What Type of Air Compressor Do I Need to Inflate Car Tires

You need a small portable inflator, not a shop compressor: a cordless handheld if you want a grab-and-go pump, a 12-volt plug-in if your winters drop below 20°F or you'd rather not charge anything. Either way, inflate to the cold pressure on the label in your driver's doorjamb; the number molded into the sidewall is the tire's maximum, not your target. If you want a carry-anywhere pump for more than tires, the best portable air compressor page is written for you. If car tires are the only job, the best air compressor for car tires page covers that case.

Pick the line that matches what you can see in your garage and car:

• You already own Milwaukee M18 batteries and want the quickest handheld. It reached 30 psi from 10 psi in just over a minute, and it stops at the pressure you preset. It ships without a battery, so buy it only if you already have one. Get the Milwaukee M18 inflator.
• You own no cordless-tool batteries and want a pump with its own battery. It charges over USB-C and shuts off at the set pressure. Get the Slime Cordless Pro Power.
• Your winters are cold and your car has a working 12-volt socket. A plug-in has no battery to run down, but your vehicle must be powered while it runs. Your owner's manual sets the socket limit, and Mazda caps the MX-5's at 120 W (10 A). If your manual's limit is under 138 W, use the clamp-on pick in the next bullet. Otherwise the 138 W motor handles tires up to 31 inches. Get the NOCO AIR10.
• Your manual caps the accessory socket at 120 W or a fuse has already blown. Skip the socket entirely. This one clamps to the car battery and handles tires up to 35 inches. Get the NOCO AIR20.
• Your truck or off-road rig runs tires taller than 35 inches. This compressor is rated up to 37-inch tires and reaches 150 PSI. Get the Viair 400P-A.
• You have a garage outlet and tires that go fully flat now and then. A tank compressor suits that job, and it tops off car tires well within its 120 PSI limit. Get the California Air Tools 8-gallon compressor.
• Your battery dies more often than your tires go low, and you want one box for both. It carries a 160 PSI compressor, added 5 PSI to F-150 tires in about 3 minutes and ranked 4th of 13 jump starters. Get the WOLFBOX MegaVolt16 Air.
• You want the jump-starter combo with a longer air hose than the WOLFBOX offers. It is rated for 2,000 A peak. Both combos carry an 8 L gasoline and 6 L diesel rating from their makers, and brands don't share one scale, so match your engine to the maker's rating. Get the NOCO Boost Air.