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Maintaining the correct tyre pressures on your 4WD can be a time-consuming process. Stopping to air down, then stopping again to air up takes time and effort.
It’s tempting to either not let your tyres down off-road or to not re-inflate them when you know you should. Tyre deflators/inflators are designed to get the job done quickly. This way, you can look after those expensive pieces of rubber without spending half your life holding onto the end of an air compressor hose. And instead of one bit of gear to deflate your tyres and another to pump them up again, tyre deflators/inflators allow you to do both. That means less gear to carry with you and the convenience of one tool for both jobs.
You’ll find plenty of devices designed to either inflate or deflate your tyres. However, we’ve found a few that’ll do both. They range from cheap and simple to advanced electronically controlled systems. We’ve looked at both types and some in between, so you should find a tyre inflator/deflator here to suit your budget.
JUMP AHEAD
- AutoFlate
- Maxtrax Indeflate
- Kings 3in1 Ultimate Air Tool
- ARB Pressure Control Module
- Clearview Tyre Spider
- Longacre
- Ironman 4x4 Air Champ
AutoFlate
The AutoFlate system automatically adjusts your tyres to a pre-set pressure, and it works exactly like the automatic tyre inflation systems at service stations.
Simply connect the air hose to a tyre, set the pressure on the digital controller, press Start then stand back and wait. AutoFlate beeps once the tyre pressure reaches the pre-set level and shuts off the air supply. The “basic” AutoFlate system deflates or inflates one tyre at a time. However, you can buy add-on kits to do two or even four tyres at once. Also available as a portable unit.
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| Maximum pressure | 150psi (1050kPa) |
|---|---|
| Max number of tyres | Four at once |
| Warranty | 12 months |
Pros
- Adjusts pressures automatically
- 150psi maximum pressure
- Add-on kits to deflate/inflate up to four tyres at once
Cons
- Pricey
- A lot of hoses
- No faster than using a compressor to inflate individual tyres
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Maxtrax Indeflate
The Maxtrax Indeflate uses two three-metre hoses with a common pressure gauge. This allows you to adjust tyre pressures in two tyres at once. It’s also available as a four-tyre system, saving even more time when deflating tyres.
The pressures equalise between the two tyres, giving you peace of mind that both tyres are at the same pressure. The Indeflate is a top-quality piece of gear. Everything from the air fittings to the main aluminium body are made from premium materials. All hoses are rated at 300psi (2000kPa) and the gauge reads to 100psi (700kPa).
When deflating tyres, the clip-on valve chucks are a breeze to attach. And you don’t have to crouch down for long periods… simply connect the hoses then deflate your tyres using the dump valve and gauge. When inflating tyres, use the built-in Schrader valve (the same as the valve stem on your tyres) to attach your compressor. Then stand back and wait while the Indeflate pumps up two tyres at once. If you’re looking for a durable unit, this one should last for years.
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| Maximum pressure | 100psi (700kPa) |
|---|---|
| Max number of tyres | Four at once |
| Warranty | 12 months |
Pros
- Equalises pressures between tyres
- High quality components
- Simple dump valve for deflating tyres
Cons
- No faster than using a compressor to inflate individual tyres
- Have to stop and regularly check pressure when deflating
- A lot of hoses, especially when inflating
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Kings 3in1 Ultimate Air Tool
The Kings 3in1 is a cheap (around $30) alternative if you’re on a tight budget. The body’s stainless steel and has a large 60psi pressure gauge, and the tyre chuck is a straight clip-on type, making it easy to connect to any valve stem.
To deflate a tyre, hold down a push-button until the tyre reaches the desired pressure. You inflate the tyre by squeezing and holding a hand lever. The downside is, you need to deflate or inflate each tyre individually. However, for the price it’s a great compromise between price and functionality. An ideal tool if you’re starting out and need something cheap and easy to use.
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| Maximum pressure | 60psi (415kPa) |
|---|---|
| Max number of tyres | One |
| Warranty | 12 months |
Pros
- Compact
- Good value
- Simple to use
Cons
- Manual deflation and inflation of each tyre
- Can’t pre-set desired pressure
- Time-consuming to deflate/inflate 4 tyres
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ARB Pressure Control Module
The ARB Pressure Control Module takes tyre deflation and inflation to the next level, by controlling your tyre pressures and your compressor from your smartphone.
