Does anyone know of manual pumps that can inflate a car tire without too much effort? I know you can get to a certain point with a regular / bicycle pump, but I was wondering if there were any larger sizes that could put 30psi into a car tire without an day's work, as well as handle footballs and Schwinns. Just wondering, thanks!
Hand pump that can inflate a car tire?
- Thread starter larryq
- Start date
Ratchet.
Well-known member
maybe one of those 'track pumps'
http://www.discountcyclesdirect.co.uk/images/zefal_husky_track_pump.jpg
any reason why you cant use a foot pump? even a track pump would be hard going, particularly if its anything bigger then a compact with 15" tires
http://www.discountcyclesdirect.co.uk/images/zefal_husky_track_pump.jpg
any reason why you cant use a foot pump? even a track pump would be hard going, particularly if its anything bigger then a compact with 15" tires
rlitman
Well-known member
Get a bigger bicycle pump.
Not the kind that you take on the bike. A real "track pump".
Something like this:
http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product_10053_10052_126924_-1_202642_10000_202560
Not the kind that you take on the bike. A real "track pump".
Something like this:
http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product_10053_10052_126924_-1_202642_10000_202560
JohnFreeman
Well-known member
I have used those little scissors type foot pumps. You'll get more exercise pumping up a car tire than you would riding a bike, I can tell you.... but it works
DARKSCOPE001
Well-known member
any bike pump will air up a car tire. Car tires are relatively low pressure comparative to bike tires. Its just going to take you a ton of strokes. If you really want a hand pump tho I highly recommend looking for either a 2stage bike pump or a mountain bike specific pump. One that has a larger bore and pushes more air per stroke. These are designed for mtb tires and do more volume less pressure. still gona give you a workout tho 
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_...9x00001a&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=SPM3491572102
Altho for that kind of dough a 12v inflator is looking more and more economical. granted I have had 2 and neither worked both times I needed em to work. but they were cheepies
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_...9x00001a&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=SPM3491572102
Altho for that kind of dough a 12v inflator is looking more and more economical. granted I have had 2 and neither worked both times I needed em to work. but they were cheepies
greasemonkey44
Well-known member
ive used a foot pump; never again, royal pain in the ****
i use a jump start box with an air compressor built in
i use a jump start box with an air compressor built in
Get a bike pump made for mountain bikes, not a track pump. Silca makes one that has a much larger piston diameter that makes it very difficult to use for road bikes but is better for mountain bikes and cars. A track pump takes about a lb of force for each psi but the ATB pump takes about 200 lb to get to 100psi.
Subyroo651
Well-known member
any bike pump will air up a car tire. Car tires are relatively low pressure comparative to bike tires. Its just going to take you a ton of strokes. If you really want a hand pump tho I highly recommend looking for either a 2stage bike pump or a mountain bike specific pump. One that has a larger bore and pushes more air per stroke. These are designed for mtb tires and do more volume less pressure. still gona give you a workout tho
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_...9x00001a&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=SPM3491572102
I have this pump and just used it to add 10Psi to a tire 22-32
It was not fun and almost not worth the effort vs. digging out the compressor.
Part of the issue - the grips it came with, they ****!!
honcho
Well-known member
The comment about a mountain bike pump is good, but the best hand pump I've found for filling up tires is the Zefal DoubleShot. Unfortunately, the DoubleShot is no longer made and the replacement, the Zefal Alaskan Graph (don't ask me why it has Alaska and Graph in its name--it's French!) isn't readily available in the USA and it has a fairly high price and sketchy reliability according to the reviews. The DoubleShot is a high volume, two barrel hand pump that pumps on both up and down stroke. Filling an empty car tire with a regular bike pump takes all day.
G1GRANDEUR
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It's 2011.
I have small Craftsman 12v model. I got good usage out of it.
I have small Craftsman 12v model. I got good usage out of it.
treasureseeker
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You could also use a portable air tank
arizonaadam
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Flinstone powered his own car and you don't have time to use a bike pump?
metalhead212121
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Not to be a *** but at one time I thought that was a good idea since I didnt/STILL dont have a compressor.
I bought a campbell hausfeld air tank. Figured I could go down to the gas station and fill it up no problem. Yeah.... maybe INSIDE the gas station where the guys work out of. Using one that works off quarters works FAIR at best. Those things really arent strong enough to fill a air tank. I think the last time I tried it I got to about 35 psi and I could see the needle on my air tank barely moving.
A couple years later my neighbor was working in his garage and I heard his compressor kick on. Figured Id go over there fill up my air tank to inflate the tires on my firebird. He was cool and let me do it. Stupidity struck on my part again. He had a real dinky compressor so once it got to 35 psi that was all that compressor could push into my air tank. Granted his dinky compressor is better than my "non working compressor." I filled one and a half tires with air on my firebird. They werent flat just low. He told me I could come back a couple times and keep filling up my air tank. I thanked him but passed on that... it was just gonna be a pain to keep running back and forth.
In my opinion a air tank isnt a bad idea on paper.. just think about what I said before you go and spend the money on one.
