget, the AstroAI Portable Car Air Compressor is the way to go.

Editor’s Note: We updated this guide on December 19th, 2024 after testing the Kohree Portable Tire Inflator. While it didn’t snag our best budget pick, it’s still a great value and a reliable inflator to keep stashed in your rig in case of an emergency.

The Best Portable Tire Inflators of 2024

Portable Tire Inflator Comparison Chart

How We Tested Portable Tire Inflators

Our Expert Testers

For our guide to the best tire inflators, we tapped a few adventurers who enjoy working on their vehicles almost as much as they enjoy off-roading in the desert or braving old fire roads to access backcountry skiing and climbing objectives.

As an avid climber, skier, and traveler who enjoys exploring remote and off-the-beaten-path destinations, lead tester Alex Vaught has firsthand experience driving on rugged roads and facing unexpected challenges. His knowledge of vehicle mechanics, combined with practical insights gained from his adventures, makes Alex a valuable resource for anyone seeking advice on vehicle maintenance, emergency preparedness, fashion, and safe travel in remote areas.

Assisting Alex is DIY enthusiast and amateur mechanic Paul Mandell. When Paul isn’t enjoying the Eastern Sierra Backcountry, he’s usually under one of his beloved trucks, engaged in all manners of off-road modding and repairs to get ready for his next adventure.

Our Testing Grounds

Both our testers reside in Bishop, Calif., a small town nestled in the Owens Valley, between the Sierra and White mountain ranges. The valley has hundreds of miles of forest service roads in various states of disrepair, so there’s plenty of opportunity to get a flat far from cell service or any assistance, plus the occasional need to increase or decrease tire pressure to better suit the terrain.

Alex Vaught has an onboard compressor on his F-250 and feels everyone should have some sort of inflation device in addition to a spare tire when off-roading in the desert.

Most of the testing happens in a controlled environment (the garage) where we can compare inflation times side by side with a stopwatch, measure hose lengths, and access different-sized tires on different vehicles.

Our Testing Process

Over our many years of using various portable tire inflators, on-board air compressors, and shop air compressors, as well as patching tires, performing vehicle maintenance, and experiencing all other manner of roadside emergencies, we’ve had ample opportunity to contemplate what features our ideal portable air compressor should have.

In our online searches, we’ve observed two recurring issues. First, there’s inconsistency among companies regarding the metrics they use to advertise the “number of inflations” achievable on a single charge. Second, the parameters they employ for testing often seem inadequate, such as considering raising tire pressure from 30 psi to 35 psi as a complete “inflation.”

Tires, Big and Small

We aimed to assess how these devices would perform under realistic conditions, where a tire goes from visibly flat to fully inflated according to the manufacturer’s specifications. To achieve this, we selected a compact vehicle, a 1997 RAV4, with a weight of 2,646 pounds and 215/70 R16 tires.

We deflated the front tires to 10 psi (just above the point where the rim is off the ground) and then inflated them to the maximum recommended psi rating for the tire, which in this case was 45 psi. We calculated the average time taken for this process. This was referred to above as the “light duty vehicle test.”

For a more demanding test, we used a 2000 F250 Extended Cab Diesel weighing 8,800 pounds, fitted with 285/75 R16 E1-rated tires, and repeated the same test, this time inflating the tires from 20 to 80 psi. This was referred to above as the “heavy vehicle test.”

Overheating

To monitor the temperatures of the devices, we employed an infrared thermometer and recorded any instances where temperatures exceeded what would be considered “comfortable” to touch with a bare hand. We also verified the accuracy of the gauges using a separate digital tire pressure gauge. All testing was conducted away from direct sunlight, with ambient temperatures ranging between 75 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit.

General User Experience

To make sure readers know exactly what they’re getting into, we measured air hoses, monitored battery charge times and life when applicable, played with each model’s special features, and even inflated a few rafts and basketballs. While the ability to reliably inflate a tire in a remote location is the main metric we judged these by, we made special note of any cool features or inconveniences of each model.

Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose a Portable Tire Inflator

Know What You Need

A portable tire inflator is an essential tool for every vehicle owner, providing convenience and peace of mind in case of emergencies or planned use. With the large number of options available on the market today, it’s important to consider several factors before making a purchase.

It’s important to understand the manufacturer’s intended use and to realize that many inflators available on the market might not be able to realistically meet your needs, especially if you’re rolling larger tires at higher pressures (even though they often advertise pictures of tiny cordless units attached to monster 33” tires). 

Just Because You Can Doesn’t Mean You Should

While much of the testing in this review was maxing out the capabilities of these inflators, our intent was not to try to encourage you to repeat the same thing in the real world. We simply wanted to see what they were capable of. With that being said, you are far better off overestimating your needs than underestimating them. 

It’s also important to bear in mind that we tested these units with a fresh charge on days with reasonable ambient temperatures. You could expect a little less performance from an inflator that has been sitting in your car for 2 months without a fresh charge on a hot day in direct sunlight. The moral of the story: when in doubt, round up.