Download the Compressor Connect app and set up to four pre-set pressure levels. Once the module reaches the nominated pressure, the app vibrates your phone and gives you an audible alarm. The Pressure Control Module’s a useful addition to any compressed air system. Its compact size means it’ll fit neatly into tight spaces. However, be aware it only works with existing ARB compressors. And the ARB Pressure Control Module requires additional hardware to complete the installation, and installation is not straightforward.
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| Maximum pressure | Set to maximum pressure of compressor |
|---|---|
| Max number of tyres | Depends on your existing system |
| Warranty | Three years |
Pros
- Control from an app on your phone
- Multiple pre-set pressures
- Adjusts pressures automatically
Cons
- Installation requires wiring knowledge
- Not all components are supplied for final installation
- Only fully compatible with ARB compressors
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Clearview Tyre Spider
The Clearview Tyre Spider is a perfect compromise between simplicity and ease of use. It’s actually one of those devices you could build yourself, but Clearview supply the ready-made package ... so why bother?
This unit is built around a small pressure tank with four quick-connect couplers for the tyre hoses, a pressure gauge, and a main inlet/outlet valve. Each outlet hose has a shut-off valve, so you can deflate or inflate individual tyres to different pressures. Deflating tyres is a breeze. Simply open the main valve and let the air out. The kit comes with two five-metre and two eight-metre hoses, allowing you to reach the wheels on your caravan or toy hauler.
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| Maximum pressure | Set to maximum pressure of compressor |
|---|---|
| Max number of tyres | Four at once |
| Warranty | Three years |
Pros
- Simple and sturdy
- Can deflate or inflate four tyres at once
- Long hoses
Cons
- Gauge is exposed and prone to damage
- Valve chucks are screw-on, not clip-on
- Bulky
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Longacre
Longacre supply premium products to the motorsports industry, so you’d expect its deflator/inflator to be a premium quality product. Well, yes and no…
There’s no doubt the components are high quality, but it has a few shortcomings. The standout is the clip-on air chuck. The 90-degree inlet and awkward hand lever might be fine for racing rims, but they can be a nightmare to attach to the valve stem on some 4x4 tyres.
Stripped down to basics, the Longacre auto-fill inflator/deflator is an adjustable pressure regulator with a gauge and a hose. You adjust the desired tyre pressure with the hand knob, a fiddly and slow process. Speaking of slow; numerous users report this device to take quite a bit longer to inflate tyres than with a compressor alone.
In fairness, this unit isn’t really designed to be used in applications where you continually want to air up and down. Rather, it’s meant for the racetrack where exact tyre pressures are critical. Service crew would set the regulator once, then check each tyre to add or remove small amounts of air as needed every time the car comes into the pits.
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| Maximum pressure | 60psi (415kPa) |
|---|---|
| Max number of tyres | One |
| Warranty | 12 months |
Pros
- Simple
- Quality components
- Automatic shut-off
Cons
- Clip-on valve chuck won’t suit some tyres
- Fiddly set-up
- Slow to inflate
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Ironman 4x4 Air Champ
The Ironman 4x4 Air Champ dual inflator is advertised as a deflator/inflator. However, users report it’s slow to deflate and more suited as an inflator than a deflator.
Are you fussy about equalising tyre pressures? You could use another deflator, then use the Air Champ to equalise pressures at the end, but it does mean you’d need to carry a separate tyre deflator.
The hose lengths are marginal at best. This device is best suited to small vehicles, due to the short overall hose length. The Air Champ uses a Schrader valve (the same as the valve stem on your tyres) to attach the compressor for inflation. So it’s compatible with any air compressor. The snap-on valve chucks make attaching the hoses to your tyres’ valves easy.
The Ironman Air Champ Dual Inflator is a cheap and compact option compared to other units which deflate/inflate two tyres at once. It’s just a matter of whether you’re willing to trade off price for features.
