Ever gotten stuck with a flat bicycle or motorbike tire? How about when you go to change a flat tire on your car, and the spare is flat also? Or have you bought a ball, but on getting home you realize that you have nothing to pump it up? You need the best 12 volt air compressor!
Well – a flat tire need not be a problem anymore!
What you need is a simple portable air compressor that you can carry in the car wherever you go. Specifically any of the small high powered tire inflators make them the best 12 volt air compressor. These are relatively small machines that you can plug into your car’s cigarette dock or your car’s battery, and use it to fill the tires on your lawn mower or a car. They come with a relatively short hose to deliver air, a 12-volt motor that works to compress the air in a cylinder as well as a connecting valve to help you allow or cut off the air supply.
Other components of the best 12 Volt air compressor are:
- A pressure gauge (in psi or bars) to help you do readings
- A connection mechanism to a power source (either alligator clips or a plug for the cigarette dock)
- A power cord to connect the power tool to a power source
With that, let’s take a look at our favorites.
This air compressor is definitely for every car owner. Why? It’s portable, light and believe me it will save you the time (and money) you’d spend driving to a gas station or waiting for a tow truck.
With its 12 VOLT – 120PSI maximum working pressure, all you need to make sure is that your engine is running for it to start working. It doesn’t matter which car you have because it’s perfectly functional for ATVs, SUVs, trucks and those with up to 33-inch tires!
So let’s see what this little beast is made up of
It weighs 1 pound (only) and is 11 x 6 x 5.5 inches, meaning it’s going to take up hardly any space wherever you’d chose to store it. With LED/power indicator, 9-foot power cord, 12-foot air hose and three-piece inflation tip kit it will do the work for you. This portable air compressor powered via alligator clamps directly to a battery of your car so no stress there. The best part? It is an 88p model meaning it has 4.5 minutes run time and 5.5 minutes cool down time and in return means it takes less time filling up the tires!
Pros
- Best in price range
- Small (but powerful)
- Super-fast filling up time
Cons
- No cigarette lighter adapter but available
- No kit bag
This compressor is just perfect for small to heavy inflation jobs on vehicles. It comes with a carry bag and I have to say, it doesn’t disappoint. All that’s needed for it to work is a running engine.
Its technological details include a brass twist-on tire chuck and 12 VOLT – 100 PSI maximum working pressure which is pretty impressive. To fire it up, just turn on the unit to inflate the tire and then off to check the pressure. Simple.
Now this compressor has had a lot of positive feedback and here’s why.
It does not weigh much. 5.5 pounds. Its dimensions of 9.2 x 8.5 x 8 inches make it easy to manage and who are we kidding it takes care of roadside emergencies in just under 5 minutes so say goodbye to having to helplessly wait for help.
Pros
- Fits neatly into its bag
- Very little sound made while operating it
- Low running temperatures
- Draws less current
- Also functional on bicycle wheels, beach toys, etc
Cons
- Painting on it might wear off
- Some might say its big
This digital tire inflator works exceptionally on car tires with its maximum pressure of 35PSI. With its smooth exterior, reasonable weight (0.2 ounces) and running time, it definitely gives you a run for your money.
Who knows when you might be caught in a fix but just in case it happens to be at night, it has a bright and long-lasting LED light and inflates an average sized car in merely six minutes. It plugs directly into the car’s cigarette lighter and has rubber feet for grip. Did I mention it is only 2.8 x 6.5 x 6.5 inches?
I had to save the best for last so here.
With its impeccable technology, it automatically shuts off when the proper pressure is reached. All you had to do was enter your desired pressure and voila! The rest will be taken care of.
Pros
- 12 foot total reach
- Digital display
- Not costly
- Digital Pressure Gauge
- Automatic shut off
Cons
- A bit loud
- Can be slow
This is a useful product for anyone who loves convenience. So in short, everyone. It is a fairly easy to use and is one of the best 12 volt air compressor, and has state of the art features. It only takes a few minutes to inflate a tire and is not complicated at all.
Here’s the thing, it is long lasting and anyone can use it. As long as you have a cigarette lighter port (which you do) then this life-saving device is just for you. Its specifications include 10 feet long power cord, it’s a pound light and filling up time can take 15 seconds (I know) to two minutes depending on the size of your tire.
In fact, it is also great for heavy duty vehicles because it can work even on a 31-inch tire. It is a neat size, well packed together and it is not loud when in use, which makes it even better. As well as a LED light for better sighting, it has a knob that you, the user, can use to adjust the pressure by yourself.
Pros
- Fast
- Long lasting
- Noise reduction
- Works on cigarette lighter port
- Perfect for small to average sized car owners
Cons
- Only works on car tires
- Could blow fuse if pressure goes higher than 60 PSI
This air compressor which fills up car tires in only three minutes works for every car owner. There are a lot of air compressors out there on the market but many of them quite compare to this one. If you are going to want an air compressor which is fast and reliable and has the best features you might want to consider buying this one because it is one of the best on the market right now. And I’m talking from experience on this one.
So, what makes it so demanding you ask?
