The Best Tire Inflators for 2025

Motor Trend

2 days ago

Our Recommendations
Best Overall: AstroAI Cordless Tire Inflator
Best Ultra Compact: Craftsman 12V Max Portable Air Inflator
Best For Trucks and SUVs: Viair 88P
Editor's Note: We test and review every product we recommend. Read how MotorTrend tests products here.
Keeping your vehicle in top condition starts with maintenance, and while I hate to sound like your dentist nagging you to floss more, you probably need to check your car's tire pressure more often than you do. Why? Driving with the correct air pressure can save you money at the gas pump, promote predictable handling when you hit the brakes or turn the wheel, and help your tires last as long as possible
After combing through hundreds of tire inflators, I narrowed the field down to seven products that I purchased from Amazon and Harbor Freight. I put each inflator through three rounds of rigorous evaluation from unboxing and assessing its general usability to testing its accuracy and speed in tests simulating real-world situations. After more than 50 hours in the MotorTrend test garage, one inflator stood out for its ability to top off multiple tires, bring a flat back to life, and inflate a tire to 80 psi. Our top pick is the AstroAI Cordless Tire Inflator.
What I Looked For
I designed the tests for this review and selected products with the goal of finding the best tire inflators that are easy to use and easy on your budget. Among the popular products on the market, seven stood out as the most promising and I put them to the test with the following criteria in mind:
Cordless inflators should be able to top up all four tires on a single charge
Inflators with cords need to easily reach all four tires
Built-in pressure gauges should be accurate
A tire inflator that works quickly is more convenient
The pump should be able to inflate tires to 80 psi to accommodate the high pressures needed for heavy-duty pickup trucks
When stowed in its carrying case, the unit should be compact enough to keep in a vehicle
Additional features such as a flashlight, a USB port for charging a phone, and adapters for filling balls, pool rafts, and air mattresses are nice to have but not mandatory
Specifications and Test Results for the Best Tire Inflators
Tire Inflator Reviews
Best Overall Tire Inflator: AstroAI Cordless Tire Inflator
Pros Quick to inflate flat tires
Useful carry bag
Multiple power options Cons Why does it look like a drill?
In our test: From a distance, the AstroAI Cordless Tire Inflator looks like it should accept a 3/8-inch drill bit instead of an air chuck. Despite its unusual shape, the AstroAI impressed me with its stout construction, quick inflation, and reasonable price. Inside the carrying case you'll find two power sources, a rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack and a 12-volt adapter for your vehicle's cigarette lighter port. Set your desired pressure on the high-contrast screen, blip the trigger (no, you don't have to hold it down the whole time), and the AstroAI will automatically shut off when your tire is full. It repeatedly inflated tires to within 1.5 pounds of the target pressure with no obnoxious noise or excessive heat. The battery has enough power to top off four tires from 25 to 35 psi in one session without needing a recharge. In the unlikely event the battery does run out, switch to the 12-volt power source and keep inflating.
Bottom Line: Despite its resemblance to a cordless drill, the AstroAI has the performance and power of a proper tire inflator.
Best Ultra Compact Tire Inflator: Craftsman 12V Max Portable Air Inflator
In our test: Though we were skeptical whether something so compact could bring a flat tire back to life, the Craftsman 12V Max Portable Air Inflator impressed us in every test. Just charge it up using the included USB-A cord, preset your desired pressure on the crystal-clear LED screen, and let it, well, roar. For a tool that can fit inside a glove compartment, this thing makes quite a racket. We were impressed by the rubber construction that's just as useful in drop protection as it is keeping the tool in your hand, and the built-in presets for car tires, bike tires, pool toys, and a custom mode.
As you'd expect, an inflator with dimensions between a TV remote and a small brick has a slower pump and smaller battery than our top pick. The Craftsman needed 2.5 minutes more than the AstroAI to inflate one tire from 25 to 35 psi, and it did that for two tires and most of a third tire before the battery died (there is an included 12-volt power cord to finish the job). If you absolutely need to, though, this little beast will resuscitate a flat tire in just over 23 minutes with power left in the battery.
Bottom Line: At around $40, the Craftsman is an incredibly portable insurance policy against flat tires that you can charge and store in a glovebox, a motorcycle saddle bag, or even a backpack.
Best Tire Inflator for Trucks and SUVs: Viair 88P
Pros Wicked fast inflation
King of big tires
Apocalypse-ready carrying case x Cons Bulky
Must clamp to your vehicle's battery
Imprecise pressure gauge
In our test: The Viair 88P is the best inflator for filling the larger tires of a pickup or SUV, especially if you regularly deflate your tires for off-roading and reinflate them afterwards. It was the fastest of everything we tested, taking a tire from zero to 35 psi in less than seven minutes. The AstoAI needed nearly 16 minutes to do the same task.
What's the catch? In addition to the high price (around $90), the Viair 88P has to be connected to your vehicle's battery via alligator clips, which can be intimidating if you don't know your way around an engine bay. The analog gauge makes it tricky to monitor the pressure dial without pausing the inflation process, and since it doesn't have an automatic shutoff, you'll need to pay attention to make sure you don't overinflate a tire. The impressive, rugged construction of the carrying case helps justify the price, but the unit takes up as much space as a small purse or backpack.
Bottom Line: If you don't mind its size and popping the hood to access your battery terminals, the Viair 88P is a rugged and reliable way to fill up large tires on your car, truck, or SUV.