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| Maximum pressure | 60psi (415kPa) |
|---|---|
| Max number of tyres | Two at once |
| Warranty | 12 months |
Pros
- Equalises pressures between tyres
- Compatible with any compressor
- Valve chucks are snap-on
Cons
- No faster than using a compressor to inflate individual tyres
- Tyre deflation is slow
- Hoses are too short for larger vehicles
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A buyers' guide to 4x4 tyre inflators
Most serious off-roaders have an air compressor, either mounted in their vehicle or a portable unit. However, all the compressed air in the world isn’t much use if you can’t easily deflate or inflate your tyres.
What to look for
There are hundreds of different tyre inflators or tyre deflators on the market, but surprisingly few do both jobs. The ones that do exist vary widely… from fully automatic systems which you control with a phone app, to basic hand-held units with a manual hand lever.
Some of us can’t resist the latest gadget, so might be tempted to go with a bells and whistles product like the ARB Pressure Control Module. But when you’re on your own out in the middle of nowhere, simple is always the best option. The last thing you want to be doing out bush is relying on complex controllers and the vagaries of Bluetooth connections.
Then again if you always travel with a group, then this might not matter.
The best compromise is the units which deflate and inflate all four tyres at once… and are purely mechanical. In our selection, the Maxtrax Indeflate (choice of 2 or 4 tyres) and the Clearview Tyre Spider (4 tyres) fit the bill.
Don’t discount the AutoFlate Automatic Inflator/Deflator (choice of 2 or 4 tyres) either. Yes, it has an electronic controller. However, if it dies you can easily bypass it – unlike the ARB Pressure Module which controls the compressor.
The downside of these units? Set up and pack down time.
You need to dig out the hoses and valve chucks, connect them all to both tyres and the main valve body, then connect the compressor (if you’re inflating tyres). Then once you’re done, you need to roll up and pack away four sets of hoses.
And if you’re in mud or bulldust, you’ll end up with dirt and mud all over your gear.
The big advantage of these units is you can be sure each tyre will have the same pressure. This becomes increasingly important as you load up your fourbie and head into hot and rugged terrain.
For pure simplicity, you can’t go past a unit like the Kings 3 In 1 Ultimate Air Tool. There’s really nothing to go wrong. And for the price, you can buy two and have a “just in case” spare.
What you ultimately decide to get depends on your style of travel. Look for a compromise between deflation/inflation time and complexity. If something can go wrong at the worst possible time… eventually it will!
A word on inflation time for those systems which inflate 2 or more tyres at once…
The system is only as good as your compressor
Your compressor delivers at set flow rate based on pressure. It will deliver the same amount of air (give or take a bit) regardless of whether you pump up one tyre or four tyres at once. It can only deliver so much air and no more.
What does this mean?
If you buy a tyre deflator/inflator which allows you to pump up two or four tyres at once, don’t expect to inflate your tyres any quicker.
Your compressor will take four times as long to inflate each tyre. However because you’re inflating four at once, the overall time won’t really change. It could even be slower if you have to set up a spiderweb of hoses then pack them all away again.
In fact, some users report systems like the Maxtrax Indeflate actually take longer overall to inflate tyres. It’s likely all those extra hose lengths and multiple fittings reduce the air flow.
Where you do pick up time is when deflating tyres. Being able to deflate four tyres at once is a huge time saver… plus you know they’ll all be at the same pressure.
Talking of pressure, also consider the tyre deflator/inflator’s maximum pressure rating before parting with your hard-earned.
Maximum pressure
Some devices we reviewed are limited to 60psi (415kPa) maximum pressure. For most off-roaders this is fine. But with the growing popularity of small 4WD trucks kitted out as tourers, 60psi isn’t enough.
If you own a small truck or are considering one, you’ll need a maximum pressure rating of at least 100psi – preferably 120psi.
On road, these larger truck tyres need somewhere between 80 and 100psi depending on the weight they’re carrying.
Price
You might have noticed we didn’t list pricing in our reviews. This is because many of the tyre deflators/inflators are available with extra hose kits, air chucks and so on. All these extras can easily push the price well above $500.
At the other end of the scale, the Kings unit retails for around $30.
What you ultimately spend depends entirely on your budget and what type of system is best for your style of 4WDing.
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