A speedy tyre inflator with some nicely thought-out design features
It’s ironic really that the more the car makers try to persuade us that a puncture isn’t a thing anymore and nobody needs a spare wheel, so we come to rely more than ever on the tyre inflator.
It’s not just brand new cars, either: the new MINI which launched in 2001 wasn’t even designed with space for a spare wheel, being fitted with run flat tyres and if you were lucky, a compressor in the boot.
Once the car was out of warranty, few owners sprung for costly run-flats at replacement time and when you have a puncture today, it’s a lottery as to whether after 25 years in a damp boot the factory-supplied compressor will get you out of trouble.
With so many ‘Smart’ motorways still in existence, anything which can minimise your time exposed to danger is very much a good thing, so when Ring announced its Ultrainflate 30 compressor – the top of a range which also includes the Ultrainflate 10 and 20 – we were keen to test it.
We’re all aware of how painfully slow most 12-volt electric inflators are, but the makers claim that the Ultrainflate 30 can take a tyre from utterly flat to running pressure in just two minutes.
The Ultrainflate 30 and 20 also offer a neat automatic function, meaning you set the desired pressure, switch it on and then simply leave it running until it stops automatically, which at the side of a busy road could potentially be a lifesaver.
Testing
We tried the inflator on a severely deflated tyre which was down to 1 bar and were impressed to find it took less than a minute to get it to the specified 2.1 bar which bears out Ring’s claims for speed.
And as anyone who has tried to tidy away a standard-fit inflator on a new car will appreciate, the wind-up cable and storage bag are nice touches, as is the built-in holder to avoid losing your valve cap.
Oh and if you’re dealing with an over-inflated tyre, the connecting hose has a useful press-button to release pressure.
It’s also easy to switch between kpa, psi and bar which makes life easy, while an integrated LED lamp helps out in emergency situations.
Ultrainflate 30: our verdict
A tyre inflator is one of those things none of us really think we need… until we really need it. The Ultrainflate 30 may be more costly than the average compressor you find at filling station counters but it’s genuinely far better. In fact, it’s so convenient that it removes any need to hunt for a garage with a working airline. The 3.5m cable and 70cm pressure hose are nice touches too.
Ring Ultrainflate specifications
RRP
Ultrainflate 10 £19.98
Ultrainflate 20 £39.98
Ultrainflate 30 £59.99
Manufacturer
www.ringautomotive.com
