The Airmoto Tire Inflator

The dust has settled and the First 72 Hours have passed. Follow along as I build a long term plan via Prudent Prepping.

I'm adding a very minimal amount of tools to my motorcycle, not because I don't expect to need them, but because storage space is very limited. What I am adding are bare-bones additions to the factory tool set, like a pressure gauge and the Airmoto Tire Inflator Portable Air Compressor/Pump. There appear to be several small inflators that look very similar (and almost certainly from the same factory) so I decided to order through Amazon, because Amazon!

https://amzn.to/40gLs2R

 

From the Amazon ad:

• QUICK & ACCURATE: Built with the highest quality materials, Airmoto is a portable tire inflator for car, trucks, SUVs, motorcycles, and bicycles. Quickly inflate your vehicle's tires in just minutes with precision accuracy up to 120 PSI. Small and compact car air pump that fits in your glove box or trunk.
• AUTO SHUT OFF: Use the “+” and “-” control buttons on the Airmoto to easily select your desired pressure, simply connect the air hose to your car and press the middle “Start” button on the electric air pump. Once the correct pressure has been reached the Airmoto will automatically shut off. The cordless car tire pump makes it easy to reach all tires without a hassle.
• MAIN HIGHLIGHTS: Easily change between PSI, kPa, BAR, and KG/CM pressure units with a push of a button; Easy to read large LCD; Digital Tire Pressure Gauge; Built-in LED flashlight for low light conditions; Deflate button for decreasing pressure; Air Hose stores inside; Powerful 2000 mAh rechargeable battery with fast recharging; Rated to 120 PSI.
• INFLATES ANYTHING: Includes 3 attachments and air hose. Use the Schrader valve on cars, SUVs, motorcycles, and bicycles. Use the Presta valve for a bike tire pump. Needle adapter for sports equipment like basketballs. General adapter for cushions, air pillows and similar. NOTE: Airmoto is not designed for large volume uses like air mattresses, paddle boards or heavy load tires that require a small air compressor.
• INVEST IN PEACE OF MIND: Perfect gifts for women and gifts for men. Conveniently store this portable air compressor for car tires in your glove box or garage, ready for use whenever needed. The package comprises 1* Airmoto Car Tire Inflator, 1* Air Hose with Schrader attached, 1x General Nozzle Cone, 1* Needle Adapter, 1* Presta Adapter, 1* USB-C Charging Cable, 1* Carrying Case and 1* User Manual. For any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us

While the pump is rated to inflate car tires, I am hesitant to really try and inflate a tire from flat to full as it seems a bit small for that. What it did do quite well, however, is add 4lbs of air to my rear tire in approximately 2 minutes. The other test I want to do is see how fast an air mattress is filled, because I want to prevent myself from passing out while blowing into that stupid tiny inlet.

 

As a side note, a benefit to having a modern motorcycle is the fact of having a USB port under my seat, so my flashlight and this inflator could be recharged while I ride.

  

Recap and Takeaway

• This is exactly the right-sized item with the features I wanted for my motorcycle!
• While my motorcycle comes with a plugging kit and CO2 canister, that only gives me one shot to get a tire fixed and on the road. This is a way to get two tires up or maybe help someone else get their tires inflated.
• Purchased: one Airmoto Tire Inflator from Amazon for $79 with Prime.

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Just a reminder: if you plan on buying anything through Amazon, please consider using our referral link. When you do, a portion of the sale comes back here to help keep this site running!

 

If you have comments, suggestions or corrections, please post them so we all can learn. And remember, Some Is Always Better Than None!

NOTE: All items tested were purchased by me. No products have been loaned in exchange for a favorable review. Any items sent to me for T&E will be listed as such. Suck it Feds.

Emergency Air for Tires

I've written about tires before, such as how to plug holes and how to find a spare, but today I want to touch on how to put air back in a low or flat tire in a pinch.

