Tire Inflators... Let's Talk
12-03-2010, 11:42 PM
#1
In the Mid-South meow
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Tire Inflators... Let's Talk
I personally use a 12V plug in tire inflator to top off my tires to maintain proper tire pressure every other week or so, so I started wondering if the majority of people here use a portable tire inflator aka air compressor or do you guys go to a $.50 gas station air station and fill up? Anything you'd have on a wish list for a portable tire inflator that isn't curently offered on any?
12-03-2010, 11:44 PM
#2
Your Friendly Canadian
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$.50 gas station for me. I rarely add air, and it's not often enough to validate buying an air compressor.
But
you adjust air pressure every two weeks?
But
you adjust air pressure every two weeks?
12-03-2010, 11:47 PM
#3
In the Mid-South meow
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Maybe I was being a little to optimistic. Let's say every month or so at the very least. I DO like to know I'm getting the best MPGs possible. Oh, and maybe I get some free perks for working for an auto accessory company. 
12-03-2010, 11:50 PM
#4
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Very lucky.
I usually just carry a tire gauge with me, check that every once in a while.
Might be a bit off topic, but speaking of tires, have you found that your stockies are more rounded than most other cars? As in the look almost a little deflated?
I usually just carry a tire gauge with me, check that every once in a while.
Might be a bit off topic, but speaking of tires, have you found that your stockies are more rounded than most other cars? As in the look almost a little deflated?
12-03-2010, 11:58 PM
#5
In the Mid-South meow
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Well I'm not on stocks anymore, but yeah, when on them I always thought they seemed under-inflated. I typically inflate my tires a bit over OEM recommended. I find the comfort/ride quality level isn't effected enough to stop from getting a few extra MPGs. I currently have 245/40/18s and I run them @ 35psi front, 32psi rear. I've gotten good results from that pressure combination.
12-04-2010, 12:13 AM
#6
My merc was supposed to have an air compressor for the spare but it didn't... I bought one and have used it for the other cars and even the bikes... I run my stockies over about 3 psi over the rec to give a better highway ride quality since my CL is lowered a bit... the merc is just running OEM pressure bc I don't know her well enough yet...
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12-04-2010, 04:59 AM
#9
Senior Moderator
I carry an air compressor with me at all times. You never know when you need to top off, and I'd rather do it at home or the office than at some seedy gas station. Compressors are dirt cheap as well.
I have one in my wife's car, too, but she'd rather go to the dealer when she sees her tire pressures drop.
Wives....
I have one in my wife's car, too, but she'd rather go to the dealer when she sees her tire pressures drop.
Wives....
12-04-2010, 09:23 AM
#10
Trolling Canuckistan
I keep a portable one that plugs into the cigarette lighter in the trunk at all times. I've had it since the 90's and it's been a very useful piece of equipment to have.
I have issues with paying for air.
I have issues with paying for air.
12-04-2010, 10:06 AM
#11
Senior Moderator
i check mine and adjust as necessary weekly. I use the 80gal air compressor i have at home. If i happen to check them while not at home i use the (typically) free air pumps at the gas stations around here.
12-04-2010, 10:47 AM
#15
Stage 1 Audi S5
I'm lucky that my car tells me the pressure of each tire from inside (is it accurate, seems to be) and I look at it every month or so. If they need air, I usually wait till I pass one gas station that has free air
12-04-2010, 10:53 AM
#16
I've used one of these for the past couple of years: Black & Decker ASI300 Air Station Inflator
http://www.amazon.com/Black-Decker-A.../dp/B000IE0YIQ
http://www.amazon.com/Black-Decker-A.../dp/B000IE0YIQ
12-04-2010, 11:11 AM
#17
12-04-2010, 11:23 AM
#19
In the Mid-South meow
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One of the main reasons I prefer filling my tires with air with a plug in inflator at home compared to a gas station is I know I'm getting cold PSI readings at home since I don't heat the tires up by driving to the station. Plus most gas station air fill stations do not have accurate gauges, so unless you have a tire gauge at your disposal, you really are just guestimating how much PSI you're putting in your tires. Of course there's also the added security of having an inflator at my disposal in my trunk for unexpected flats.
We're developing new tire inflators at work and I'm trying to ensure we make the best, coolest inflators out there, as well as being the most consumer friendly. For instance, right now most inflators use the I/O for the On/Off switch, whether it be for the inflator or light, and those designations don't mean jack to me. I've blown fuses in my car because the inflator was on when I plugged it in to my 12V outlet due to the switch on my inflator not having On and Off labeled next to it. It was anyone's best guess if the inflator was in fact on or off. So needless to say one of my ideas is to make the on/off easy to figure out and maybe even make it cool looking instead of your typical plastic toggle switch. My inspiration is everyday recognizable icons or buttons you might see on your own car's dashboard. If you're using an inflator, you're most likely using it on your car tires, so why not make good use of what you're used to seeing and using when driving everyday? So I'm trying to work in a power-on/off button like you see in the newer cars. Push it in to start, push it in to stop, but by default it's off. That's just one idea of many so far.
