Mini compressors

Eight 12-volt inflators put through their paces

Keep on top of tyre pressures as we test eight great inflators

PRODUCTGROUP TEST 29| 8| 2018 Every week, we extensively test all the latest car kit from tyres to trim cleaners. Log on to www.autoexpress.co.uk to look through our huge online test archive

CONVENIENT, safe and economical, a 12V compressor has everything going for it. There’s no wait in a queue at a petrol station air line – a double bonus, because many garage gauges are inaccurate – so you can check and top up your tyres whenever you need to.

With correct pressures, your car will handle, brake and corner as it should, while low pressures mean poorer mpg, too. In addition, they can cause uneven or illegal wear, forcing you to replace your tyres sooner. So a fairly small investment in a mini compressor could quickly be repaid. Which is the puff daddy? We plugged in eight to find out.

Howwe tested them

As with our last test (Issue 1,445), we timed our compressors to see how long they took to inflate a 15-inch tyre from 20psi to 30psi, checking for gauge accuracy at the start and finish.

Extra points were awarded for compressors with long hoses and power leads, extras such as adaptors and bags or cases, as well as practical features, such as clear displays. A preset shut-off option makes these devices so much easier to use. We also tested the compressors for noise, measuring the increase from ambient using an iphone app, before factoring in prices from online sources.

Verdict

THE Ring RAC635 retains the top spot, but the new entrant from Sakura was threateningly close behind, with the well-priced Wolf holding on to third place.

1. Ring 12v Preset Digital Air Compressor RAC 635 2. Sakura 12v Digital Air compressor SS5332 3. Wolf Glovebox Genie 3 in 1 Digital Tyre Inflator