One of the most annoying and frustrating that can happen to any driver is a flat tire. Especially if you're driving after a long day of work or at night. We don’t want to worry about trying to find a safe place to stop and change the tire. It’s too much work and such an inconvenience. To avoid this problem, you should always carry a portable air compressor.The beauty of a portable air compressor is, they are lightweight and compact so you can take it with you anywhere you go or just leave it in your truck.However, there are many types of portable air compressors that you can purchase, and since there are no many, it can be difficult choosing the right one for your truck. Here we will go over all the things you should consider when choosing portable air compressor for truck tires.
The Importance of Inflating Your Tire
Many new car owners don’t know that it’s very important to keep checking and maintain your tires, just like an engine.
All tires are designed to carry a certain number of weights on them, this weight will be different depending on the tire and vehicle you have. So, if you don’t inflate your tire properly then your tire will not be able to carry the maximum load weight it can.
Some signs that you may notice if your tires are not adequately filled include:
- Bulginess
-
Tire becomes completely flat
If your tire becomes flat or it starts to bulge and you’re driving a truck with some cargo on it. You are causing harm to your tires.
Picking Out the Right Portable Air Compressor
These are some of the things you should look out for and consider when picking out the right portable air compressor for your truck tires.
Wire LengthYou’re going to need a rather long wire length depending on how far the power source is from the tire of the truck.
When connecting a portable air compressor, it needs to be connected to a power source such as an outlet or battery. Some may not have the luxury of having them close together, so having a wire length of 10 feet or more is fine. Air Hose QualityDon’t purchase a portable air compressor if you feel the air hose isn’t the best of quality. If you do, then over time it’s going to wear and tear, and before you know it, you might have to buy another one.
Accuracy of the GaugeThis is one of the most important factors that you should look out for. If your air compressor isn’t able to accurately read your tire pressure, then it’s not doing the job. You have to have a gauge that has a small percent of error.
LightsHaving your air compressor come with a flashlight or LED lights is essential if you’re driving at night and you get a flat tire. You don’t want to trust the moonlight or the streetlamps when connecting your portable air compressor to the truck tires.
Know the Maximum Air PressureSince there are so many different types of portable air compressors, they all start to blend in at some point.However, you need to know the maximum air pressure that is offered by the air compressor. This will tell you about the different kinds of tires it can inflate without any issues.For the most part, air compressors offer a maximum air pressure of 100 PSI or higher. So, make sure what type of truck tires you have first before buying an air compressor. And also, apart from maximum pressure (PSI) of air compressor, inflating truck tires also require high air volume per minute or cubic feet per minute (CFM). So, make sure you choose air compressor with maximum high PSI and maximum high CFM.Whether you’re prone to getting flat tires in the middle of no wear or you want to just be on the safe side when driving your truck. Having a portable air compressor will save you from an annoying situation when your tire goes flat.