What do I do? I’ve got a bike bump and probably need the exercise but am too lazy. Are those tyre repair kit compressors ok to use for topping up tyres?
jpvd
Conundrum. I’ve given up petrol stations but I need to top up my tyre pressure.
What’s wrong with going to a petrol station to top up tyre pressure? You could always buy a portable compressor otherwise.
I haven't needed to top up my tyres for a year or more. The car's tyre monitor system will let me know if/when action is needed. The spare kit compressor will easily handle any small adjustments anyway.
I'm sure they'll be fine for topping up tyres. Afraid they're pretty useles for the purpose allegedly supplied - very litle chance of one reinflating a flat tyre !
I have a mini compressor supplied with my Toyota and it is perfect (and quick) for inflating tyres. I especially like the fact it screws on rather than clipping on so no loss of air. I totally agree with EricM as there is no way any domestic compressor will inflate a tyre that has lost it's seal. As most new cars do not carry spares, if you get a proper flat tyre you will have to use a mobile tyre repair/replacement service or a breakdown service.
Halfords used to (25 years ago) have a hierarchy of footpumps with the cheapest being a plastic bodied one, mid-range was a single barrelled metal job, and the top dog was a double barrelled metal.
The cheap one was the best: virtually indestructible. Mine is on its 3rd connector hose but the body is still good.
If you've wondered why you never see plastic footpumps any more in Halfords it's because they don't die unlike the shonky metal ones.
Bad for business.
The cheap one was the best: virtually indestructible. Mine is on its 3rd connector hose but the body is still good.
If you've wondered why you never see plastic footpumps any more in Halfords it's because they don't die unlike the shonky metal ones.
Bad for business.
Specialist tyre fitters (Kwik Fit, ATS, etc) are not petrol stations but all have tyre inflation capabilities.
I recommend getting a stirrup pump.
They last a long time. I got one (one) about 20 years ago, and still gets routine use, after multiple foot lever pumps failed (the rods always break) and a couple of broken electric ones.
You should have a pump in the back of the car, surprised if there isn't one, in fact (and I don't want to make a false claim here, so feel free to check) I suspect there may be a homologation requirement to have kit to re-inflate a broken tyre (which might simply be a spare wheel .. which is a legislated homologation requirement in some countries I believe, such as Australia and France but can be a modified requirement under authority, such as a good repair kit).
They last a long time. I got one (one) about 20 years ago, and still gets routine use, after multiple foot lever pumps failed (the rods always break) and a couple of broken electric ones.
You should have a pump in the back of the car, surprised if there isn't one, in fact (and I don't want to make a false claim here, so feel free to check) I suspect there may be a homologation requirement to have kit to re-inflate a broken tyre (which might simply be a spare wheel .. which is a legislated homologation requirement in some countries I believe, such as Australia and France but can be a modified requirement under authority, such as a good repair kit).
I stopped using the air pumps at petrol stations when they started charging for the air, it used to be 20p but now 50p seems to be more usual, for that you get to use the compressor for 5 mins, make sure you take all the valve caps off before putting your money in and starting the compressor or you will likely have to put another 50p in.
I've never used a petrol station for air in my life. The little portable electric compressors work great for topping up.
Ahem:
www.halfords.com
Who wants to pay 50p a time to drive to a smelly garage (especially in an EV that won't be fuelling up there) to top up your tyres when you can do it for free in a few minutes with a foot pump without leaving your house ?
Another reason to do it yourself at home is that tyre pressures should always be checked with cold tyres when the car hasn't been driven for at least a few hours.
If you have more than a mile or so to drive to a garage to check your tyres you're not checking the cold pressure, which means you will under inflate the tyres unless you compensate for this by pumping them up to a higher pressure, however estimating how much higher you need to go on a warm tyre is difficult as it depends on both the temperature of the tyre and the size of the tyre, (volume of air within) so best to just check when the tyres are cold - eg before leaving home to get consistent results.
These kind of foot pumps don't have particularly accurate gauges so if you care about accurate tyre pressures (and you should) my advice is to have a small but accurate tyre pressure gauge which you keep in your glovebox, and always use that same pressure gauge as your reference to check the pressure - regardless of whether you top it up with a foot pump or at a garage.
Some garage pumps are notoriously inaccurate, so I would always over inflate about 2psi then use your pressure gauge to bleed and measure to get it spot on - and do the same with the foot pump - over inflate then bleed back and measure using the gauge.
Another advantage of having a small, quick to use pressure gauge in the car is that there's no reason to get the foot pump out or drive to the garage if the gauge confirms the pressures are OK. This can be done very quickly before setting off on a long trip for example.
Pressures should be checked at least once a month, and if all is well you'll lose less than 1psi a month. If you're losing more than about 2psi a month you probably have either a leaky valve or an undiscovered nail/screw in the tyre which is sealing the hole but not perfectly!
Those with tyre pressure monitoring systems are not off the hook either - those systems will only warn you if pressures are getting dangerously low (many psi low) before safety is affected or tyre damage is caused, they won't warn you if you're only a couple of psi down which would be reducing efficiency and causing extra wear to the shoulder of the tyre. So waiting until the tyre pressure warning comes on before doing anything is not the way to go....
Halfords Essentials Metal Barrel Foot Pump and Gauge | Halfords UK
Shop the latest Halfords Essentials Metal Barrel Foot Pump and Gauge at Halfords UK
www.halfords.com
Who wants to pay 50p a time to drive to a smelly garage (especially in an EV that won't be fuelling up there) to top up your tyres when you can do it for free in a few minutes with a foot pump without leaving your house ?
Another reason to do it yourself at home is that tyre pressures should always be checked with cold tyres when the car hasn't been driven for at least a few hours.
