Mini Compressors Tested

Incorrect pressures can mean tyres wear more quickly, while they can also increase your car’s fuel consumption and compromise its cornering and 
braking performance. And the easiest way to keep your rubber properly inflated is with a mini compressor. 

Once hooked up to the cigar lighter socket, the best units check the pressure themselves, and allow you to top it up in just a few minutes. They can also get you going when a tyre has a slow puncture – and as an added bonus, they make quick work of pumping up balls, air beds and inflatables for weekends away. And all this from a package that’s often small enough to keep in your car’s boot, so 
a compressor is an essential bit of kit.

But which is the one to take the strain out of keeping tyres correctly inflated? We assembled 11 top sellers – and got a sneak preview of the upcoming Halfords range – to see which is the puff daddy.

Pump, gauge and storage are the 
essential factors when rating these 
mini marvels. We hooked up each pump to an 18-inch tyre and measured how much air they added in a minute’s running from 20psi. While it’s good practice to then check the pressure with a specialist gauge, you want the one on the compressor to be close – so each was compared to a calibrated version. 

We also looked for user-friendly lead, hose and adaptor storage. As wheels get bigger, a long hose is vital, plus we took extras into account – storage case, torch, air release 

Reigning champion Ring retains its crown with the new RAC630, but it was tight at the top. Slightly better pumping and a price advantage gave it the edge over the Michelin Hi-Power. Completing the podium is the 

recently launched Sealey, which has brought the company’s compressor range bang up to date.

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