Like others on here I filled up a donut once with air with a bike pump. It works but get ready to work!
Dan
Outlawmws
Well-known member
An air tank as an only source isn't viable as you found out. As an accessory to a "real" compressor it can be invaluable.
dwm
Well-known member
I'm with the others suggesting a 12V pump. They're not speedy, but they work fine and are a good thing to have in your car (or your significant other's car).
DARKSCOPE001
Well-known member
Sorry mate. I just googled mountain bike pump and clicked on the first link. Im not a huge fan of topeak's pumps. I used a joe blow on my road bike and i could not get the head to release from the stem. all the twisting and pulling and i ripped the stem out of the tube. For the money topeak wants they are not the best pumps.
Have a blackburn currently. alto its china made they are good quality. Still I think unless you are trying to prove your manlyness your better with an inflator
CAOS
Well-known member
Another option could be a CO2 tire inflator. "These contain compressed CO2 which then inflates tires via a valve adapter. These are very quick to use due to the high pressure of between 80-120 psi - most mini-pumps take a fair amount of effort to reach 65psi."
I am not to sure how many canisters it would take to reach the volume of a car tire, if its something you would only use in an emergency situation it would be well worth it.
I am not to sure how many canisters it would take to reach the volume of a car tire, if its something you would only use in an emergency situation it would be well worth it.
Greatbear
Well-known member
The FlintstoneMobile had tires made of rock, an air pump would be superfluous. Chisels and hammers would be the go-to repair items for sure.
CAOS
Well-known member
The FlintstoneMobile had tires made of rock, an air pump would be superfluous. Chisels and hammers would be the go-to repair items for sure.
Drastically changing your tire size via chiseling would sure put your speedo out though!
bike_freak
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Lezyne bicycle pumps are well worth a look; built to last and the "Dirt Floor Drive" puts out a huge amount of air per stroke, it's purpose built for mountain bikes (huge volumme, low pressure).
www.lezyne.com
www.lezyne.com
Original Man
Well-known member
If you jack the car up with the tire off the ground you should be able to pump the tire up fast and easy.
diesel research
Well-known member
Since no one else pointed this out, I will. This makes absolutely no sense. If your car has no power to power a 12v pump, inflating the tires should be the least of your concerns....
I used the old bike pump method more than a few times before upgrading my small setup to include an air compressor.
Not fun, but it works.
That small cigarette lighter powered pump mentioned in the thread seems like a good idea, too.
auto-x fil
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Sorry, not true at all. The amount of pressure added by the weight of the car is so small it's not easily measurable.
I've inflated Miata spare tires with bike pumps (a good Park Tool floor pump) a few times. It's not insane, but those are super-low-volume tires. Any real tire will take a very, very long time. But, it's a perfectly reliable tool that will always work. If you're topping a tire up from 28 to 32 psi or something, it won't be outrageous. If you are sliming or patching a flat and want to inflate it - you're in for a serious workout. I'd expect at least 30 minutes of strenous pumping.
The little CO2 cartridges don't have nearly enough volume to help a car at all. A paintball gun tank like a 20oz would probably work, but you could easily dump liquid into the tire and blow it up.
The 12V pumps have been good for me, even the cheap HF ones. They can be very slow, but they are faster than a bike pump and take zero effort.
Sorry mate. I just googled mountain bike pump and clicked on the first link. Im not a huge fan of topeak's pumps. I used a joe blow on my road bike and i could not get the head to release from the stem. all the twisting and pulling and i ripped the stem out of the tube. For the money topeak wants they are not the best pumps.
Have a blackburn currently. alto its china made they are good quality. Still I think unless you are trying to prove your manlyness your better with an inflator
Huh, that's funny. I have a JoeBlow and it's a great pump for me. Handle feels a little chinzy, but everything else works perfectly on my road bike. Non-threaded tubes might be a good idea, though I haven't had a problem with mine, even on threaded tubes.
That being said, I would definitely not want to use one to pump up a car. I'm with everyone else who recommended a 12V portable pump. Keep one in your trunk.
This is partly for an older car that's being restored and whose tire pressure could use a touchup occasionally. The cigarette lighter in the vehicle doesn't work, so that makes a 12v unit awkward.
That said, there are a lot of recommendations for one, and I'm happy to look at them. Any models that are of good quality and won't break after 3 uses that also won't break the bank?
diesel research
Well-known member
They make plenty that clip to battery or permanently mount.
While it DOES take some time to clip alligator clamps to battery (or repair lighter or add quick connect) that amount of time and energy is nothing compared to pumping up a tire.
Or just like mentioned, the less powerful, but more convenient jump box combo.
While it DOES take some time to clip alligator clamps to battery (or repair lighter or add quick connect) that amount of time and energy is nothing compared to pumping up a tire.
Or just like mentioned, the less powerful, but more convenient jump box combo.
DARKSCOPE001
Well-known member
Yea I dont have much experience with them im just speaking from the one I used. The one I demoed and advice from the local bike shop. The one I used was pretty bottom barrel one that I used while over at a friends house.
