Knowing how to use air compressor for tire inflation by yourself is very useful in emergency situations. Using the best portable air compressors can help vehicles quickly restore their mobility, reduce the cost of waiting on the roadside for rescue and towing, and help avoid absence from important occasions. This article will focus on how to use air compressor for tires and how to pick an air compressor for car tires.
How to use air compressor for tire？
It is crucial to learn how to use air compressor for tire inflation. Because under-inflated tires are less efficient, prone to overheat and wear out.
Moreover, a blowout tire can seriously disrupt the rest of your trip. When the tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) detects the problem of insufficient tire pressure and issues a warning, although you can temporarily plug a leak, you still need to inflate the tire before you can drive again.
Using a portable air compressor for tires inflation is a great solution. The best air compressor for car tires can quickly done the inflation in any place, effectively solving the problem of insufficient tire pressure and ensuring the safety and comfort of your driving.
But it should be noted that you must understand how to use air compressor for tires correctly when you operating it, mind the inflation time and tire pressure to protect the safety of tires and personnel.
Inspection before using portable air compressor for tires
There are some things you need to know before learning how to use air compressor for tire.
First, you need to check the tire. Check if there is any visible damage to the tire, such as cuts, cracks, punctures or bulges. Do not use small air compressors to inflate damaged tires.
The second is to determine the tire pressure. Before using an air compressor to inflate, you need to determine the normal pressure value of the vehicle tire. Generally, you can find it on the logo on the door or inside the cab. Be careful not to use the PSI marked on the sidewall of the tire. It indicates the maximum pressure rather than the recommended pressure.
Finally, check if there is water in the tire. If there is water in the wheel, it will affect the service life of the tire and may cause safety problems such as tire blowouts. Therefore, you need to drain the water in the tire before using an air compressor to inflate the tire.
Steps of how to use air compressor for tire
It’s pretty easy to learn how to use air compressor for tire. When using an air compressor for tires, you need to follow the correct operating procedures:
Power the air compressor: Most portable air compressors for car can be charged through the car power socket accessory, and there are also battery-powered small air compressors for cars on the market.
Connect your portable air compressor for tires to its power source (12V or 120V or 240V or rechargeable battery, depending upon the compressor). If the vehicle only has a cigarette lighter, you can use the cigarette lighter to power the portable air compressor for car.
Connect the air compressor to the tire valve: Remove the valve cap from the tire valve stem and connect the valve stem to the air compressor hose. Use quick connector if necessary to make sure the connection is secure and tight.
Start the air compressor: Most portable air compressors for car tires come with a gauge that guides you and helps add the correct amount of air. Adjusting air compressor regulator to the recommend PSI of tire. When the desired air pressure is reached, the best air compressor for car tires can even automatically shut off to prevent over-inflation. You can preset the recommended pressure for your tire on the best air compressor for car tires.
Turn off the air compressor: When there is the right amount of air pressure in the tire, stop the air compressor from continuing to inflate and remove the connector and air hose from the tire valve stem. When removing it, you may hear a hissing sound from air leaking out. Don’t worry, this is normal. Quickly put the valve stem cap back on the valve.
Check tire pressure with pressure gauge: Use a tire pressure gauge to check whether the tire pressure reaches the recommended value. After the portable air compressor for tires cools down, pack up all tools and the air compressor and the air compressor tire inflation work is done.
Notes on how to use air compressor for tire
During operation, it is very important to ensure safety. When using a portable air compressor for tires, be careful not to leave the compressor while it is running to avoid over-inflating the tire, which can damage the tire and shorten its service life, or even cause a tire blowout.
During the inflation process, it is important to maintain the proper air pressure and avoid excessive or low air pressure, which will affect the performance of the tire. For ordinary car tires, the standard air pressure is usually set at around 250kPa (0.25MPa), and a 0.8MPa air compressor can fully meet this requirement.
If the air hole of the tubeless tire is clogged, you can try to remove the valve core and use an air compressor to inflate the tire directly, or replace the valve core with a new one. If the tire is leaking, you need to repair it first. If you accidentally add too much air, press down on the tire valve to release some air.
Avoid using a portable air compressor for tire inflation when the tire is hot, because when using a tire pressure gauge to read the pressure, the hot tire will show a higher pressure due to the thermal expansion and contraction effect. Inflating the tire at this moment is dangerous because it’s very easy to over-inflate the tire.
Common troubleshooting of air compressor for tires
- Pressure gauge failure: Observe the pressure gauge. If the pressure is insufficient, run the engine at medium speed for several minutes. If the pressure still does not rise or rises slowly, and the brake pedal is pressed, the sound of deflation is very strong, indicating that the pressure gauge is damaged. At this time, the pressure gauge should be repaired.
- Increased air consumption: The air compressor power cannot meet the requirements of the existing working environment, which will cause the air compressor to fail to pressurize. This phenomenon requires the selection of a replacement machine model. Some pipelines may have some small cracks due to the use time or maintenance factors, resulting in air leaks and decrease in air pressure.
