Tyre inflator air compressor?

barryd

barryd

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I could do with replacing my ancient Ring RAC tyre inflator which has been used for bikes, cars and the motorhome. The only thing wrong with it is the pressure gauge no longer works so I have to keep taking it off and checking the pressure with a pencil type guage.

I seem to be confronted with a huge range of similar products like this one. https://www.amazon.co.uk/FORTEM-Inflator-Portable-Compressor-Carrying/dp/B089RMCVP8/ref=sr_1_15?crid=34II8AAAG3CN0&keywords=tyre+inflator+air+compressor&qid=1700322151&sprefix=,aps,103&sr=8-15&th=1

Reviews are good until as with all these products you read some of the bad ones. All cheap and made in China I guess to a price. Any recommendations?
 
I use one of these Tmaxx compressors on the motorhome/landrovers/works etc ...
Screenshot_20231118_163556_Gallery.jpg


Not cheap,not light ...

BUT an absolute beast of a thing .
 
SimonM said:
Barry, I have a Ring 240v compressor I run off the inverter, I wouldn’t ever trust the gauge on it and always double check with a ‘proper’ separate gauge. I’d continue the way you are
Click to expand...

I did wonder about that. The pump has been pretty reliable and has lasted years. I bet whatever I buy now unless I spend a lot would be knackered in six months.

I could do with a better gauge really. The one I have has started playing up lately.
 
A suggestion.

Over inflate the tyre then release pressure till the desired pressure is reached.

That way you only have to connect the compressor once.

(Do a test run and time it. The next time just run the compressor for that length of time.)
 
r4dent said:
Doesn't the run time depend on the starting tyre pressure?
Click to expand...
That's true.

But if you know it takes 2 minutes to add 5psi, say, and you know how much pressure needs to be added, roughly, then pump it for a bit longer and deflate as necessary.
 
This is the pressure gauge I use on the MH and is also what I used for my race bikes. I tested it as a comparison to a calibrated gauge at a local tyre fitters and it was spot on.

www.ebay.co.uk

Draper Tyre Pressure Gauge With Flexible Hose 69924 | eBay

Hand-held dual reading gauge with flexible 250mm long hose. Swivel angled tyre connection and air release valve. We will make every effort to ensure that your order is received quickly and safely. useful links.
www.ebay.co.uk
 
I purchased this one after the failure of a cheaper one that claimed it could cope with up to 100psi failed on first use when attempting to get pressures up to 75psi.

The one in the link has proper dual compressor cylinders, a metal body, and works fine and is suitable for heavy goods vehicles up to a claimed 150psi:-


Just noticed though it is out of stock on Amazon. If you visit their store link they do have similar alternative versions available so maybe updated versions of what I purchased.

But you do need a 25amp 12v commercial socket which our Fiat does have in the cab. It won’t operate with the typical car low powered 12v cigarette lighter socket. Not enough ooomph. It works OK if you connect it directly to the battery with the clamps if you only have a 12v cigarette lighter socket available in the vehicle.

Check out the Amazon reviews. You won’t regret this purchase.

And after the fun and games I have had in the past attempting to position the motorhome and use air pumps at service stations especially in France and Spain, especially the Repsol garage in Benidorm, and all the euros I had to put in the get the pressures up to what I wanted it is now a stress free experience to be able to check pressures and pump the tyres up or adjust pressures myself and not have these fun and games on foreign soil going forward!

There is a world of difference getting a car tyre up from 25psi to 28psi and a motorhome tyre up from 65psi to 75psi or maybe a bit more depending on load. It is not 30 seconds per tyre so you need something that will last a bit longer than 30 seconds!

As the actress said to the bishop! :)
 
Last edited:
barryd said:
I could do with replacing my ancient Ring RAC tyre inflator which has been used for bikes, cars and the motorhome. The only thing wrong with it is the pressure gauge no longer works so I have to keep taking it off and checking the pressure with a pencil type guage.

I seem to be confronted with a huge range of similar products like this one. https://www.amazon.co.uk/FORTEM-Inflator-Portable-Compressor-Carrying/dp/B089RMCVP8/ref=sr_1_15?crid=34II8AAAG3CN0&keywords=tyre+inflator+air+compressor&qid=1700322151&sprefix=,aps,103&sr=8-15&th=1

Reviews are good until as with all these products you read some of the bad ones. All cheap and made in China I guess to a price. Any recommendations?
Click to expand...

You could just have an in-line pressure guage at the end of the hose which will give the the info you need without having to replace an otherwise totally servicable pump.

I have one of the Ring Compressors and find it very good. It is the RAC900 model and has the bits below
61Y4PIU52TL._AC_SL1000_.jpg

If yours is the same, then just a matter of swapping out that end gauge fitting really.