I've dealt with slow leaks over the years. Sometimes it takes four or five trips to different tire shops before they finally find the cause, but until they do I'm always at risk of finding a tire low or flat when I want to drive. Another thing that used to be common was needing the spare tire in the trunk and finding it low or flat. The causes are varied, such as from a small nail that is hard to find or a leaky valve stem, but rather than replace rather expensive tires just because the technicians can't find a leak I carry a portable air compressor.

I started carrying one after working with a couple of guys who liked to take their trucks and toys off-road a lot. They would often lower the pressure in their tires to get better traction when driving in sand, and they needed to get the pressure back up to normal before hitting the pavement on the way home. Their solution was to always carry a 12V air compressor to do the job, one that plugged into a cigarette lighter. This sounded like a good idea, so I bought a cheap 12V air compressor and tossed it in the trunk of the car. It has come in handy several times over the years.

There are a lot of models on the market, and the prices range from $10 to well over $100. I bought mine at Harbor Freight a long time ago, and that model is no longer made, but they still sell similar compressors. Northern Tools is another source of inexpensive models that will get the job done. Most auto parts stores will carry something similar, and of course you can always find them on Amazon. 

Here are a few things to look for, and to look out for:

Construction

• Almost all of the models I've seen are made overseas, so quality is going to be poor to fair. I suggest testing any model you buy before putting it in your trunk, in case you get a lemon that has to be returned. 
• Gears and cases are going to be made of plastic and aren't designed for extended use. Expect them to be “oil-less”, which means the bearings and cylinder/piston fittings are going to be short-lived. These are true emergency gear, not something you'll be using every day unless you spend a good chunk of money. 
• Heat is the main enemy of small compressors, so let them cool down in between inflation jobs and monitor them on larger jobs. If they get hot to the touch, pause the job and let them cool down. This will greatly extend the life of your compressor.

Connections

• The 12V connection is usually a generic plug-in that fits into a cigarette lighter or power port and looks like the car charger for a phone. Some of the more robust or higher pressure models will come with small clamps that grip the posts on your car's battery; this is needed if the compressor requires more power than what is available from a power port (normally around 200W).
• The end of the hose that fits on the valve stem is going to be either a standard straight fitting or a right-angle locking fitting. I prefer the locking style because these compressors are small and slow, and it can take 10 minutes to air up a completely flat tire. That's a long time to be squatting next to the car holding an air chuck on the valve stem, especially if it's raining or you're near traffic.

Gauges

• Most models will come with a built-in pressure gauge. The precision and accuracy of these gauges is on par with the construction of the compressor itself, so use it as an approximation of what is really going into your tire. The newer version come with digital gauges, which have a slightly higher standard of construction and should be a bit more accurate. 
• Carry a good tire gauge as part of your normal vehicle kit and double-check the pressure when you're done.

Lights

• A lot of models have some sort of built-in light. This can be very helpful if you're working in the dark. My old compressor has an incandescent bulb, but the newer one use LEDs. 
• The best models will have a flashing mode to warn other traffic that you're there. 
• Having a light on the compressor frees up your flashlight for other work.

Noise

• I'm sure you've all heard an air compressor before; they're loud. These little ones can be just as loud as the larger ones, maybe even louder. Noise is caused by vibration, which is a common problem on these small compressors. The lack of quality control means that the moving parts aren't always perfectly balanced and they vibrate more than a good compressor. 
• The little ones also tend to run at a much higher speed, which increases the noise and reduces the life of the moving parts.

Extras

• Most of the little compressors will come with a bag of fittings for inflating air mattresses and balls. This is a nice additional use, and if you're lucky may be more common than airing up tires. 
• I've seen several of the newer models some with a soft-sided case or a hard-shell plastic box. This will help keep all of the parts and pieces together in your trunk or toolbox and will prevent damage to cords and hoses, so this is a definite plus. 
• Cordless models are starting to pop up, but I've not had a chance to play with one. I'm leery of rechargeable batteries in emergency gear, since they tend to require periodic recharging if you try to store them. Pulling out a flat spare tire would only be made worse by trying to inflate it with a dead compressor. I also doubt that a rechargeable battery would be able to power a compressor long enough to inflate anything larger than a motorcycle tire, especially after a year or two of storage or use.

