Best 12 Volt Portable Air Compressors Review

These days tire inflators for cars, trucks, 4×4 and bikes are not the huge and heavy items that they use to be. As a matter of fact, many of them are now made very lightweight and portable. Some of the newer portable air compressors for cars can even inflate a tire up to 150 PSI. That means these devices are more versatile and useful than ever.

In this article we will take a look at some of the best tire inflators in the auto marketplace. These summary reviews are done by compiling information from customer reviews and other sources like “Consumer Reports” Magazine too. When you are finished reading you should have all the important information you need to make a sound air inflator buying decision.

Here are the top 12 volt car plugin air compressors that we came across when doing our research on these handy tire inflation devices:

Top-rated 12-Volt Air Compressors in 2020

Slime 40022 12-Volt Digital Tire Inflator

If you are looking for a small 12v tire inflator with a digital gauge, then this model from Slime may be exactly what you are looking for. It’s compact and lightweight but don’t be fooled because it can still inflate a standard size car tire in less than 6 minutes. Best of all it simply plugs into your cigarette lighter or 12 volt power point in your vehicle.

This handy inflation tool is not only great at filling car tires but it can also be used for bike tires, motorcycle tires and just about any other inflatable item you can think of too. It can inflate any small tire that requires up to 35 PSI of air pressure. It boasts some great features such as an easy to read digital gauge, a bright LED light and an automatic shut off mechanism for when the desired PSI has been reached.

Keep in mind this is not a heavy duty air compressor and it is not sufficient to fill light or heavy duty truck tires. It will however easily fill most standard size car tires and it sets up in less than a minute and is ready to use. The biggest drawback with this portable tire inflator is the fact it can only fill tires that require 35 or less PSI.

View Slime 40022 on Amazon

EPAuto 12V DC Portable Air Pump for Compressor

Here is one of the more rugged and powerful digital air compressors on our top review list. The EPAuto digital tire inflator is made to set up fast to handle any tire inflation job that requires up to 100 PSI. That is enough pressure to fill the tires on most any automobile, 4×4 or light duty truck, especially during your crazy off-road adventures.

It features a cord/air hose combination that is over 9 feet long which should enable you to get to any tire location on a standard size vehicle. Built into is an extremely bright LED torch to help you see when using it at night and its digital display can readout PSI, KPA, BAR and KG/CM.

This unit is really stable when working and does not jump around like some other small compressors for car do. It even comes with a handy carry bag that will also help protect it when it is stored in your trunk. The most detrimental thing about this automotive air compressor is it’s hard to get in its protective storage bag.

View EPAuto 12V DC on Amazon

P.I. Auto Store Premium Digital Tire Inflator

This is a great air pressure pump for car tires that is easy to use and can be conveniently stored right in your vehicle because of its compact size. It can handle any tire inflation task that requires a pressure of 150 PSI or less. That makes this unit great for filling any size vehicle and small truck tires. Among its more useful features are its easy to use push button design, simple to read digital display and built-in LED work light.

P.I. Auto Store has designed a very versatile car plugin air compressor with this model. It can be used to fill a variety of different tires. Even inflating bike tires with an air compressor like this is not a problem at all. Also, it’s a great unit that can help in resolving those off-road problems which can suddenly happen. One thing that users don’t like about this model is that it is loud when running. This product comes with a 100% satisfaction money-back guarantee also.

View P.I. Auto Store Premium Digital on Amazon

Viair 00073 70P Heavy Duty

This is a powerful and tough small model. It’s a Viair 12v heavy duty air compressor that can easily inflate tires that require up to 100 PSI. Good tire pressure is important and that is why having a tire pump for a car like this one stored in your trunk is a great idea.

Among the beneficial features it has are its durable and corrosion resistant brass twist-on tire chuck and its onboard pressure gauge that will accurately read the current tire pressure when the unit is not running. This tire inflator also comes with a handy carry and storage bag.