- Pressure switch failure: The working principle of the air compressor is to compress the air into the air tank for storage. After reaching the preset pressure, the pressure switch pops up, or the pressure sensor and the relay signal make the relay pop up, thereby disconnecting the line and stopping the compressor. If the pressure switch fails, the air compressor may not reach the preset pressure.
Best air compressor for car tires
There are many options for air compressors suitable for inflating wheels, including car air pumps, portable air pumps, and small air compressors. These devices usually have the following features:
Easy to operate: There is no need to remove the tire, and the tire can be inflated directly. The operation of best air compressor for car tires is simple, and even people who don’t know how to change spare tires can easily complete the tire inflation with it. Best air compressor for car tires usually have intelligent wireless, automatic charging and stopping functions, and are easy to use.
Convenience: When the car tire is flat before outdoor activities or travel, the tire pressure can be brought to the standard pressure in a short time, usually only about 3-6 minutes. Best air compressor for car tires are usually small in size and easy to carry, suitable for use in the wild or when traveling.
Safety: Using an air compressor to inflate the tire can avoid the trouble and danger of changing spare tires and reduce the risk of traffic accidents.
Best air compressor for car tires can provide accurate pressure adjustment to ensure good tire inflation. And usually with a large power range, it is also suitable for use in repair shops or occasions where high-power inflation is required.
Specific recommended products include Kotech portable gasoline air compressor.
(KGP-1.6/7 Gasoline Air Compressor)
How to pick an air compressor for car tires
When choosing the right air compressor for car tires, there are some things worth considering:
Power and air delivery: Choose the appropriate power and scfm vs cfm according to your needs. Generally, a particularly large air compressor is not required for inflating car tires. An air compressor for car tires with a displacement of about 0.5 cubic meters and an exhaust pressure of about 5Mpa can meet the needs well.
Portability: If you need to use it in the wild or when traveling, choose a portable air compressor for car tires with a small size and light weight.
Function: Choose an air compressor for car tires with functions such as intelligent stop after reaching the preset pressure and accurate pressure regulation to ensure the use effect and safety.
Type: Most of the best air compressor for car tires on the market are reciprocating piston type, rotary blade type or rotary screw type, while centrifugal compressors are usually used in larger-scale applications.
Power supply: It is actually more convenient to use air compressor for car tires with single-phase electricity. Air compressor for car tires with three-phase electricity cannot directly obtain power from the car, which is quite inconvenient to use. Best air compressor for car tires is actually battery powered air compressor.
FAQ of best air compressor for car tires
Is a small air compressor suitable for car inflation?
The answer is yes. Small air compressors can be used to inflate car tires, but pay attention to the following points:
Small air compressors usually have low power and small cylinder size. The inflation speed is relatively slow compared to professional car air pumps, and the inflation time may be longer.
But small air compressors are generally not suitable for inflating large vehicles, such as large SUVs, pickup trucks, etc.
During the inflation process, it is necessary to ensure that the inflation pressure of the air tank and air pipe does not exceed the rated pressure of the air tank to avoid excessive pressure and cause danger.
When using a small air compressor to inflate car tires, it is necessary to inflate according to the tire pressure requirements provided by the car manufacturer to ensure driving safety.
Can air compressor for car tires be used for other inflatables?
It is not only an air compressor for car tires, but also household air compressor commonly used for daily inflation, such as inflatable mattresses, inflatable swimming pools, wheels, bicycle tires, footballs, etc. And it is small in size, light in weight, and highly portable, making it very suitable for outdoor use.
(KDP 2/7 Series Portable Air Compressor)
How to choose a small air compressor
Choose the appropriate power and cylinder volume according to your needs. The greater the power, the faster the inflation speed, but the volume will also increase accordingly, which is not portable. It is recommended to choose an air compressor with a pressure gauge and inflation tube to facilitate the control of the correct air pressure. Choose a reputable brand to ensure quality and safe and reliable use.
Is a belt-driven air compressor better or a direct-driven air compressor?
Direct drive air compressor is better. Air compressors can be divided into belt drive air compressors and elastic coupling direct drive air compressors based on the transmission mode. The screw main shaft and the motor of the direct drive air compressor are connected as a whole through an elastic coupling, and the transmission efficiency is high.
However, after the belt drive air compressor is used for a period of time, the elasticity and toughness of the belt joint decrease, and the transmission efficiency will also decrease.
Explore Kotech’s air compressors
Kotech is an experienced manufacturer of air compressor for tires, and is always the first choice of all your air compressor needs. Our team of experts is experienced and professional, and can help you solve any problem you may have on air compressors.
From selection to installation to maintenance, we can provide a complete guide including optimal advice and solutions for your project. Contact us today to learn more about the air compressors we manufactured.
