Seeking advice on car tyre inflator for home use.

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › Seeking advice on car tyre inflator for home use.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

mdf
3599 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1544

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3502665 13-Jun-2026 17:30

Power requirements for a pump depend on (i) volume of air you're moving and (ii) pressure you're inflating.

Car tyres run at roughly half the pressure of a typical bike tyre but are probably in the order of 20 times the volume.

So a small battery pump designed for bikes will easily deal with the pressure requirements of a car tyre, if you're just checking/topping up. Probably no way it will inflate it from flat, though I suspect if you have a flat tyre you're fitting the spare to go to the tyre shop.

The smaller battery pumps also run quite slow. Again, not really a problem if you're just aiming to top off.

I don't even have a battery pump - I check and top off my car and motorbike tyres with a foot pump.

tweake

2786 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1217

#3502667 13-Jun-2026 17:41

mdf:

, though I suspect if you have a flat tyre you're fitting the spare to go to the tyre shop.

i found that its not always the case. the pump got me out of a fair few tire changing situations, especially where its not a good place to change a tire.

obviously no pump is going to work if its a big hole in the tire, but more often than not its a slow leak.

Rikkitic

Awrrr
19324 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 16744

Lifetime subscriber

#3502668 13-Jun-2026 17:47

I live rural. An overnight visitor had a flat in a rental car. Whatever we tried we couldn't change the tyre. The bolts just wouldn't come loose. I finally pumped up the tyre with my compressor, checked it wasn't immediately losing air, and told my guest to go like hell to the nearest service station. He made it without any problem.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

tdgeek

30189 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 9663

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3502673 13-Jun-2026 17:55

Today I bought a https://www.bunnings.co.nz/ryobi-18v-one-high-pressure-inflator-tool-only_p0575934?store=9476&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=15792555037&gbraid=0AAAAADL7rPrMGPlETGTYj1y6Moj_VAPjY&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIysT28cKDlQMVCyZ7Bx2z2iBGEAQYASABEgLzevD_BwE

I was going to get the $149 one but reviews were mixed, but as we all know reviews aren't a gold standard... 3.5 IIRC

The $109 one got better reviews... 4.6 IIRC

End of the day, they work. Seems the accuracy of the PSI can vary but if I want to top up a tyre to 32 who cares if its 31 0r 33, what I like is the 4 tyres will be the same

Given I got it today I haven't tried it yet, will do tomorrow

alasta

6982 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3530

Trusted

Subscriber

#3502721 14-Jun-2026 07:11

I'd be keen to hear how it works out for you. Most of the low cost petrol stations seem to lack tyre inflation facilities so I'm keen to get something like this and it will need to be battery powered as my apartment car park has no power available.

eracode

Smpl Mnmlst
9584 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6560

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3502723 14-Jun-2026 07:21

alasta:

I'd be keen to hear how it works out for you. Most of the low cost petrol stations seem to lack tyre inflation facilities so I'm keen to get something like this and it will need to be battery powered as my apartment car park has no power available.

Yes - when I use the air at local stations, it’s not because I’m there buying petrol. I go to them just for the air - and I only buy at the no-air low cost places. So I shouldn’t really complain about the air at the full-service stations because I make a convenience of them. Must be a lot of people doing this.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

Geekzone

Want to support Geekzone and browse the site without the ads? Subscribe to Geekzone now (monthly, annual and lifetime options).

bluey

87 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 15

#3502727 14-Jun-2026 08:31

Coming from a slightly different angle - https://www.thetoolshed.co.nz/product/62309-toolshed-air-compressor-direct-drive-oilless-2hp-24-litre?categoryId=2179

I can't imagine not having compressed air at home. I use it several times a week for things like cleaning vacuum cleaner filters, blowing out phone charging ports and then all the general maintenance I do on small engines and other equipment.

With a cheap tyre attachment it will top up tyres in a fraction of the time it takes small battery powered units.

Maybe not appropriate for you but I thought I'd throw it out there.

SATTV

1680 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 666

ID Verified

#3502787 14-Jun-2026 10:47

I have something like this, I have had it for 35 years or so.

https://www.supercheapauto.co.nz/p/sca-sca-12v-mini-compressor/602639.html?srsltid=AfmBOorOBSJ9f2g2omqEuWSke-A0Ccj8GruYG70QTPJNU6AZU3jb2B1ycSY

The great thing about it is you put it in the boot, when you need it connect and go.

The cordless ones you have to plan ahead to pump up a tyre, this one you just plug in and go.

While cordless is great, sometimes a cord is more convieient.

John

I know enough to be dangerous

richms

29592 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 10630

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3502788 14-Jun-2026 10:54

bluey:

Coming from a slightly different angle - https://www.thetoolshed.co.nz/product/62309-toolshed-air-compressor-direct-drive-oilless-2hp-24-litre?categoryId=2179

I can't imagine not having compressed air at home. I use it several times a week for things like cleaning vacuum cleaner filters, blowing out phone charging ports and then all the general maintenance I do on small engines and other equipment.

