Portable tyre inflator

Ebe_Scrooge

To answer the OPs original question - I had one of those a couple of years back. It was great the first couple of times I used it. Next time I came to use it a few months later, it was dead as a dodo. I checked all the obvious stuff - fuse, internal connections, etc., to no avail. Toyed with the idea of arguing the toss with Amazon - it was over a year old, but not by much. In the end I decided it was not worth the hassle, and went back to my trusty old £5 foot pump.

The one thing I didn't like about the Ring inflator was that it screwed onto the tyre valve, rather than using the standard thumb-lock thingy. So you always lost a bit of air when you removed it. No big deal, just over-inflate slightly then let a bit out afterwards if needs be. I always check the pressure with my good old pencil gauge anyway. I don't think pressure gauges are ever that accurate, whether digital or analoge.

So the bottom line in my opinion - stick to the trusty old foot-pump. Far cheaper and more robust. And it's not as though you're regularly inflating from flat, you're only usually topping up a couple of psi.

AdrianC

If you want a manual pump, then a bicycle "track pump" is much better than a footpump.

Much more air per stroke, much less work.

daveyjp

I have had that model for years. Gets used every week and no issues.

forgotmyname

I have the same one you listed and its utter junk. Sent 2 of them back as they were faulty from the box.

3rd one appeared to work, until you set a pressure.. Say your tyres at 28 and you want to increase it to 32. It turned off after about 5 seconds claiming to be at 32.. No way it increased the pressure that quickly.
Checked with a gauge and still at 28.

I now set it to its max PSI and check the pressure manually.

They had good reviews but the build quality must have dropped.

boliston

on the few occasions i have needed to inflate at home i have just used my bike pump - a 'park tools' track pump with built in pressure gauge - it was about £30 when i purchased it about 25 years ago

Cap2019

Thanks for all the tips - I am drawn to the 1 year warranty on the Ring unit, might come in handy if I do end up with a dud like some people seem to have had. I used to over inflate with the air compressor and then bleed the tyres using a halfords digital gauge that I’ve had for years and so won’t need to rely on the automated unit to be too accurate. I hadn’t thought about a foot/ bike pump .. modern times and all! Will have a look into some of those too

missile

I have that same model inflator, it works pretty well. However, it is a faff to plug in and swop over to do other side. I have recently purchased this which is much more convenient to use >

Spinybif

Had a ring, didn't use much for 12 months. Outside guarantee dead!

Bought one from Tesco (own brand). Cheaper and has proved much more reliable; 4 years old and working fine. Only downside it didn't come with a nice case but it did fit the old Rind one.

DigForVictory

I got a Ring 12v Car Automatic Analogue Tyre Air Compressor Inflator Pump RAC620 for a bit over £20 & it’s paid for itself by getting air into tyres faster than they’re deflating long enough to get me home, twice. Chewed the inner tubes but my call to keep driving & not stop & swap a wheel properly.

neilmcl

DigForVictory wrote: »

I got a Ring 12v Car Automatic Analogue Tyre Air Compressor Inflator Pump RAC620 for a bit over £20 & it’s paid for itself by getting air into tyres faster than they’re deflating long enough to get me home, twice. Chewed the inner tubes but my call to keep driving & not stop & swap a wheel properly.

You do know that car tyres don't have inner tubes