For something that costs less than $100, this is a good addition to any car's emergency gear. Get the best you can afford and learn how to use it before you need it, just like any other emergency equipment.

Tire Plugs

Last week, I mentioned using a condom as a make-shift tire plug, and that the subject of tire plugs was worthy of its own article. 

I have family with professional tire repair tools, so fixing a flat is not normally a big deal for me. In years past and at work, however, there have been several times where I needed to get a vehicle back on the road and AAA wasn't an option. We experience a major wind event (exceeding 65 mph) where I live about once every five years or so. This leads to a lot of roof repair, and the roofing companies tend to scatter nails along the roads leading to the dumpsite for old shingles. Picking up a nail or a drywall screw in a tire is normal, but it's still annoying. In SHTF situations, like relocating after a tornado or hurricane, similar debris may be found on the roads so it would be wise to know how to do your own repairs.

About Tire Plugs

• Tire plugs are a “quick and dirty” way to repair a hole in the tread of a car/truck tire. 
• Repairing holes in the sidewall of a tire is not considered safe, but in an emergency I would give it a try since it isn't going to make the situation any worse if it doesn't work.
• Plugs will only work on tubeless tires, so if you're driving an older vehicle with tube-style tires, you're out of luck. 
• Plugs work best on smaller holes, like those caused by nails and screws, but I have seen people using multiple plugs on holes caused by bone fragments from a suicidal deer. 
• Tire plugs are sold as “temporary” or “emergency” repairs, but I have seen them last for years. They work, are cheap, and are easy to use.

https://amzn.to/2NHlAKw

Here's a picture of a typical tire plug kit. The two T-handle tools are a rasp for roughing up the hole (left) and an insertion tool (right); the  strips are the plugs, and the green tube is full of rubber cement. Additional tools required are a pair of pliers for grabbing the offending nail and a way to get air back into the tire after it has been plugged.

Use of the Kit

1. Remove the foreign object from the tire. You may need to take the tire off of the vehicle to access the hole, but not always.
2. Use the rasp, the T-handled tool that looks like a round file, to roughen the hole. This will give the glue a better grip on the tire. Insert and remove the rasp a few times, giving a twist to the handle once or twice.
3. Place one of the strips in the notch of the insertion tool. Aim for the middle of the strip so you have equal lengths on either side of the tool. If your insertion tool has a slotted hole instead of a notch, put the plug strip through the hole.
4. Apply a liberal amount of the rubber cement (glue) to the strip. This will act as a lubricant until it dries and becomes part of the plug when it does.
5. Insert the tip of the insertion tool into the hole in the tire and push firmly until about half of the plug is inside the tire. You don't need a bunch left sticking out, but you don't want the plug to go completely into the tire, either.
6. Once you have inserted the plug, pull the insertion tool back out about a half-inch and turn it 90°, then pull it out the rest of the way. This should disengage the plug from the tool, and is something you'll be able to feel when you try to remove the tool. For the tools with a hole instead of a notch, simply pull straight back on the handle and the tool should open enough to release the plug inside the tire.
7. If you want, trim the excess plug material sticking out of the tire close to the tread. This is not really needed, as it will wear off with normal travel.
8. Re-install the tire if you took it off of the vehicle and re-inflate it to normal pressure. 
9. You're ready to go if the tire holds air. The glue will harden in a few hours and driving on it won't hurt anything.

Tire plug kits are cheap. Amazon has them for sale from less than $10 for a simple kit to less than $50 for a kit that includes gloves, pliers and extra repair parts like valve stems (one of them even has its own compressor for inflating the tire after repair). The plug strips do have a shelf-life, normally around 5 years, and once they get dry and brittle they need to be replaced. Replacement strips are sold separately for around five dollars. If you don't want to use an online vendor, most auto parts stores will have similar kits on hand for about the same price.

This is a technique that I have used and have had good luck with, so I recommend it to anyone putting together a vehicle kit. Sometimes having a spare tire just isn't enough and you need to get back on the road ASAP.