The role of tires is usually overlooked when it comes to determining the performance and safety of a car. Tires have to be in great condition to allow for excellent car handling. One of the things that define tire condition at all times is the amount of pressure in it. As a driver, you should make sure that all the tires of your car have the right air pressure at all times. You can get this done at gas stations, but it is a lot easier and convenient to buy a buy a tire compressor or a tire inflator. There are various factors that you need to consider when making your purchase, some of which are highlighted below.

Storage and Portability

You should opt for an air compressor that is easy to tag along as you travel in your car. The size of your vehicle may play a significant part in helping you to decide. It should not take up too much space in the trunk that it limits the size of luggage that you can carry. You should also choose one that requires the least amount of effort to reach all the tires of your car.

Automation

The more automated a tire inflator is, the better. The air compressor should have most of the setting already programmed in it so that you avoid all the trouble of having to adjust the settings manually. Automation will also save you a lot of time when inflating your tires. Some of the things that should be automated include PSI settings and off switch. The convenience that comes with automation might cost you a little extra money but will be worth it.

Inflation Time

You should also check the amount of time that the unit will take to inflate a tire to the right pressure. This is the amount of time that you will have to wait before your flat tire gets filled. An air compressor that takes a shorter time means that you will not have to wait for long before you are back on the road. This can be a significant factor if safety and bad weather are to be considered.

Duty Cycle

Duty cycle refers to the amount of time that the inflator takes to cool down after being used for a certain amount of time. Longer duty cycle means that you will have to wait longer before you can use the tire inflator again.

Tire Size

There are some tire inflators which can inflate large tires while others cannot. You should thus ensure that the inflator you choose can be able to inflate the tire size of your car to the right pressure.