As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Links to Amazon on this page are affiliate links.
Truck and RV tires need a different inflator
Updated
A full-size truck tire holds far more air than a car tire, and van, RV and trailer tires also run at much higher pressure. A pocket pump that is fine on a sedan will be slow, hot and out of battery on a truck. Two of the listings I read say so themselves. For trucks I'd look at the corded VIAIR 88P or the cordless ETENWOLF Vortex S6.
How much more air
| Tire | Air space, my estimate | Air to add, 28 to 35 PSI |
|---|---|---|
| Compact car, 195/65R15 | 32 liters | 15 liters |
| Half-ton pickup, 245/70R17 | 64 liters | 30 liters |
| Full-size truck, 275/65R18 | 79 liters | 37 liters |
| About 33 inch truck tire, 285/70R17 | 90 liters | 43 liters |
The 33 inch tire holds close to three times the air of the compact car tire. Every minute on a car becomes about three on that truck, and the battery claims shrink the same way.
What the makers say about trucks
- VIAIR 88P: the maker says tires up to 33 inches, 1.47 CFM free flow, and a 25 minute duty cycle at 30 PSI. Owners mention RV tires up to 60 PSI. Caveat: no auto shut-off on the listing, and it clamps to the battery under the hood.
- ETENWOLF Vortex S6: the maker names pickups and off-road vehicles, gives 42 L/min at 0 PSI, and claims a 100% duty cycle. Owners mention RV tires to 75 PSI. Caveat: 6 pounds, and a 45 cm hose.
- AstroAI L7: the listing says it is not suitable for heavy-duty truck tires.
- Airmoto: the listing says it is not designed for heavy load tires.
- AstroAI AIRUN H: the listing names cars, motorcycles and bikes. It will top up a light truck tire, slowly, inside its 15 minute limit. I would not pick it for airing up after a trail.
Estimated times on truck tires
| Job | VIAIR 88P (41.6 L/min) | ETENWOLF S6 (42 L/min) | 35 L/min car unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-size truck, 275/65R18, 28 to 35 PSI | 2.0 min | 2.0 min | 2.4 min |
| About 33 inch truck tire, 285/70R17, 15 to 35 PSI, one tire | 6.2 min | 6.2 min | 7.4 min |
| Same, all four tires | 24.8 min | 24.6 min | 29.5 min |
| Van or small RV, 225/75R16, 65 to 80 PSI | 5.7 min | 5.6 min | 6.7 min |
Estimates from the calculator, not measurements. Look at the four-tire row. At 24.8 minutes, the VIAIR would be right at its 25 minute duty cycle, so I'd plan a rest halfway. The high-pressure row is the least certain. Small compressors lose airflow fast as pressure climbs, and my rule of thumb is rough up there.
High-pressure tires
Many van, RV and trailer tires run 65 to 80 PSI. Three things change:
- The max PSI claim finally matters. The DEWALT spec table I read lists 80 PSI maximum, which leaves no room for an 80 PSI tire.
- Duty cycle shrinks at high pressure. The VIAIR's 25 minutes is stated at 30 PSI, not 80.
- Bigger rigs and tires over 33 inches are beyond every pick on this site. Makers sell larger 12V compressors for that, and I have not covered them here.
Use the pressure on your vehicle's door-jamb label or, for a trailer or RV, the maker's load and inflation information. Never go past the maximum on the tire sidewall. If you are unsure what a loaded RV or trailer tire should run, ask a tire shop. This is general information, not professional advice.
The full comparison is on the shortlist.