If my RAC900 failed, I would probably just buy the exact same one again. I know it works well and has inflated a pair of Motorhome tyres simulatanously without any issues from flat to 65PSI (dually rear wheels connected together) which is a pretty good test of any pump.
The only think I have changed on it was to fit a 50A Anderson Plug in place of the Croc clips so I can easily plug into a flying lead power socket in the Electrics cupboard

Before I bought this I had a flat on one of the Dually wheels and borrowed a compressor pump from someone at a show. It was rated to a PSI way more than I needed but it was just no good sadly. Taking ages to do anything, and was getting very hot and a bit smelly so I turned it off long before the tyre was up to pressure. Since that experience I am wary about bargain compressors with amazing specs and bought the RAC900 over 5 years ago based on others reviews of it (on this forum, I believe) and it has lived up to that.
So I would recommend this puppy ... https://amzn.to/3G5e0mr
 
We bought the Ring RAC 900 Inflator for £79.99 in Sept 2022 and it works well, with all tyres accessible from the Vehicle Battery under bonnet terminals. Price now £95.33. I rely on the on board gauge, on the basis that Burstner recommend 80psi all round, but we run 65psi front; 75psi rear quite happily; so, as long as the gauge reads the same values for the n/s and o/s tyre on each axle, it will be OK. The M/Home stands with the n/s in the shade in the on street parking; after sitting for 4 weeks or so, the n/s tyres are unchanged, but the 2 o/s tyres require 3-4psi top up, and since this involves my rear end poking out onto the A921, the rapid inflation protects my derriere from damage from passing vehicles for longer than is necessary.

Steve
 
Fromwhat im reading not one of you understand compressors, as i stated the CFM is most impotant
So say a comp as normal will hit 125psi as most are set to, if the cfm is low it would take much longer to inflate a tyre, and will have a tiny electric motor.
And this will have to work hard and life span will be short doing big tyres, always look for the highest CFM when buying a pump, it will have a large motor
And very heavy electrical leads, probwont run of a cigy lighter socket,it willhave to be croc clips direct to the battery.
Many comp shops never tell you the CFM but state a tank size,this is a hoodwinkdont fall for it.
cfma.jpg
 
wildebus said:
You could just have an in-line pressure guage at the end of the hose which will give the the info you need without having to replace an otherwise totally servicable pump.

I have one of the Ring Compressors and find it very good. It is the RAC900 model and has the bits below
61Y4PIU52TL._AC_SL1000_.jpg

If yours is the same, then just a matter of swapping out that end gauge fitting really.

If my RAC900 failed, I would probably just buy the exact same one again. I know it works well and has inflated a pair of Motorhome tyres simulatanously without any issues from flat to 65PSI (dually rear wheels connected together) which is a pretty good test of any pump.
The only think I have changed on it was to fit a 50A Anderson Plug in place of the Croc clips so I can easily plug into a flying lead power socket in the Electrics cupboard

Before I bought this I had a flat on one of the Dually wheels and borrowed a compressor pump from someone at a show. It was rated to a PSI way more than I needed but it was just no good sadly. Taking ages to do anything, and was getting very hot and a bit smelly so I turned it off long before the tyre was up to pressure. Since that experience I am wary about bargain compressors with amazing specs and bought the RAC900 over 5 years ago based on others reviews of it (on this forum, I believe) and it has lived up to that.
So I would recommend this puppy ... https://amzn.to/3G5e0mr
Click to expand...

I like that idea. An inline pressure gauge would work if I can find one. Its a had screw on type mine so I just need that bit in the bottom of your image. The pump as said has been pretty good, its just the gauge.
 
The RAC is a perfectly good tool, but it would be a mistake to put it in the same class as the heavy duty products from either t-max, ARB or Viar.
Obviously, they are a lot more £'s too.
Good idea to fit a Anderson Plug too, makes it much easier/quicker to use, fit a one to end of croc clips too, for using on other vehicles.
 
mark61 said:
The RAC is a perfectly good tool, but it would be a mistake to put it in the same class as the heavy duty products from either t-max, ARB or Viar.
Obviously, they are a lot more £'s too.
Click to expand...
Same as if you are having to drive on a snowy day once a year to go to the shops, you don't need to buy a Land Rover with a lift kit and extreme off-road tyres.
Not a matter of mistaking a Vauxhall Corsa for something like that is there? But just a matter of having a piece of kit that does the job without extra unnecessary cost.

Same as getting an RAC900 instead of whatever those other ones you quoted are :)

mark61 said:
Good idea to fit a Anderson Plug too, makes it much easier/quicker to use, fit a one to end of croc clips too, for using on other vehicles.
Click to expand...
Exactly what I did, so still as supplied in effect, but extra flexibility. (y)
 
trevskoda said:
Fromwhat im reading not one of you understand compressors, as i stated the CFM is most impotant
Click to expand...
Maybe we are just not waffling on about it? ;)

trevskoda said:
So say a comp as normal will hit 125psi as most are set to, if the cfm is low it would take much longer to inflate a tyre, and will have a tiny electric motor.
And this will have to work hard and life span will be short doing big tyres, always look for the highest CFM when buying a pump, it will have a large motor
And very heavy electrical leads, probwont run of a cigy lighter socket,it willhave to be croc clips direct to the battery.
Many comp shops never tell you the CFM but state a tank size,this is a hoodwinkdont fall for it.
Click to expand...
 
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