Any way to inflate tires at home?

[Jim Petropulos]

Is a 125 PSI portable air compressor really powerfull enough to inflate tires ?
I'm looking for one that plugs into 120V in the garage. One I found is called a Superflow HV-41 that is rated 125 PSI (but no tank or filter on it, I'm not sure it is powerful enough ??) Also I don't like the types that work off the car battery or the cigar lighter. Any suggestions for a simple small one for checking the tires at home? Does anyone have a WAGAN 400/600 ?
Thats another one I'm considering. It is simlar to the HV-41.
Appreciate any suggestions on what works well and what might be overrated by the mfgrs......Jim :confused:

[dhbfaster]

I have the craftsman 1hp 3 gal, and it works great for tires.
http://www.sears.com/craftsman-3-gallon-horizontal-air-compressor-with-hose/p-00915310000P?prdNo=5&blockNo=5&blockType=G5

Before that, I had cheaper ones and had to Wait too long. :doh: The one you are looking at is probably ok, But I think it's only about $20 less and I bet there is quite a bit of difference.

[BPVan]

Also check craigslist, there are compressors-a-plenty on there for cheap.

[Luva65wagon]

A tank will empty fast to fill the space that has less pressure, whereas on a compressor with no tank you depend purely on it's ability to pump air from the atmosphere into the tire. This is where CFM (cubic feet per minute) comes into play. You can still run out of air in a tank pretty quickly if your tank is smaller than the tire capacity, for one, and then the CFM rating is so low that you now are filling the tank and the tire. There are a lot of great sites describing this.

Google: air compressor cfm requirements

[Jim Petropulos]

Thanks Brian, Don and Roger for your input and descriptions of small compressors with tanks and those without. I'll definetly look at the Sears 1 HP 3 GA.
Jim