A quick top off on tube pressure lead into alot of cursing and replacing an inner tube. It worked great on schrader valves tho. But the one presta valve I used it on it had an iron grip around and even tho I tried some twisting and easing the valve head off it was stuck. next thing I know POP! off comes the valve along with the sound of hissing air escaping my tire. I wanted to throw the bike at that point.
It didnt help that all I had in my tool kit was a quik stik, they are a ryoal pain to try and get road tires off with and I was in all cycling gear
Still I think you would be better off with a 12v inflator, hell I even think they have models now that you set the pressure digitally and the thing auto stops. sounds cool to me. you could pull in to a gas station, connect it up. go get a cup of joe and come back out to a nice full tire as long as some a-hole doesn't make off with the inflator while its running.
dwm
Well-known member
I like the ContiComfort. Tops out at 43PSI, but that's plenty for a passenger car. Can be used as an air compressor w/o the slime, or you can activate the slime if you have a small puncture emergency.
http://www.tirerack.com/accessories/detail.jsp?ID=38&category=Tire+Inflation
If you have an air tank, you'd better learn which gas stations in your town still have real air hoses with free air at real psi. Heck, if you don't have an air tank, it's still very useful to know.
Earlier this year, ordered an air compressor for the missus's trucks, got one from Griot's. Was very tickled when it arrived. QUALITY compressor, fast, quiet. All those $12.99 things we've been screwing around with all of these years are FETID POO.
Griot's is made by Viair, so just get a Viair. For example:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0036E9VB6/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Earlier this year, ordered an air compressor for the missus's trucks, got one from Griot's. Was very tickled when it arrived. QUALITY compressor, fast, quiet. All those $12.99 things we've been screwing around with all of these years are FETID POO.
Griot's is made by Viair, so just get a Viair. For example:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0036E9VB6/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Bruce Lancaster
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An oddity from the past that I used for many years is the sparkplug tire pump...an adapter screws into a plug hole and compression works a little piston in a cylindrical pump. Car runs for a couple of minutes on remaining cylinders, making a weird Chuffa-chuffa sound, and you're done. Due to the wildly swinging needle on the integral gauge that mine had, I always just ran it up past the desired reading and let out air to suit after disconnecting. Quick and easy IF you have readily acessible plug. Never tried it on a computer car...Lord knows what diagnostic codes that would set..."Number two cylinder has gone violently insane" perhaps.
I found recently that the same tool is still available through motorcyle sources, needing only more hose to adapt to cars.
Here's the shorty motorcycle one:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000GTUOLK/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Except for hose length, looks just like what I used. Same crummy looking hose, too...mine desperately needed to have that stuff replaced with decent quality parts-store rubber tubing.
I have frequently pumped up tires with simple 1930's type hand pumps...slow and boring, but works.
I think some of the best are the really ancient one from the days of frequent flats, many of which have high volume cylinder feeding into a high pressure one...but all of those are going to need new leathers.
I found recently that the same tool is still available through motorcyle sources, needing only more hose to adapt to cars.
Here's the shorty motorcycle one:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000GTUOLK/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Except for hose length, looks just like what I used. Same crummy looking hose, too...mine desperately needed to have that stuff replaced with decent quality parts-store rubber tubing.
I have frequently pumped up tires with simple 1930's type hand pumps...slow and boring, but works.
I think some of the best are the really ancient one from the days of frequent flats, many of which have high volume cylinder feeding into a high pressure one...but all of those are going to need new leathers.
It worked for me.
Bruce Lancaster
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For the junkyard scroungers...look at '70's-80's Cadillacs...some have a nifty electric pump near the battery in engine compartment. I have adapted these...better and more powerful than dimestore tire pumps. Just wire to 12 V at cigarette lighter, add a hose and tire chuck.
I went for the Milwaukee M12 inflator. It helps that I've got a few other M12 devices but I like it quite a bit. Works great for the car that hasn't been driven in a couple years as well as for the one with a slow leak.
If this is a car that gets driven, in California you can get free air at gas stations with the purchase of fuel.
Outlawmws
Well-known member
Getting back to your original Q: Efficiency of pressure is what you are up against for any manual pump, An ordinary bicycle pump on a car tire will take forever as the volume of each stroke is small. They do make "low pressure" pumps that are 3-4" in Diameter, so to get to its capacity for pressure will be dramatically faster than the run of the mill bike pump at 1-1/2 to 2" or so. Get the thing close with the big pump, that finish with the smaller pump
I have a REALLY small pump for shocks maybe 1/2" dia cylinder. Why? because they can go to a much higher pressure, and the volume needed is pretty small vs a tire...
All that said, the off-roaders use the re-purposed caddy or Lincoln on board pumps mentioned previously with good success, but some have used two in tandem to make things go faster...
DFB
Well-known member
Get a Milwaukee 12v inflator...and don't look back 
I have used this Viair unit in the past and it was excellent. At the time my cigarette lighter socket was broken so being able to connect it to the battery was great.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CDWJRZW/?tag=atomicindus08-20