With a cheap tyre attachment it will top up tyres in a fraction of the time it takes small battery powered units.

Maybe not appropriate for you but I thought I'd throw it out there.

Get a pneumatic can crusher next. Great for saving space in the bin. I need to run an airline to the kitchen and move it tho since its too cold in the garage to be there crushing them.

Richard rich.ms

tweake

2786 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1217

#3502789 14-Jun-2026 11:01

bluey:

Coming from a slightly different angle - https://www.thetoolshed.co.nz/product/62309-toolshed-air-compressor-direct-drive-oilless-2hp-24-litre?categoryId=2179

i would avoid the oilless compressors. they are low powered, tend to be far less reliable and most people have no need for one.

tdgeek

30189 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 9663

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3502793 14-Jun-2026 11:23

Unboxed it today, topped up 8 car tyres, sack barrow tyres and wheelbarrow tyre.

Worked well, doesnt take an age, great time saver

Accuracy on some reviews has been stated, I didnt realise, but you can calibrate it, mine was showing 2 psi unconnected. Hold + and - buttons for a few seconds, it reset to 0. You can quickly press the ON button when its on, to flip between psi, BAR and kpa

I cant really test the accuracy as I only have a foot pump, that dial may or may not be accurate, same as servo pump, but end of the day its either accurate or close, main factor is each tyre on a car will be identical.

Quic Broadband

Move to New Zealand's best fibre broadband service (affiliate link). Free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE. Note that to use Quic Broadband you must be comfortable with configuring your own router.

tchart

2400 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 579

ID Verified

Trusted

#3502888 14-Jun-2026 16:53

Stu1:

I use this one it’s great

https://www.mitre10.co.nz/shop/bosch-cordless-air-compressor-pump-3-6-volt-usb-c/p/386178?gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22546964586&gbraid=0AAAAADvumcBYxZqIPPhsKVA6rLMb-3yt1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw3K7RBhDJARIsAKRtP5SG8Dmjcd0UER44J05SHDrjMN9PYDJ5CFvO2zpWxG8WVCK_BuUh8NIaAkzVEALw_wcB

+1 if you have the batteries, this is great.

MikeAqua

8740 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 4341

#3503077 15-Jun-2026 10:16

What sort of vehicle do you have? The pump you posted looks like it will be fine for a small to medium vehicle. It's a little hard tot well, without specs. If you have a large SUV or something else with large tyres, it may struggle. By which I mean, it will take long time to inflate a tyre, get quite hot doing it, and have a shortened life. That may not matter at all if you are only using it three for four times a year.

If you do have large tyres... you'll find few cheap mains inflaters that have a high-enough output-volume. Usually, the next step is to a higher spec 12v unit (we have this XTM one), that connects to the battery or (if modified) an Anderson connector on the vehicle.

If that's no-bueno, I'd consider something like this. It's little more than the one you linked to, but I would guess it's much more capable.

Something else to be aware of is the pressure gauges on these things. Often, they are located between a shut of valve/trigger/button and the compressor. That's a recipe for inaccurate measurement. You ideally want your gauge isolated from the compressor, between the shut off and the tyre. It should be measuring tyre pressure, not compressor/line pressure. I hope that makes sense.

One advantage of a little compressor is that the air-line will terminate on some sort of standard fitting. You can buy an accurate tyre-inflator gun, and just plug it in.

Mike

MikeAqua

8740 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 4341

#3503087 15-Jun-2026 10:58

richms:

Get a pneumatic can crusher next. Great for saving space in the bin. I need to run an airline to the kitchen and move it tho since its too cold in the garage to be there crushing them.

Wait ... that's a thing. How did I not know this!

I have a pneumatic nail remover - for de-nailing pallet boards. You put it over the pointy end, and it fires them out into bucket. So fast.

Once you have a compressor, there really are too many tool options ... and that's without making your own 'tools'. Like air-powered nerf guns and mini-model-airplane launchers ...

Mike

richms

29592 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 10630

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3503094 15-Jun-2026 11:34

MikeAqua:

Wait ... that's a thing. How did I not know this!

I have a pneumatic nail remover - for de-nailing pallet boards. You put it over the pointy end, and it fires them out into bucket. So fast.

Once you have a compressor, there really are too many tool options ... and that's without making your own 'tools'. Like air-powered nerf guns and mini-model-airplane launchers ...

Yes, but the temu one I got cant do 473ml redbull cans - just wont quite fit in them. 500ml rockstar cans will but its not a straight drop in like the smaller ones.

Richard rich.ms

1 | 2 | 3 | 4