The hassle of getting air into your tyres

worried_jim

I have a leaking alloy so need to top up every week and would say over the last two years doing so has become more and more of a challenge.

The local Texaco used to have one of those free pumps with the gauge on them, could top up in seconds. They have now moved to a 50p payment, but never a queue. Would always do this on a Sunday morning and buy a paper- lost all my business now.

Tesco- also gone to 50p + there is always a queue for it, but you do get 5mins air so normally it is still going as the car in front of you finally moves off- unless he has done the same!

Sainsbury's- cheapest fuel and free air- can never get near the place it is so busy, could easily spend 10 mins queuing- to save 20p?

Texaco- on the way home from work- only 20p to use, but it does have a convenience shop so people do park in front of it, including local comedian/communist and radio 4 personality Mark Steel in his dented sky blue Volvo.

I swear getting air never used to be this much of a chore/expense. Rant over.

Strider590

Get a 12v air compressor...... They're cheap as chips, I always carry one in my car, always have.

oldagetraveller

Buy a cheapish foot pump? Then top up at your convenience.

Ebe_Scrooge

Even cheaper :

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/1479331.htm

I've had one for years, it's still going strong.

forgotmyname

Avoid the cheap little £5 compressors. They take ages and usually can only run for a few minutes before they get too hot and need cooling.

But why not get the alloy fixed? Plenty of companies out there to refurbish it/them.

OddballJamie

Think about the time and money you've wasted over the last two years, then go buy another alloy. There's plenty of practically new odd spares on Ebay.

Herzlos

I had the same issue, used a £5 footpump to top it up every now and then when I was waiting somewhere anyway. It never occurred to me that people might use the petrol station machines regularly - 10 weeks would have bought you a new pump. Probably quicker as well by the time you drive there.

Bettie

I use a bicycle pump. good for the bingo wings!

BeenThroughItAll

Bettie wrote: »

I use a bicycle pump. good for the bingo wings!

You use a bicycle pump for car tyres? Who are you, Arnie?


Workshop compressor and a Dunlop airline for me.

worried_jim

The car is going by the end of the year and I never expected it to last this long for £500. At first the leak was a monthly top up but recently it has become weekly which is why I've noticed this.

I know it's the wheel as I've has new tyres, at first I was dead chuffed as it had stopped, but no, they had just put the wheel on the other side of the car, d'oh!

Bettie

BeenThroughItAll wrote: »

You use a bicycle pump for car tyres? Who are you, Arnie?


Workshop compressor and a Dunlop airline for me.

It's a mini one but did cost tenner with lifetime guarantee. Fits in the cubby hole and it's not that hard to pump the air in.