Tyre Inflators

mrk

mrk

mrk

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Joined
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I'm not too confident in the free air compressor at the local ASDA and in the past NickXX recommended the "Michelin Hi-Power Tyre Inflator" I think this was the one anyway.

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* Superior Performance - inflates a fully deflated car tyre in under 4 minutes
* Patented quiet motor technology
* Back-lit detachable digital gauge, accurate to +/- 1 PSI (up to 50 PSI)
* Integrated super bright LED lights for night use
* Adapters for air-beds/toys, footballs, and Presta valves
* 60cm (approx) high pressure air hose
* 3m (approx) power cord with fused power plug.

It was £50 the one he linked to so at the time I held off but just came across this inflator for £30.

Is this the best one to go for? nick seems to be not logged into IRC at th mo so can't confirm but if anyone else knows a good one in this price range that would be great. Be nice to have a inflator + gauge that's pretty accurate.

Auto Express also have given a high result review of Halfords Mini Rapid inflator with digital gauge which costs £8 less but it butt ugly (though this should not matter :p). AE say the Halfords one is accurate to 0.5PSI.
 
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Whats wrong with the £10 Michelin footpump?

Auto Express is a collection of badly written press releases, I wouldnt trust anything they say as far as I could throw a copy of their magazine, which is surely the News of the World of the Motoring Press.
 
Foot pump (importantly featuring a gauge) is good enough for me. Don't know why you'd need more.
 
Get yourself a Digital Pressure Gauge from Halfords, i've got two digital pressure gauges and a halfords automatic tyre inflator, gauge on the halfords tyre inflator is 1-2psi out but it inflates flat tyres quickly.
 
So decent footpump with decent gauge is all ok? I was under the impression that footpumps are not as accurate as digital pumps because they don't have any auto cutoff a shade after reaching desired PSI to account for slight loss during valve removal ?
 
mrk said:
So decent footpump with decent gauge is all ok? I was under the impression that footpumps are not as accurate as digital pumps because they don't have any auto cutoff a shade after reaching desired PSI to account for slight loss during valve removal ?
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Do your pressures have to be that accurate? I can only see removal loss as being a problem if someone has overly chubby fingers and it takes them 3 minutes to get the connector off.

PK!
 
I had that tyre inflater on loan when I had to keep putting air in a tyre that had a nail in it until the new ones arrived, its pretty quick and it lights up well at night so you can see the tyre etc. I wouldn't pay £30 for it but it was very handy for me as putting a extra 20psi in a tyre with a foot pump took me ages. Sure they got it from halfords for around £30.
 
Quite a bit of air does gush out when removing the valve, some valves grip to the attachment quite strongly so it can take a second to remove if it gets stuck - this was the reason I asked!
 
mrk said:
Quite a bit of air does gush out when removing the valve, some valves grip to the attachment quite strongly so it can take a second to remove if it gets stuck - this was the reason I asked!
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Fair enough. But surely any extra put in by an automatic is just gonna be a rough estimate, as you'll still lose a random amount getting it off. Just pump a fraction past the mark on your foot pump if you're worried.

PK!
 
Ah I see, I suppose the solution is this then, it is a 2 step solution but would be foolproof and far less costly!

Pump up tyres using the free compressor at ASDA or get Kwik Fit to pump them for free (actually this is probably a better option...) then use a gauge to see if they are what they should be and if it's over a bit just leave gauge attached so some air can leak out until the pressure is right.

Bit lengthy but no biggy for a check every few weeks I suppose!

Sounds good?
 
mrk said:
Quite a bit of air does gush out when removing the valve, some valves grip to the attachment quite strongly so it can take a second to remove if it gets stuck - this was the reason I asked!
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Not if you pull it out straight.


And there's nothing wrong with the £10 digital inflators you can buy from Halfords/wherever, I'm far too lazy to use a foot pump but I don't see the need to spend £50 on a compressor!
 
mrk said:
Pump up tyres using the free compressor at ASDA or get Kwik Fit to pump them for free (actually this is probably a better option...) then use a gauge to see if they are what they should be and if it's over a bit just leave gauge attached so some air can leak out until the pressure is right.
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Are you taking the mick? Seriously?

My god I thought I was anal with my weekly checks and constant car washing but you take things to an entirely new level.

Connect footpump. Pump tyre. Remove footpump. Repeat another 3 times. Put pump back in the boot. Go and get laid.
 
Meh, I just use the one in the Morrisons garage. I set the desired pressure, it fills to that then bleeps and it's spot on. Cost 10p a minute, 20p is usually more than enough, and that's nothing cost wise. I just pop in every week when refuelling.
 
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