Like many Mini owners with run flats, I have been looking for a compact 12V air compressor to keep in the back of my Mini. I found this one a couple of weeks ago. I purchased this one from my local auto parts store. I keep it in the back of my Mini for an emergency. It seems to be well made for $25 and the parts are all metal. Yes, it's made in China but the price was right, it's compact, and appears will made. Here is a photo..........



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2004 MCS - Pepper White/ Black

 

by coincidence, i was just checking out an air compressor at Costco yesterday. price was about the same but didn't know how effective it'd be. i'll be waiting to see other posts on this item.

 

Does it have adapters for bike tubes. I'd like an air compressor that I can use for my car and my bicycles.

 

I just had to replace my tires and I am one of the either brave soles or very stupid, I did not go back with a run flat tire, so I am going to have to put a can of Fix a Flat in the back of the car along with a small pump. Where did you get the pump and have you had a chance to use it, and if so how did it perform?

 

I was at costco the other day and spotted a very useful item. This was an air compressor with a rechargeable jumper battery. Dual purpose and small too . I think it was under $60.00.

 

Found it at Kragen auto parts.

 

I need to get one too--have nonrunflats, HAVEN"T gotten a compressor yet!
Speltzer, how about you let some air out of a tire and use the compressor,
let us know how it performs? And then you'll know too...
thanks for posting this-remind me I need to take care of it!

 

on the topic of backup in case we get a flat on our non-runflat tires...

is there a big disadvantage to using fix-a-flat if we should get a flat? i know the can says do not use on z-rated tires or something like that. since most of us have upgraded our tires to hi-performance ones, does this eliminate the possible use of fix-a-flat? does fix-a-flat basically ruin our tires after a flat, forcing us to purchase a brand new tire each time?

if the answers are yes to all of the above, then i assume this is why some are looking at getting a compact 12v air compressor. but then wouldn't we have to also get some kinda tire patch kit to fix the leak first prior to pumping in some air? although for slow leaks this would still allow us to get to a nearby gas station to patch the leak.

 

12V compressors work, but are slow compared to a quality compressor at a gas station. Some gas stations have really crappy compressors... actually most of them do. I mysef have 3 compressors at home two 12V and a 110V that plugs into the wall (just as compact as the 12V ones) the 110V one works awesome! faster than the gas station ones.

The 12V ones are kept in the trunk of the cars that travel on freeway and the 110V one staies in the garage. Its much more convient to pump your own air at home than having to goto the gas station. Everyone should check their air pressure at least once every 2 weeks. Air leaks and its always better to have evenly goo inflated tires. Its one of the MOST important things on a car. Look at the responsibility tires have... stopping, going, turning, and most importantly emergeny avoidance... you dont want to be giving your steering wheel a good turn and then because your tire pressure is low and rubs soo much on the sidewall it pops.

 

you can use a foot pump too...

Ive been using my 12v one for a while, but winding up the cord,etc
is becoming a real hassle. I might just go to a bicycle shop and get
me one of those foot pumps for like $10.

 

I've had this one for a while now. I think I got it at an auto parts store somewhere. It's small, slow and noisy, but it works.

 

sorry about...

 

the triple post

 

I tested it out, and it works fine. It's fairly quiet and the end actually screws onto the valve stem. Very convenient. I would suggest using a seperate quality air pressure guage because this one is not accurate.

 

thanks for the review! Now I hope you never have to use it in an emergency...