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Does anyone know what is the best tyre air pump to buy?

Thanks,
Tom

One of those Standing two handed pumps and a pressure gauge?
That's served me well over the years when I can be bothered to check...
Good exercise too

Are you using for day - day? or track?

PUR157 wrote:Are you using for day - day? or track?

Just day to day driving. I want to be able to check my pressures once or twice a week.

And some thing without the "huffing & puffing" would be preferable!

Tom

Tom wrote: Just day to day driving. I want to be able to check my pressures once or twice a week.

Sounds like your 5 is a daily driver, or close to it. I would check the tyre pressure at the servo while filling up the gas tank, and top the pressure up if needed.

I keep a Lumen mechnical tyre pressure gauge in the glove box. When ever I fill up I do a quick check of the pressure and then top up as necessary using the equipment at the garage. I use my own gauge as I have found quite a variation in readings between local garages..

If you look at the PDF file list the gauge I use is the 2nd one in the list, cost under $20 at a RACV shop. There is also a foot pump at the bottom of the list of products.

http://www.lumen.com.au/html/pdf/lumen_ ... gauges.pdf

J

Personally, I prefer the 'Longacre' gauges which suit a variety of budgets and have a load of features. Best found on E-Bay US.

http://www.longacreracing.com/catalog/catlist.asp?catid=8

As for the best air pump, get yourself an air compressor. Fairly cheap these days and have a variety of uses around your garage. Or better yet, get a rechargeable air ratchet so you can use it at the race track as well. However these come at a price but well worth it!

mr_rotary wrote:As for the best air pump, get yourself an air compressor. Fairly cheap these days and have a variety of uses around your garage.

x2
Allows you to pressure the tyres when they are cold.

de Bounce wrote:

mr_rotary wrote:As for the best air pump, get yourself an air compressor. Fairly cheap these days and have a variety of uses around your garage.

x2
Allows you to pressure the tyres when they are cold.

Thanks That's the reason I want to buy one. The local servo's unit is stuffed and by the time I get to the next servo my tyres would have warmed up a bit.

Is there anything I need to look out for/avoid in air compressors? Any brand recommendatons? Best place to buy?

Thanks,
Tom

You can easily buy an inexpensive guage and you can check cold at home and re check if you choose as well as at the petrol station. It is not necessary to check the tyres twice a week. It would seem to be an unnecessary expense to buy a compressor just to put air in the tyres. The warm tyre concern is not really an issue of any real substance.

Tom wrote:

de Bounce wrote:

mr_rotary wrote:As for the best air pump, get yourself an air compressor. Fairly cheap these days and have a variety of uses around your garage.

x2
Allows you to pressure the tyres when they are cold.

Thanks That's the reason I want to buy one. The local servo's unit is stuffed and by the time I get to the next servo my tyres would have warmed up a bit.

Is there anything I need to look out for/avoid in air compressors? Any brand recommendatons? Best place to buy?

Thanks,
Tom

Call me a cheap skate but a cheap compressor and air tool kit from a auto shop should last a while for home use. Don't expect to do any quality spray painting with it.
Add a set of impact sockets and you are well on your way to a decent workshop.
Agree "The warm tyre concern is not really an issue" however pressuring your tyres on a lazy Saturday at home is a lot easier than having to go to a garage, especially if you have more than 1 car.

Supercheap where advertising over the weekend a 2.5HP 200LPM air compressor & mechanics kit (air ratchet, air hammer etc ) for $239. Can't go wrong with that deal!

http://www.supercheapauto.com.au/catalogue-wa.aspx

And if you do get a compressor grab one of these. I have had one for years and worth every penny.



http://www.supercheapauto.com.au/online-store/products/TFT-Tyre-Inflator-TF8050.aspx?pid=130291#details

If you just want a small, 12V air pumper, don't buy the very small ones, as they take ages to pump up a flat tyre, but buy one that is made for trucks.
While they are a little bigger than the smallest ones you can buy, they will pump up a flat tyre in around 30-40 seconds.

As for tyre guages, I use a round Michellin gauge that was given to me by Tempe Tyres.
Had it for years and it works a treat.

And if you do get a compressor grab one of these. I have had one for years and worth every penny.

I remember when servo's used to have these, Trouble is they are a popular item and don't last very long. Servo near me has no air and all the others are using those stupid beeping things.
+ 1 for your own compressor, You will be surprised how often it comes in handy

Thanks for the comments.

I ended up going to Supercheap and bought a SAC digital 12V air compressor. It has a digital display pressure guage and the unit stops automatically when it reaches the preset pressure. And all the leads fold into the unit when packed so it will be easy to take along on holidays. I checked my tyres and it only took a few seconds to pump them up from 30psi to 33psi.

Tom

What was the cost?