Other Tire Inflators I Tested
Airmoto Tire Inflator: Lacking the battery capacity for anything more than one car tire, this ultra compact inflator might work for a bicycle or motorcycle.
DeWalt 20V Max Tire Inflator: The expensive 20V Max is a fantastic tool if you already own DeWalt batteries, but there a several options that allow you to do the job for less money with better portability.
Modari Tire Inflator: The Modari has a similar form factor as the Craftsman, but it's more expensive and slower.
Pittsburgh Dual Power Tire Inflator: Harbor Freight's inflator plugs into 12-volt or 120-volt household outlets, making it a good choice for garage use even though it's slower than some smaller battery-powered alternatives.
How I Tested Tire Inflators
I used these products in the driveway and in the garage, just like you would, and evaluated them based on three tests that simulate scenarios you might encounter.
Four-Tire Top Up Test: Imagine you find all four of your car's tires a little low on air in the morning before work. You need an inflator that can fill all four tires from 25 psi (visibly low on air) to 35 psi (common operating air pressure in a passenger vehicle tire). I measured how quickly these inflators could get you back on the road. We also checked for accuracy at the end using a calibrated air pressure gauge. Choose your inflator carefully because the offering from Airmoto only packed enough battery power to refill one tire where products like the Viair 88P have no problem inflating all four.
Flat Tire Test: Uh oh, your day just got worse! There's a completely flat tire standing between you and daycare pickup. Can your inflator get you from empty to full in one session? I timed how long each inflator took to pressurize a tire from 0 psi to 35 psi. Overheating or failing to reach 35 psi on a battery charge, as the Airmoto did, meant immediate failure.
Maximum Pressure Test: Finally, I ran each inflator through the high-pressure gauntlet. This test validated that each pump has the muscle to deliver high pressures. While it's unlikely that you'll need to put more than 100 psi into a car tire or pool raft, there are some bicycle tires and heavy-duty pickup truck tires that could require a healthy dose of air pressure. We hooked each inflator to a five-gallon air canister and attempted to raise the pressure from 40 to 80 psi. The Airmoto also failed this test.
Test Equipment: I tested these inflators using the 33-inch Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT tires on MotorTrend's long-term 2024 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 midsize pickup truck. A Smittybilt valve stem puller was used to deflate the tires, a calibrated Longacre Pro Digital Tire Pressure Gauge verified the accuracy of the built-in gauges, and a Harbor Freight five-gallon air tank was used to test inflators up to 80 psi.
Why Trust Us
The MotorTrend staff has lifetimes of experience working in and around cars in the garage, at the track, and on every bit of road and trail in between. We take the responsibility of recommending a product seriously—our team picks the best tools for the job and we take pride in doing the dirty work so you don't have to. We shopped for these tire inflators and purchased them just like you would to make sure that the products we tested are the same units you'll find at the store. You can trust us to bring you the whole story, from every product that started the test to the ones that survived to the finish line.
Who Needs a Portable Tire Inflator?
If your vehicle has tires, you need a way to keep them topped up. Having a tire inflator in your garage or, even better, in your vehicle makes this routine task easy enough that you won't put it off.
A portable pump can also be a godsend if you get a flat. Don't let your emergency plan be that sketchy air pump behind the gas station or a cell phone call when there's no service. When everything goes sideways, a reliable tire inflator along with some basic tools and know-how can spell the difference between stranded and a minor setback. And who knows, with one of these devices in your car, you might be able to lend a hand to other motorists in need.
What to Consider
Carry the most versatile and reliable tool that you can afford and store in your vehicle. If cost and storage space are no object, a larger air compressor will fill several tires in a hurry. If you need the convenience of a cordless unit that can stow in the center console, consider one of the more compact tire inflators.
FAQ
How often should I check my tire pressure?
At a minimum, you should check your tire pressure monthly. With a tire pressure gauge in your glovebox, you can even do this while fueling up. On newer and more expensive vehicles, you might find tire pressure readouts in the instrument cluster or infotainment menus.
Don't wait for a light on the dash to top up your tires, though. Many of those systems don't trigger until the tire is 25 percent below (or above) the recommended inflation pressure. You want to catch an improperly inflated tire long before it reaches that point.
What pressure do I set my tires to?
The answer is usually within an arm's reach of the driver. Open the driver's door and you should find a sticker on the doorjamb. Some German cars also have a tire pressure sticker on the inside of the fuel filler flap. If in doubt, your owner's manual should have more detailed information.
What's the difference between hot and cold tire pressure?
Tire pressure increases as the air inside the tire heats up. This can happen due to changing weather or simply driving the vehicle down the road. A tire that's set to the right pressure in a cool garage in the morning could reach excessive pressures if driven through the sweltering heat in the middle of the day. Conversely, if your road trip takes you from the warm garage to the subzero ski slope parking lot, you could notice a drop in your tire pressure. The recommended pressure on the door jamb is meant to be set with the tires cold, which means waiting until the car has been parked for at least three hours.