Archives

I know, its a fairly dumb question! But the manufacturers always recommending checking type pressure when you have not driven for a while. I use a little pump that runs off the 12V power outlet in the car. But it takes me about 10 minutes to fill all 4 tyres and I hate to keep the car running all that time. But if I drive it to a gas station then the tyres are not cold anymore.

Hence the question as to how you guys fill the tyres?

-Raghu

http://www.cleanmpg.com/garage/images/234.png

The car doesn't have to be on to use the 12V power outlet. Simply fill the tires with the car off. If you are worried about battery drainage, don't be. It's minimal, and if you are filling the tires, you are getting ready to go for a drive anyway. The battery will be charged then.

You could take the pressure before you move the car and then take it when you get there. Then you know how much it has risen. So just put in what you want+what it has risen and it should be close to correct when they cool.

Personaly I just put them at some round number like 60 or so. I figure when they cool they might be 55 or so.

Cool. Thanks to both of you for the suggestions. I will try both of them.

I have Michelin Symmetry tyres and the max sidewall pressure recommended is 35 psi!! :-(

-Raghu
http://www.cleanmpg.com/garage/images/234.png

Better pumps than the 12v jobs don't cost that much.

I have a cheapie 12v pump (But might be lower quality than yours) and really doesn't move air very quickly and takes much longer than neccessary.

I use an "air station" 120v job which cost mabe $20 more than my other cheaper pump.
While far from professional equipment it is adequate for the job and I can fill at home.
As usual, its built-in pressure gauge is wildly inaccurate.

I have one of the cheap 12 V pumps and it was so noisy and slow, I just use a hand pump that most people would use on a bicycle. It is quiet and quicker than my cheap 12 V and I even get a little exercise :) .

Dennis

A regular person-powered bicycle pump will do just fine,
actually. Many people seem to think that filling car tires
with a hand pump is infeasible -- well, sure, bringing them
up from very low pressure will take a while, but topping up
from maybe 35 psi to 45 takes surprisingly little time.
.
_H*

How much from 35 to 60? It took 1 minute each from a gas station pump. If it is going to take the same amount of time I'd be happy to use a manual pump. I like most Americans have enough stored energy in my body that I would be happy to use to power stuff to help my car.

I have a 12v compresser like most of you, and check (or try to) on the first Saturday of every month, as well as dust and clean. And when the weather is co-operating, get it washed too.

Hi All:

___Good ole Craftsmen 120V compressor here with a digital pressure gauge as the accessory …

___Good Luck

___Wayne

To go from 35 to 60 will take a little time, it definitely will not be as fast as a big compressor at a gas station. For my cheap hand pump ($5) it takes about 40 pumps per tire to raise the pressure about 8 psi, it is faster than my 12V pump though and much easier on the ears.

dennis