If you have more than a mile or so to drive to a garage to check your tyres you're not checking the cold pressure, which means you will under inflate the tyres unless you compensate for this by pumping them up to a higher pressure, however estimating how much higher you need to go on a warm tyre is difficult as it depends on both the temperature of the tyre and the size of the tyre, (volume of air within) so best to just check when the tyres are cold - eg before leaving home to get consistent results.
These kind of foot pumps don't have particularly accurate gauges so if you care about accurate tyre pressures (and you should) my advice is to have a small but accurate tyre pressure gauge which you keep in your glovebox, and always use that same pressure gauge as your reference to check the pressure - regardless of whether you top it up with a foot pump or at a garage.
Some garage pumps are notoriously inaccurate, so I would always over inflate about 2psi then use your pressure gauge to bleed and measure to get it spot on - and do the same with the foot pump - over inflate then bleed back and measure using the gauge.
Another advantage of having a small, quick to use pressure gauge in the car is that there's no reason to get the foot pump out or drive to the garage if the gauge confirms the pressures are OK. This can be done very quickly before setting off on a long trip for example.
Pressures should be checked at least once a month, and if all is well you'll lose less than 1psi a month. If you're losing more than about 2psi a month you probably have either a leaky valve or an undiscovered nail/screw in the tyre which is sealing the hole but not perfectly!
Those with tyre pressure monitoring systems are not off the hook either - those systems will only warn you if pressures are getting dangerously low (many psi low) before safety is affected or tyre damage is caused, they won't warn you if you're only a couple of psi down which would be reducing efficiency and causing extra wear to the shoulder of the tyre. So waiting until the tyre pressure warning comes on before doing anything is not the way to go....
When I was a lad I had a part time job in a petrol station. We used to put the fuel in for customers, add oil for them if they asked us to check it, top up washer bottles, check their tyres if we were not busy, all part of the service! Some times you were given 6d for your trouble! Three gallons of petrol for a quid.
Eeeee, when I were a lad, thems was the days....
Back to reality - buy a pump that runs of the 12v and carry it with you and use it at home.
Still need to visit the local garage for a pint of milk though!
Eeeee, when I were a lad, thems was the days....
Back to reality - buy a pump that runs of the 12v and carry it with you and use it at home.
Still need to visit the local garage for a pint of milk though!
We bought a portable, rechargeable tyre pump to keep in glove box of Model 3 because (unlike Zoe) it doesn't have a factory one. The idea is that it should be sufficient to top up a slow puncture.
I actually used it on Zoe recently (less faf than 12V one) and it did a great job of adding 5psi to each tyre. The torch and battery pack facility is a bonus.
I actually used it on Zoe recently (less faf than 12V one) and it did a great job of adding 5psi to each tyre. The torch and battery pack facility is a bonus.
Vastar Portable Air Compressor, 100PSI / 2000mAh Lithium Battery Mobile Air Pump Tyre Inflator, Air Pressure Detection and Automatic Stop Inflation, Suitable for Bicycle Tire Swimming Ring : Amazon.co.uk: Automotive
Vastar Portable Air Compressor, 100PSI / 2000mAh Lithium Battery Mobile Air Pump Tyre Inflator, Air Pressure Detection and Automatic Stop Inflation, Suitable for Bicycle Tire Swimming Ring : Amazon.co.uk: Automotive
www.amazon.co.uk
I bought the Von Haus portable compressor best bit of kit I've bought in ages, bought it for other family cars , as previously owned a range of generally crap compressors over the years. But this is a solid bit of kit. It's digital, it's small and really portable, and the battery seems to last 'forever' I've done about 10 different tyres with it, including 4 from completely flat on a project car - the reviews of it all say the same thing too - have a look for yourselves. https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/282864240430 it's on amazon too
This was the quote - " Seasonal variations alone should mean you need to adjust tyre pressures at least once a quarter "
I read that to mean adjusting the actual pressures. ie- increasing or lowering gauge pressure in tyres seasonally. Changing the readings themselves upwards and downwards.
I did not read it mean to maintain the same pressures by slight adjustment. Re-reading the quote I can see how it can be interpreted either way.
My reply was because I have been aware of many people thinking that they should lower or increase the pressure readings seasonally. This is based on them having read about people, quite correctly, checking winter summer pressures and adding or subtracting air to keep a constant pressure. And then them misunderstanding what was actually being done.
However, if the OP meant it as you have interpreted it then I agree. My reply was in error.
I read that to mean adjusting the actual pressures. ie- increasing or lowering gauge pressure in tyres seasonally. Changing the readings themselves upwards and downwards.
I did not read it mean to maintain the same pressures by slight adjustment. Re-reading the quote I can see how it can be interpreted either way.
My reply was because I have been aware of many people thinking that they should lower or increase the pressure readings seasonally. This is based on them having read about people, quite correctly, checking winter summer pressures and adding or subtracting air to keep a constant pressure. And then them misunderstanding what was actually being done.
However, if the OP meant it as you have interpreted it then I agree. My reply was in error.
I've used RIng ones for some time and 10 years later still going strong and accurate. You should carry something, slow punctures can be dealt with and you can limp home with a compressor if needed.
Back to the petrol stations, I heard a similar complaint about someone who liked chewing gum and only ever bought it at petrol stations. Not only are EVs helping save the environment they're saving that guy from a stomach ulcer
Back to the petrol stations, I heard a similar complaint about someone who liked chewing gum and only ever bought it at petrol stations. Not only are EVs helping save the environment they're saving that guy from a stomach ulcer
what do you mean you've given up petrol stations? what about when you need emergency jammy dodgers? - my garage has been doing these for £1 for like forever. im still a regular visitor if only for the biscuits. - and then I store them in the frunk (froot) and then leave - it confuses everyone
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