You Should Keep This Tire Inflator in Your Car At All Times (2024)

If you have to keep one tool in your car, make it this portable, cordless tire inflator. Powering it up is no problem thanks to two options: You can use the detachable 20-volt battery or your car's 12-volt outlet. We like that it has a few handy extra features as well, like a digital display gauge for pressure readings, an auto shut-off setting once the desired pressure is reached, a USB port for charging devices and a built-in light so you can use it in low-light settings.

According to the auto pros at Car and Driver, this tire inflator reached desired pressure levels faster than other competitor models. Plus, the rubberized handles are comfortable to grip and the value is hard to beat. Just keep in mind that it's not suitable for larger truck tires, according to the manufacturer.

This Amazon best seller has over 39,000 reviews with an average 4.5-star rating. Its lightweight, compact and super portable design makes it a great tire inflator to leave in the car at all times, and we like that it features an LED light as well as a digital display. On top of compatibility with most car and SUV tires, you can also use it to inflate bike tires, basketballs and motorcycle tires.

While it may not feature a battery option, the pros at Car and Driver like that the VacLife plugs into your car's 12-volt outlet (or a wall outlet with an adapter) and how a long, 12-foot cord makes it easy to reach all four tires. In their tests, they found that inflation times fell somewhere in the middle — not the fastest yet not the slowest — which may be a sacrifice you're willing to make for such an affordable price.

For this story, the product analysts at the Good Housekeeping Institute relied on our decades of expertise in testing autos and auto equipment, from our favorite cars for parents like three-row SUVs to home EV chargers. While we haven’t yet tested each air compressor or tire inflator formally in our Lab, our analysts reviewed popular picks among online consumers for factors like price, design and more.

To learn even more about air compressors for cars, we partnered with fellow Hearst brand, Car and Driver, whose auto experts have tested portable tire inflators firsthand. To narrow down the best ones, their team evaluated factors such as each tire inflator’s ease of use, weight and portability, power (how fast the compressor was able to increase a tire’s pressure levels), corded vs. wireless design and the noise levels while in operation. They also factored in whether the compressor came with any extra features such as a light, digital display, carrying case or USB port.

✔️ Type: There are two main types of tire inflators: Portable and handheld models vs. console units. Handheld devices are ideal to always keep in the car in case of emergencies as these tend to be lightweight and compact, while console units are better suited for the garage as they're heavier and larger but, on the bright side, can inflate almost anything from basketballs to air mattresses and tend to be more feature-rich.

Media and tech reviews analyst and writer Olivia Lipski oversees product testing and covers everything from consumer tech to autos, travel, home and more. She continues to stay on top of the industry’s latest innovations and helps readers make better buying decisions by testing and reviewing the best gadgets to hit the market. Not only does she regularly collaborate with the Good Housekeeping Auto Lab to evaluate some of the best family cars, but she reviews handy car accessories and equipment.

To select the picks featured above, she consulted our partners at Car and Driver and the Hearst Autos Gear Team, who have more than 206 years of automotive publishing experience. Hearst Autos combines the forces, talent and knowledge of three of the largest, most influential automotive publications in the world: Autoweek, Car and Driver and Road & Track. The Hearst Autos Gear Team promises to deliver honest evaluations, hands-on tests and product reviews driven by decades of knowledge and experience.

Testing for this story was conducted by Deputy Commerce Editor at Car and Driver Jon Langston. An avid motorcyclist and gear collector, his work has appeared in Men’s Journal, Cycle World, The Drive, Rider, Iron & Air, Motorcyclist and more. Collin Morgan, an Associate Commerce Editor at Hearst Autos, collaborated with Langston to test the best portable tire inflators. He's a former Rust Belt mechanic and gadget enthusiast who presents the best gear for your automotive endeavors.