How to use a portable tire inflator

Tyres lose pressure slowly, and more when the weather turns cold. A portable tire inflator lets you put it back in a few minutes at home or on the road — if you use the right number.

Find the right pressure

The correct pressure for your car is printed on the sticker in the driver's door frame and in the owner's manual, usually 30 to 35 PSI for cars. The number moulded on the tyre wall is the maximum the tyre can hold, not the pressure to drive on.

Inflate in four steps

• Check tyres cold — before driving, or after the car has stood for a few hours.
• Screw the chuck onto the valve and read the current pressure on the display.
• Set the target pressure in PSI (or kPa, BAR, kg/cm²) and press start.
• The inflator stops by itself at the target; unscrew quickly and refit the valve cap.

Bikes, balls and the spare

The same inflator handles bike and motorcycle tyres and sports balls with the included adapters. Check the spare tyre too: it is the one most often found flat when you need it. Keep the inflator charged and in the car, and stay prepared on every journey.