How to Use a Portable Tire Inflator (Step by Step)

by

A portable tire inflator is one of the most useful things to keep in a car. Here is the standard way to use one.

Before You Start

  • Find your car’s recommended tire pressure. It is usually on a sticker inside the driver’s door jamb or in the manual, not on the tire itself.
  • Check the tire when it is cold, since driving heats the air and raises the pressure.

Step by Step

  • Park on a flat surface and turn the engine on if the inflator plugs into the 12V socket.
  • Remove the valve cap and keep it safe.
  • Screw or clip the hose onto the valve firmly.
  • Set the target pressure on the inflator if it has a digital display.
  • Switch it on and let it inflate. Many stop automatically at the set pressure.
  • Remove the hose quickly and refit the valve cap.
  • Repeat for the other tires, and check the spare if you have one.

Tips

  • Inflators are made for short use. Give them time to cool between tires if the manual says so.
  • Recheck pressure with a separate gauge now and then.
  • Do not exceed the maximum pressure on the tire sidewall.

Consider a TPMS

A tire pressure monitoring system warns you before a tire gets low. See my guide on whether you need a TPMS, and my roadside emergency kit list.