Tyre inflator

VanMan2007

I don't do a lot of mileage and my rear tyres are leaking air. I know it's not slow punctures, cos they both do it, as did the fronts until the tyres were changed and the rust cleaned off the inside of the wheels.

So I can either pay £15 for both tyres to be refitted and wheels cleaned, or get a tyre inflator? I currently use a cycle track pump, which means I have to give each tyre about 70 pumps every week or two. Great for the triceps, but not so good for the lower back!

Best tyre inflator that plugs into the cigarette lighter? I have a Mazda Xedos, as electrics in Jap cars sometimes work different, as with my CTEK battery charger.

Thanks guys.

colino

As the wheels are now porous (and unpredictably so) get your friendly local tyre place to clean them up. Blowing them up is only short term and you know they will go completely flat, at night, in a howling gale!

vikingaero

The Auto Express winner was the Ring RAC630. The Michelin Hi Power Rapid Tyre is pretty good too.

But I prefer a dual barrel foot pump such as the Michelin one: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/products/products/56696/foot_pumps.html

The reason I prefer foot pumps is that when you need to inflate the tyre using an electric pump it'll be at midnight or 6am and your neighbours will hate you. Unless you store the electric pump carefully you'll find the cable is broken/the hose is split/or other damage. With the mechanical footpump it will last longer.

jimmym105

How about pay £30 to get the tyres sorted.

Do you use the vehicle daily? If you do then you need to pump up daily. I couldn't be bothered to do that...but if you are involved in a collision and pressures are low you could be given blame that's not really yours.

My 13 year old Saab had porous alloys that couldn't be fixed for long by a tyre fitter rubbing them down - I paid for full alloy refurb, circa £40 a corner They look like new and don't leak one bit...

Wig

Halfords recently had 30 % off all pumps, you might want to check the offer is still on.

VanMan2007

Thanks for the replies guys. As it's only about £15 for BOTH to be refit, so I'm going to start with that, I think. I did the trick with the front tyres.

I don't use the car daily, every other day at most and usually only once a week, if that. (I prefer to cycle where possible.) But I like everything to be spot-on with the car.

Jimmym, you said you had the full alloy refurb. Do you mean your wheels were treated in some way, or you got new alloy wheels?

Thanks again guys.
:T

jimmym105

Vanman - yes, treated. The alloys are dipped in chemicals to strip right back to the bare metal. Any rust, little dints etc is then tidied up. Then they powder coat them, bake them until hard, and then add some layers of paint and finish with a lacquer.

I could have paid a bit more and bought some new alloys but I like those ones and they really are like new.

Got mine done at Prestige Wheels in Furness Vale (near Stockport but in Derbyshire) - they have a website that details the full process very well. And sorry my I meant to post it was about £50 a wheel.

Hammyman

£9.99+VAT for one from Machine Mart. Draws 15 amps though so you may want to check the rating of the cig-lighter socket.

forgotmyname

Your as mad as my sister :rotfl:

She went to halfords to buy a battery :eek:

£120 she couldnt afford that so bought an £80 jump starter. Used jump starter a few times over the winter and then left it uncharged as the car started OK in the warmer weather. Jump pack is now dead.

And she still needed a new battery.

Why did she not just goto europarts and buy a £60 battery?

Why spend £10 - £30+ when £15 will cure the problem?

Running the tyres lower than the specified pressure will cost you more in wear and tear and fuel.

paddedjohn

jimmym105 wrote: »

vanman - yes, treated. The alloys are dipped in chemicals to strip right back to the bare metal. Any rust, little dints etc is then tidied up. Then they powder coat them, bake them until hard, and then add some layers of paint and finish with a lacquer.

I could have paid a bit more and bought some new alloys but i like those ones and they really are like new.

Got mine done at prestige wheels in furness vale (near stockport but in derbyshire) - they have a website that details the full process very well. And sorry my i meant to post it was about £50 a wheel.

are you sure they are alloys? You mention rust in your post and alloys dont rust.

vikingaero

paddedjohn wrote: »

are you sure they are alloys? You mention rust in your post and alloys dont rust.

Rust as in corrode or become porous. The dipping/powdercoating/painting will reseal them.