There are some other things to like about this product too. For one it has just about the best price point of any car plugin air compressor that is this powerful. Its consistent high rating from user reviews is something worth considering also. One of the concerns is the fact it tends to blow fuses if you attach it to the tire valve stem before turning it on.

View Viair 00073 70P Heavy Duty on Amazon

Helteko Portable Air Compressor Pump

If you want a modern and sturdy air compressor, you might like to take a look at the Helteko portable air compressor pump. The digital tire inflator comes with a compact design and several other features that make it perfect for inflatable objects such as balls and all types of transport (motorbikes, bicycles, and even cars). Read on as we review some of the key features of the Helteko digital tire inflator.

Key Features:

• Size and Weight: Unlike other lightweight options, the Helteko air compressor comes fitted with a more powerful motor – making it heavier and larger than other competitors. Although it’s relatively portable, you might need help from another person.
• Material and Construct: This embodies the very essence of a modern style compressor. It’s self-contained and small with no external storage. The portable air compressor is quite durable thanks to its construct of stainless steel and high-grade plastic parts.
• Tank Pressure: Looking for an air compressor to perform inflation jobs such as lawnmower tires, bike tires, and sports balls? At 150 PSI using 12 volts, the Helteko digital tire inflator is ideal for household and commercial use. It can comfortably handle tasks such as inflating standard car tires in as little as 3 minutes.
• Safety Features: When the Helteko portable tire inflator is idle, a handy shut off feature automatically turns it off to avoid accidents and unnecessary power consumption.
• Other Features: In case you have to work at night, the compressor is fitted with an emergency light that makes the task easier and safer. It also has an LED display for readings and several nozzle attachments for most inflation tasks.

Pros:

• Durable with a strong structure
• The design is stylish and compact
• Relatively powerful for a portable air compressor

Cons:

• Doesn’t come with an external storage case or bag
• It does not feature an adapter for standard wall sockets

View Helteko 150PSI 12V on Amazon

Read also: 5 Best Cordless And Rechargeable Tire Inflators

What Is Important When Selecting a 12v Air Compressor?

In order to find the best 12v air compressor for your needs, you will need to focus on several key characteristics of these handy devices. That is why we took the time to make up this informational 12v automatic digital air compressor buying guide.

If you focus your 12v portable air compressor for car tires purchasing on the following key features you stand a good chance of finding a high-volume electric air compressor tire pump that more than adequately meets your needs.

Here are the key features that the top-rated 12v inflator models usually have:

Easy plugin

One of the characteristics of 12 volt air tools that is supposed to be universal is their ease of setup. That means you want a car electric air compressor that easily fits into the cigarette lighter or 12 volt power point in your car. An air compressor that allows you to do this can be made ready to be up and running in no time at all.

Digital/Dial readout

Having a digital readout on your air compressor makes using it super convenient. These tend to allow you to preset your desired tire pressure and they often allow an automatic shutoff to kick in when that desired PSI is reached too. Dial type readouts are harder to use but the tradeoff is they are extremely accurate.

Adequate PSI

You need a device that can generate enough air pressure to fill decent sized tires. At a very minimum, any automotive model that you buy should be able to handle standard car tires that require up to 35 PSI of pressure. A compressor that can generate up to 100 – 150 PSI is even better to have on hand.

Power cord length/Air hose length

There is nothing more frustrating than to not be able to easily reach the tires on your vehicle that you want to fill with your mini device. So make sure the power cord/air hose combination has enough reach to get to all the tires on your vehicle.

Common Problems with Car Tire Inflators

Even the best 12v air pump does not come without some drawbacks. Here are the most common problems you will encounter when using a portable electric air compressor:

• Slow inflation rate

Even though some 12 volt models can handle filling tires as big as 150 PSI it will take a long time to accomplish this. The higher the PSI required for a tire the more time it will take to fill.

• Blown fuses

Car electrical systems were not designed to handle the amp draw of portable 12v air compressors on a regular basis. Carry some spare 15 amp fuses with you because you will definitely blow them from time to time.

Read also: How to Fix Your 12v Air Compressor

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Last update on 2020-03-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API