Without giving too much away before these are designed and out in the market, let me just say these inflators will not only work better than the competition, but they'll look very cool and be extremely functional as well. They won't be the typical off the shelf re-branded inflators that Slime sells. These are going to be pleasing to the eye, functional and much better built.
The coolest thing is these inflators are still in development, so literally if someone here has an idea that would make one of them even better, it can definitely be worked in to be on the production versions. All the info so far has been helpful. It's interesting to see how many people actually have air compressors at home and how many just get air at gas stations. Does anyone have any features they would say "why didn't I think of that" on an inflator in mind or thought of before?
We're developing new tire inflators at work and I'm trying to ensure we make the best, coolest inflators out there, as well as being the most consumer friendly. For instance, right now most inflators use the I/O for the On/Off switch, whether it be for the inflator or light, and those designations don't mean jack to me. I've blown fuses in my car because the inflator was on when I plugged it in to my 12V outlet due to the switch on my inflator not having On and Off labeled next to it. It was anyone's best guess if the inflator was in fact on or off. So needless to say one of my ideas is to make the on/off easy to figure out and maybe even make it cool looking instead of your typical plastic toggle switch. My inspiration is everyday recognizable icons or buttons you might see on your own car's dashboard. If you're using an inflator, you're most likely using it on your car tires, so why not make good use of what you're used to seeing and using when driving everyday? So I'm trying to work in a power-on/off button like you see in the newer cars. Push it in to start, push it in to stop, but by default it's off. That's just one idea of many so far.
Without giving too much away before these are designed and out in the market, let me just say these inflators will not only work better than the competition, but they'll look very cool and be extremely functional as well. They won't be the typical off the shelf re-branded inflators that Slime sells. These are going to be pleasing to the eye, functional and much better built.
The coolest thing is these inflators are still in development, so literally if someone here has an idea that would make one of them even better, it can definitely be worked in to be on the production versions. All the info so far has been helpful. It's interesting to see how many people actually have air compressors at home and how many just get air at gas stations. Does anyone have any features they would say "why didn't I think of that" on an inflator in mind or thought of before?
Last edited by SuperTrooper169; 12-04-2010 at 11:26 AM.
12-04-2010, 11:23 AM
#20
Solution: Use tire gauge to measure each tires pressure when cold. Go to where ever it is you go to get air, measure tire pressure with same gauge before putting air in. Determine difference between hot and cold pressure, and fill accordingly. Then measure with tire gauge again.
12-04-2010, 11:23 AM
#21
In the Mid-South meow
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12-04-2010, 11:25 AM
#22
In the Mid-South meow
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12-04-2010, 11:27 AM
#23
2010 TL AWD 6MT: New King
I've used one of these for the past couple of years: Black & Decker ASI300 Air Station Inflator
http://www.amazon.com/Black-Decker-A.../dp/B000IE0YIQ
http://www.amazon.com/Black-Decker-A.../dp/B000IE0YIQ
Dam Amazon for making it so easy to spend money
12-04-2010, 11:28 AM
#24
12-04-2010, 11:29 AM
#25
In the Mid-South meow
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12-04-2010, 11:30 AM
#26
In the Mid-South meow
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Well there you go.
12-04-2010, 11:53 AM
#27
Depends on the application. For the cars and light trucks I check the tires about every two weeks and air them up with a compressor. For the equipment and heavy trucks the tires are checked each time they're used.
I find this is especially important in cold weather, as a tire typically looses a small amount of pressure.
Terry
I find this is especially important in cold weather, as a tire typically looses a small amount of pressure.
Terry
12-04-2010, 11:55 AM
#28
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I've blown fuses in my car because the inflator was on when I plugged it in to my 12V outlet due to the switch on my inflator not having On and Off labeled next to it. It was anyone's best guess if the inflator was in fact on or off. So needless to say one of my ideas is to make the on/off easy to figure out and maybe even make it cool looking instead of your typical plastic toggle switch.
12-04-2010, 12:07 PM
#29
I've always had a portable compressor for adjusting tire pressures at the track, if for nothing else. They're inexpensive, and useful in a pinch if you develop a leak. One think I like with the TPMS system on our new RDX, is in addition to just warning you if a tire is low, is it also shows the current individual pressure readings in all four tires, right on the MID in front of you.