First of all this gadget has a 10-foot power cord which means you can effortlessly use it for whichever wheel of your car you want to. Who knows which tire might decide to leak air? Or when someone drops a nail on the ground, and your car would just happen to run over it? No one plans on these things, so it’s better always to be prepared for anything.
Don’t forget that it has an inbuilt LED light and can easily be used on a cigarette lighter outlet. As well as a carry bag, which carries it comfortably since it only measures 7 x 7.1 x 9.3 inches, it weighs 5.34 pounds.
Pros
- Comes with carry bag
- Fills up relatively large tires
- Durable
- Have adapters for filling up other things other than car tires
- Can fill up other things
Cons
- A bit on the pricey side
- Slow inflation time
This latest product by viair comes in a sleek design and compact size. It as well comes with extra parts on top of the main product. These include the air hose, direct battery clamp, power hose and other parts.
Here’s the deal: this compressor can fill up to 33-inch tires and in a short time too! This means it is also perfect for heavy duty vehicles so if you own a truck, you’re well sorted out. Now apart from inflating tires, it can also deflate them plus you can check the tire pressure with it so it is of the utmost technology people.
Technological details
It does not draw too much current at 28 amps and its maximum working pressure is 150PSI so not bad. Aside from all this, it comes with an owner’s manual, a kit for tips, battery clamps and much more. This air compressor would be a great gift for your relatives don’t you think?
Pros
- Low level of noise while in use
- Does not over heat
- Nice design
- Affordable
- Comes with lots of extra accessories
Cons
- Long filling up time
- Power cord is short
The Slime COMP02 12-Volt Tire Inflator is a great little gadget to use. It has been highly recommended by a lot of users because it did such a great job! Not only that but did you know that it is the leader when it comes to car tire care in the world. Yes you heard that right.
It has a power cable and inflation hose along with it and fills up car tires in no time and is ideal for average sized to small cars. In the world that we live in today, we live very busy lives and no one wants to be caught up with a leaking or flat tire, so it is almost necessary to own a tire inflator, and that is why we recommend them to anyone looking for the best 12 volt air compressor. It weighs 32.4 oz and works very well.
Pros
- Fast inflating time
- Perfect for small car users
- Very affordable
Cons
- Pretty loud
- Not suitable for large tires
- Overheats often
- Not very powerful
Now this product should be on everyone’s list. It is perfect for big jobs as well as little ones. Why do I say this? This tire inflator has two (no one) but two tubes to speed up filling up time.
For usage, it connects directly to the battery for as much power as possible. With its two tubes, in only two minutes, boom, your average sized car tires are filled up. It weighs 0.8 ounces meaning it won’t take any hustle to store it anywhere in your car. Aside from that, it weighs 12 x 9 x 6.5 inches which means it not the big.
I won’t get tired of mentioning that the major plus here is the fact that it will inflate your tires twice as fast. The machine comes with a LED light built into it, which is really bright by the way, and in general is just money well spent when bought.
Usage guide
- Fasten one end of the twist-clip air hose to compressor and another on the tire
- Connect the battery clasps to the car’s battery
- Turn the tire inflator on and fill up to your desired or recommended pressure.
- When done, just switch it off and detach power cord.
Pros
- Fast filling up time
- Compact
- Powerful
- Works on car battery
- Easy to carry
- Long lasting
Cons
- Cannot be used on cigarette lighter port
- Needs a lot of power
- Low quality carrying bag
CONCLUSION
With that selection of our favorites, you should have no problem picking out one that’s convenient for your daily use.
Some final tips before you start using the best 12 volt air compressor:
- Make sure you’ve read the user manual and understood the possible hazards including electrocution.
- Always make sure all the parts with screws are tightened
- Lubrication of the compressor once in a while is good for the smooth running of the machine
- Check the warranty on the equipment. Keep this card because you never know what could happen to your new toy.
With that we wind up with a look at some of the best 12 Volt Air Compressor on the market.
If you are still interested in our range of small and portable air compressor for car tires, best tire inflator, or rechargeable air compressor, then feel free to browse each of our reviews.
For something a little different, click here to see our review of the latest and best tankless air compressor reviews.
You will be amazed at all the offerings, and it could be hard to choose the best 12-volt air compressor sometimes. It is a must-have power tool for individuals and families who want to save a lot of money, time, and effort in having their vehicle tires inflated.
This is great advice to be able to inflate tires at a moments notice! The best way to make sure the tires are pumped and ready to go is to have a handy 12 volt air compressor or tire inflator handy at all times
With the best 12 v air compressor, you can go bike riding at any time and you will never have a flat!
I see you have a lot of reviews of a wide range of 12 volt air compressors.
It is refreshing to see an independent review of one brand vs another brand of air compressor.
Thanks for the interesting review.
I love having a 12 volt tire inflator ready for emergencies. The best way to make sure the tires are always inflated is to keep a 12 volt tire inflator close by.
Terry
These 12 volt air compressors are ready to go at a moments notice! The best way to make sure the tires are pumped and ready to go is to have a handy 12 volt air compressor or tire inflator handy in the trunk of the car.