Motoring  ·  Car accessories

Why do 10,000+ UK drivers keep one of these in the car?

Cordless tyre inflators have quietly become one of the most bought car accessories in Britain. We look at what's behind it — and whether they're worth the money.

The short answer: once you go wireless, most people never go back.

It's a bit like when home phones went cordless. The moment you stop dragging a wire around, the old way starts to feel like a chore.

Most people still do it the hard way. They queue at the petrol station, or they've got a wired pump that only works with the engine running and the cable stretched across the drive. Both work. Both are a faff.

This one lives in your glovebox. You pull it out, pop it on, and the tyre's done. No wires, no queue, no coins.

Why this one and not a cheaper pump?

Power, mostly. Most wireless pumps top out at around 120 PSI. This one does 150. That extra power means it fills faster and doesn't stall halfway on a big tyre the way the cheap ones do.

A small top-up is done in about 30 seconds. A full tyre takes a few minutes, while you stand there with a cup of tea.

How do you use it?

1. Turn it on and push it onto the tyre valve.
2. Press start and watch it go.
3. It stops on its own when the tyre's at the right pressure.

The first time, you set the pressure you want. After that it remembers — so every time after is just: on, press, done.

What if the battery dies?

It won't die often. The battery lasts months on a charge — and how often do you actually get a flat?

But if it ever is flat, you plug it into your car's 12V socket with the cable in the box, and it runs off the car instead. Battery, or car — two ways to work, so you're never stuck.

Most of the time you'll never touch the cable. It's just there if you want it.

Why do people buy more than one?

Most keep one in each car. It's basic safety kit, the same as a spare or a jack — and if your car hasn't got a spare, or you wouldn't fancy changing one in the dark, it matters even more.

It also works as a bright torch, and pumps up bikes and footballs with the little attachments included.

Is it worth the money?

Here's the thing about the petrol station. Your tyres warm up as you drive, and warm air takes up more room — so the pressure reads high at the pump. You fill to what looks right, then the tyres cool down and you're running low again. You did everything right and still ended up underinflated.

This lets you check them properly at home, cold, in about two minutes. No trips, no wrong readings. Set your tyres right and they last longer and use less fuel, too.