12-04-2010, 12:40 PM
#31
2010 TL AWD 6MT: New King
1) Built in flashlight and emergency flashers
2) Ability to jump start a car by plugging into the car's 12v
3) Built in am/fm radio for weather/traffic announcement
4) A hand crank to juice the inflator (ie. no need for outlet)
Be sure to post a link when they're ready
12-04-2010, 01:02 PM
#32
In the Mid-South meow
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^ Some good ideas there! Thanks! And will do.
12-04-2010, 01:06 PM
#33
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That's pretty cool, SuperTrooper. One idea I think would be useful for the general population is to have some sort of small keypad or input device where you could type in your desired pressure, say 35 psi, and the inflator automatically stops once the tire, or whatever you're inflating has reached that pressure. It probably wouldn't be too cost effective, but definetely useful.
12-04-2010, 02:45 PM
#34
In the Mid-South meow
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^ Thank you, sir. That feature is already in the works. :wink:
12-04-2010, 04:15 PM
#35
I carry an air compressor with me at all times. You never know when you need to top off, and I'd rather do it at home or the office than at some seedy gas station. Compressors are dirt cheap as well.
I have one in my wife's car, too, but she'd rather go to the dealer when she sees her tire pressures drop. Wives....
I have one in my wife's car, too, but she'd rather go to the dealer when she sees her tire pressures drop.
Wives....
12-04-2010, 05:18 PM
#37
CL in lawnmower status
That's pretty cool, SuperTrooper. One idea I think would be useful for the general population is to have some sort of small keypad or input device where you could type in your desired pressure, say 35 psi, and the inflator automatically stops once the tire, or whatever you're inflating has reached that pressure. It probably wouldn't be too cost effective, but definetely useful.
another thing, make it easy to stow the cords, like i've seen the air hose to connect to the valve be easily accessible and wraps around the unit, but i've never seen any where the long ass power cord is put anywhere nicely
my current one has a little cubby to put it in, but then i need to fold up the 10-15ft cord and try to fit it in that cubby everytime which is a pain in the ass.
so if i could either warp it around the unit somewhere nicely and securely or have some sort of wheel that retracts the cord into the unit like a tape measure does...
and obviously have attachments for pumping up basketballs, air mattresses, and other things like that, but keep them securely on the inside of the unit so you don't lose any.
other than that i'd say try and keep it minimal in the features, to save space, i've never used the flashlight on mine, is it really useful if it's so big and attached by a cord to have a flashlight on it? not for me anyways, i keep an actual rechargeable shop light in the car for that. And not many people will want to have a huge unit sitting in their trunk for the occasional use.
and what price point are you marketing this for?
i paid 50 dollars for mine and it was only worth it since my tires were flat every morning in the winter, and this was the only compressor that didn't break after 2 weeks of -40 degree weather
good luck with your product though, and let us know when it comes out
... and as far as inflation of tires, i'm sticking with recommended on the Audi for now, but on the Cl i was running 40psi with no problems
Last edited by mitch14; 12-04-2010 at 05:21 PM.
12-04-2010, 05:44 PM
#40
In the Mid-South meow
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Mitch, I appreciate all the feedback.
I should have mentioned we know there are both analog and digital auto shut off units out there (we actually currently make one), so to improve upon that is tough, but definitely doable.
Cord storage is definitely something we've been working on. We think we've come up with a nice spot just for that on our line.
Regarding the flashlight, the dynamics of making a rechargable flashlight that is charged off of the inflator is a nightmare anyway. Plus most people that are using the inflator don't want to have to hold a flashlight while operating the unit (or already carry a flashlight in their car), so typically inflators have build in "work lights". Ours will have these, but we're working on making them more functional, i.e. able to rotate/adjust the beam to shine where you want it to shine.
Regarding the price point, we're all across the board. All the way from the opening price point of $9.99 up to $59.99, so there's potentially 7 new units we're developing. All hands are on board for this project lol.
I should have mentioned we know there are both analog and digital auto shut off units out there (we actually currently make one), so to improve upon that is tough, but definitely doable.
Cord storage is definitely something we've been working on. We think we've come up with a nice spot just for that on our line.
Regarding the flashlight, the dynamics of making a rechargable flashlight that is charged off of the inflator is a nightmare anyway. Plus most people that are using the inflator don't want to have to hold a flashlight while operating the unit (or already carry a flashlight in their car), so typically inflators have build in "work lights". Ours will have these, but we're working on making them more functional, i.e. able to rotate/adjust the beam to shine where you want it to shine.
Regarding the price point, we're all across the board. All the way from the opening price point of $9.99 up to $59.99, so there's potentially 7 new units we're developing. All hands are on board for this project lol.