Cordless Tire Inflators Prove Handy Tools for Car Maintenance

CR evaluates battery-powered compressors from Bauer, Craftsman, DeWalt, Makita, and Milwaukee

By Chris Jones

Jeff S. Bartlett, Consumer Reports Managing Editor, Autos.

By Jeff S. Bartlett
Managing Editor, Autos

Updated August 2, 2021

Proper tire inflation is key for optimal fuel economy and safety, and to maintain even treadwear. Monthly tire pressure checks are quick and easy to do at home, but adding air pressure requires an air compressor.

For many drivers, this means running down to a local service station, but cordless air inflators for home use can tackle this chore with ease. These inflators work with the battery from a cordless toolkit and can even be used to inflate other things, like air mattresses and bicycle tires.

We bought five cordless air inflators from popular brands: Bauer, Craftsman, DeWalt, Makita, and Milwaukee.

We evaluated smaller, handheld cordless tire inflators in 2017—the kind that look much like a cordless drill. These were inexpensive and easy to use, but they were short on features and took a long time to do their job.

Most of the inflators in our latest tests are bigger than handheld units (the Makita in this group is more like a handheld than the others), and most share batteries with cordless toolkits from those companies. These models are versatile and easy to use, and save you from tethering to a car outlet, dragging around an extension cord at home, or handling a filthy hose at a gas station.

All five units we bought came with adapters for inflating sports balls and bicycle tires. These models typically have backlight digital displays, and all have an auto shutoff feature to prevent overinflation. Only three of them came with an extra ability to utilize a high volume/low pressure hose that can be used to fill an air mattress or other large inflatable, a feature that adds value and versatility.

For our evaluation, we used a midsized car tire. Our technician timed how long it took to inflate from 0 to 35 psi, representing a freshly mounted tire or one that has gone completely flat, and he also timed inflating from 30 to 35 psi to simulate a common need to top off a tire.

All models did well in both situations, with one taking as little as 4 minutes for a full 0 to 35 psi inflation. By contrast, the handheld tire inflators took longer and some overheated performing that sustained task.

A real advantage for these larger compressors is that most allow you to set the target psi, then walk away and let it do its job—you don’t need to remain crouched, holding the air nozzle in place.

A more typical use is topping off tires—adding a few psi to bring them up to the proper setting. Times ranged from around 40 seconds to a little over a minute, a reasonable range, though longer than a plugged-in compressor found at a service station. It’s more convenient to be able to top off at home, however. We think drivers would be more likely to maintain the proper tire inflation if they owned one of these models.

For many consumers, the choice will be dictated by which cordless tool set they own or plan to purchase. (See our test results for cordless drills for insights into compatible tools.) Of course, these can also be bought as stand-alone items, with a battery and charger.

As you will see below, there is a tire inflator for all needs and budgets.

If you’re shopping for a cordless toolkit and prize having a great inflator, we would choose the DeWalt for its combination of overall good performance, simple-to-use features, quiet operation, and use of logical hose storage. Consumer Reports has found DeWalt heavy-duty cordless drills to be strong performers, as well.

None of these inflators are intended for heavy work like a dedicated compressor with an air tank would be, but they are good in a pinch and may be a helpful addition to your emergency roadside kit.

We present the five cordless tire inflators we evaluated below, ranked by preference, starting with our favorite.

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Jeff S. Bartlett

Jeff S. Bartlett is the managing editor for the autos team at Consumer Reports. He has been with CR since 2005. Previously, Jeff served as the online editorial director of Motor Trend for 11 years. Throughout his career, Jeff has driven thousands of cars, many on racetracks around the globe. Follow him on X: @JeffSBartlett