This handy device just saved my car, and you should have one too

Coming out of a store, a movie, or worse — a long day of work — and seeing that you have a flat tire is a complete day-ruiner. Maybe you punctured the tire by rolling over a nail, or maybe it’s just cold out, and the air has compressed, making it unsafe to currently drive. Having to find the nearest gas station, fish out some quarters, and fill up those tires as frantically as you can before the air pump machine times out is a frustrating ordeal.

The first time the presence of a flat tire may surface may be when you start driving and can feel the unevenness of your car. It may also be from sensors that your car has that tell you that you have low tire pressure. Whatever the case is, make it easy on yourself and have a backup on hand.

I recently turned on my car to see an alert letting me know one of my tires was very low. Before bringing the car into the shop, I was able to use my portable air pump to fill the tire up and drive safely to the mechanic. I keep this simple device in my glove compartment, and you should too.

The Airmoto Smart Air Pump is a lifesaver

You never know when you’ll need it

If you’ve ever had to pump up a basketball, volleyball, or bike tire, you’ve likely used one of those pumps that you hold onto handles and push downward on to generate airflow. That works great for smaller objects, but for something like an air mattress, a large inflatable pool, or a car tire, you’re going to want something with more power. You can get a large air compressor, which may come out too powerful for the air mattress and pool but ideal for the car tire, but they’re expensive and bulky.

The Airmoto Smart Air Pump, and air pumps like it, are an ideal size because they fit in your glove compartment to be ready any time you need it on the go. The biggest issue with car tire problems is you never know when an issue might rear its ugly head. It’s better to be prepared for a moment so you don’t need initial help when the time comes.

Setting it up is a breeze

Plenty of modes to choose from

It took a second for me to realize how exactly this air pump was going to work, because I didn’t see a hose of any kind. But then I realized that a portion of it was sticking out, and a button at the bottom needed pressing to release it. Once the hose came out, it could then be screwed into the valve to pump air through. The air pump comes with accessories, so there’s an attachment with a needle-like end that you can use on a ball as well as the standard end that you’d use for a car tire.

Once you turn on the pump by pressing the power button in the middle, you can then select what kind of object you’re filling. There are icons for bicycles, motorbikes, cars, and balls, giving the pump a better idea of what the air pressure is going to be. You’re able to cycle through different measurements, allowing you to gauge it based on PSI, kPa, BAR, and KG/CM.

Get yourself a battery-powered air pump

Hello, convenience

What really floored me about the Airmoto is that it was charged up without me needing to do anything. It’s battery-powered and has a USB-C charging port, which is great because I can charge it from the center console in my car if I ever need to. But when I first needed to use this, I’ll admit that I hadn’t charged it ahead of time. It wasn’t an issue, because it came pre-charged and ready to go.

After selecting car tire mode, I set the right PSI based on my car’s instructions. Once that was in place, I attached the inflator to the tire and hit Start. It immediately started humming and inflating. I assumed I’d need to stop it and manually check the pressure with my gauge — but when I did, I saw it was actually inflating properly.

I reattached it, let it run, and noticed it shut off automatically after a minute or two. When I checked again, the tire was at the exact PSI I’d set. The auto shut-off feature prevents overfilling, which can help extend the life of your tires.

I’m not sure yet how long the battery will last — I’ve only had it for a short time — but I’m confident it’ll be ready the next time I need it.

More uses for a portable air pump

I’m going to get a lot of use out of this

There is also a deflate feature that lets you take air out of something. This is a huge advantage for a car tire, because it can be more difficult to deflate one if you want to let a little air out, as the valve stem isn’t the easiest thing to press down — especially on a larger tire. The deflate setting works the same way as the inflate setting but uses its tip to release the air.

If you happen to have to fill up a tire in the dark, there is a built-in flashlight on the Airmoto Smart AIr Pump that illuminates what you’re doing. It’s a nice feature to have because, as noted above, you don’t know when you’re going to need it. That’s why having a portable air pump made a lot of sense for me. It’s more of a fail-safe put in place in case of a disaster. But it’s also one I can get other use out of in everyday life if I have to fill up other items.

Brand

Airmoto

Color

Black

Power Supply

Battery source

Display

LCD

Materials

Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene

The Airmoto Smart Air Pump is a portable air pump that comes with a carrying case to store the accessories. It can provide air pressure of up to 120 PSI. It’s USB-C chargeable and will automatically shut off when you reach your desired PSI.