An Ounce of Prevention Is Worth a Pound of Cure

It seems like the moment you need something comes right after you let your guard down (just last week, our tester broke down on the side of the road after having just gifted an emergency tool kit to his girlfriend). With that being said, dialing in your emergency kit should not be put on the bottom of your to-do list. 

But don’t be hasty in your choice of what to carry. Before hitting the send button, consider the following criteria for purchasing the best portable tire inflator for you.

Portability

The amount of space on your emergency kit is an important consideration when purchasing a tire inflator. If you have a large vehicle with plenty of storage space, a larger unit such as the Viair 88P or DeWalt 20V MAX Tire Inflator will certainly outperform smaller units. 

If you’re on a motorcycle or bike where size and weight are paramount, a smaller unit like the Airmoto Smart Air Pump or Fanttik X8 APEX will store much easier and can handle smaller-volume tires adequately.

Power Source

Determine whether you prefer a tire inflator powered by your vehicle’s 12V DC outlet (cigarette lighter socket or starter battery) or a rechargeable battery. Each option has its pros and cons, so choose based on your usage requirements. 

For instance, cordless units, while convenient, do require some battery maintenance (i.e., you need to put them on the charger at least every few months to make sure the batteries are charged and keep the batteries conditioned), while units that run on 12V DC can be left in the trunk until needed without a problem (make sure the cord is long enough for your situation!)

Inflation Speed

Manufacturers often advertise the inflator’s inflation rate, measured in liters per minute (LPM) or cubic feet per minute (CFM). While these ratings are somewhat useful as a comparison, they are almost always calculated at 0 psi (i.e., the inflator is not under any load), and some units will perform worse than others when actually trying to achieve a desired pressure. 

Faster inflation speeds can save you time during emergencies or when inflating multiple tires. If time is a factor or you intend to regularly re-inflate tires after driving off-road, a unit such as the Viar 88P will save you as much as an hour when repressurizing four tires when compared to even the second fastest inflator in this review, the DeWalt 20V MAX Tire Inflator.

Maximum Pressure

Determine the maximum psi (pounds per square inch) rating of the inflator. Ideally, it should exceed the recommended psi for your vehicle’s tires, including any special requirements for off-road or heavy-duty tires. 

Durability and Build Quality

Look for inflators constructed from high-quality materials that can withstand frequent use and rough handling. For build quality, the Viair 88P and DeWalt 20V Max stand above the rest. The Viar does this while maintaining a low cost at the price of fewer features and not having a cordless option. 

With the DeWalt model, you accept a significantly higher price tag, especially considering the additional cost ($100 or more, depending on the Ah rating of the battery) of purchasing the separate components to make the device cordless. While warranties and good customer support are nice, they probably won’t help you much when you’re in a remote setting or even just stuck on the side of the road or in a parking lot.

User-Friendly Design

Opt for a tire inflator with intuitive controls and easy operation. All of the inflators in this review offer a user-friendly interface if you read the user manual and familiarize yourself with its features beforehand. For example, knowing the duty cycle of the unit you carry (located in the respective user manuals) will keep you from overheating the unit during use. 

Consider all of the above before purchasing so you can confidently choose a portable tire inflator that meets your specific requirements and provides reliable performance whenever you need it.

Price & Value

As with many tools, balancing features and quality with affordability is the name of the game when selecting a portable tire inflator. For inflating large truck tires, you’ll need to spend a little more. But for cars, smaller trucks, and SUVs, some of the less expensive models will do nicely.

Budget

If your budget is tight but you still want cordless capabilities, a digital gauge, and automatic shut-off, the Astro AI ($90) is our pick for best on a budget. Certain sacrifices were made during manufacturing to cut costs, such as the included carrying case feeling of lesser quality than other models, thinner diameter brass used on the air chuck, and a lighter weight hose covered with braided nylon as opposed to the heavier gauge rubber used on the DeWalt and Viair models. The Kohree Portable Tire Inflator ($70) is also a good value. While not the most powerful, it has a pretty impressive battery life and performed our light-duty inflation test in a respectable 6:45. Both of these budget options can usually be found on sale.

Time will tell how well these hold up. The least expensive offerings also come at the disadvantage of buying from companies that do not have a longstanding and well-known reputation behind them, such as DeWalt and Viair, which are known to deliver a certain level of quality. 

The Viair 88P ($90) performs well and also has a nice price. It will need to be plugged into your car’s battery, but it does have enough power to inflate larger truck tires in around 15 minutes

Premium

Spending above $100 gets you an inflator backed by the battery systems of larger, named-brand tool companies, our favorite being the DEWALT Corded/Cordless Air Compressor ($149). If you already own some DeWalt tools and have their battery charger, don’t sleep on this one.

We found it to be the easiest to use and most versatile, as you can run it off a battery when you’re out and about or a 110V adapter when you’re in the shop. It has plenty of power for inflating large truck tires, though it takes about 30 minutes if you’re running it off the battery. If you don’t already have a Dewalt charger, you’ll have to add another $100 to the price tag.

Frequently Asked Questions