Without a tyre pump, a flat tyre can really ruin your day. It’s when a situation like this arises you realise just how important those four tyres on your wheels really are. Imagine being sat at the side of the road in miserable weather, waiting for the roadside mechanic to turn up in their van and breathe new life into your deflated tyre when you could be on your way again so much sooner if only you had a tyre pump. You can get run-flat tyres, but these tend to be a bit more expensive, can’t usually be repaired and are mostly found fitted to higher-end vehicles.
Tyres with the correct pressure last longer and get fuel efficiency, saving you serious money. Properly pressured tyres are also more effective if you need to slow down or stop in an emergency. In short, it’s a good idea to keep a tyre pump in your car at all times to make sure your tyre pressure is correct.
Best tyre pumps at a glance:
Editor’s choice: Ring RAC 610 – Buy now from Amazon UK
Best for basic functions: AA 12V Digital Tyre Inflator – Buy now from Amazon UK
Best cordless tyre pump: Enntas Cordless Tyre Inflator – Buy now from Amazon UK
Most tyre pumps will do the same job but with varying degrees of efficiency and flexibility. Do you need different types of adaptors, or would you prefer a cordless device? We’ve had a look at some of the best tyre pumps available.
Best tyre pumps
Editor's choice
Pros
- Easy to operate
- Compact size
Cons
- Analogue display
Best for stylish design
Pros
- OLED touchscreen control
- 0.1 PSI accuracy
Cons
- No storage for the supplied accessories
Best for basic functions
Pros
- Comes with handy LED illumination
- Digital readout
Cons
- Can be a bit slow
Best cordless tyre pump
Pros
- Stylish and compact design
- Powerful output
Cons
- Slower than some others
Best for flexible use
Pros
- No external power supply is needed
- Can be used as a power bank
Cons
- Lacks battery charge level indicator
What you need to know about tyre inflators
Before you go about checking your car’s tyres, there are a couple of things to remember. There are two main methods of measuring how much air is in your tyres: pounds per square inch (psi) or barometric atmospheric pressure (bar). Be sure to check which measurement the tyre pump uses before buying (although some offer both measurements).
The pressure your tyres should be set to can be found in your car’s handbook. There are usually two figures shown, one for normal use and another for high-load situations. Be sure to regularly check your tyres (once a month should be enough) to make sure that they stay at the correct pressure as air leaks out over time.
Ryan Gilmore is the Deputy Autos and Tools Editor for Parkers and CAR, specialising in car cleaning and hand tools. With an MA in Automotive Journalism, when he’s not testing buckets he can be found looking at old Porsches.
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