Tyre inflation at petrol station forecourts

[Diggerdi]

Can someone please inform me whether a standard air pump at a petrol station is suitable for motorhome tyres? We have finally (only three and a half years in) weighed the axles. I e-mailed Continental yesterday and received a prompt reply today - very impressed. Obviously I now want to check and, likely, correct the pressures. I am sure I heard somewhere that some pumps did not go high enough.

 

[gerry mcg]

It probably won't inflate to the required MH pressure.
I bought a portable Ring 900 compressor which is perfect
Amazon product ASIN B000W08QZY

 

[XxAnthxX]

I guess the answer is to check at your local garage......

But considering a cheap domestic 10 bar air compressor will deliver 145psi, which is, at a guess, almost double your required pressure. I’d say the commercial forecourt equipment will be up to the job bearing in mind goods vehicles use them.

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[TinaLes]

Our local Sainsburys & Tesco superstores have free to use Air & water supplies.
When they are serviceable (50/50 of the time) they only go up to 80PSI and would take an age to get there, pumping up the car tyres to 35PSI takes ages before the beep goes off!
I would advise buying your own HD compressor, as finding space near the air machine in most garage places can be difficult, plus the way they are abused by the public which must make them fall out of calibration very quickly. The repair guy is always fixing the Sainsbury machine.
The Ring RAC900 one would be my first choice, if I didn't have similar already supplied by the manufacturer.
Good luck.
LES

 

[Gellyneck]

Same as gerry mcg for us.

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[XxAnthxX]

Same as gerry mcg for us.

Out of curiosity, I know a lot of people rate the Ring inflator, but at 6.? bar (100 psi) other than being 12v what makes it so desirable?

 

[Nigel L]

Continental’s customer service is fantastic
I recently done the same and had the van axles weighed and obtained the same information. Result. The van’s ride is so much better now that it is running on the correct pressures
I would imagine that you will be letting air out though, instead of putting air in!
After everyone including dealers, adamant that 5.5 bar was the figure, which was also on the sticker inside the door, I am now running at 2 bar lower than that.

 

[DBK]

Can someone please inform me whether a standard air pump at a petrol station is suitable for motorhome tyres? We have finally (only three and a half years in) weighed the axles. I e-mailed Continental yesterday and received a prompt reply today - very impressed. Obviously I now want to check and, likely, correct the pressures. I am sure I heard somewhere that some pumps did not go high enough.

What pressures have Continental suggested? I suspect they are a lot lower than the pressures recommended in the vehicle handbook. I've followed their recommendations for my vehicle (about 20psi less than the handbook) for several years now without any problems. The tyres originally on the rear but swapped to the front for their last year did 40K+ miles. Never had a problem with a garage pump not being up to inflating them although I do carry a small Ring pump in case it might be needed when away.

 

[Gellyneck]

Out of curiosity, I know a lot of people rate the Ring inflator, but at 6.? bar (100 psi) other than being 12v what makes it so desirable?

For me it's a few things, length of cable, length of coiled hose, screw-on connector, quieter than a lot of others, etc.
One downside for me would be the distance the pump can be from the tyre when inflating it.

 

[Diggerdi]

Nigel L, DBK , they have recommended for us 3.25 bar front (1480kg) and 5.25 bar rear (1920kg). I'm ashamed to say I haven't got a clue what they are at the moment .

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[tacr2man]

Out of curiosity, I know a lot of people rate the Ring inflator, but at 6.? bar (100 psi) other than being 12v what makes it so desirable?

I dont have a ring compressor (air brake system ) but to anwer your question some of the cheap ones often quote very high psi figures but flow rate is poor , also their duty cycle is not much before o/heat damage occurs , so if several Funtsers have used and rated the product it takes the gamble out of purchasing a duff bit of kit

 

[dunnah01]

Was your van weighed at it's fully laden weight with diesel and water?

 

[DBK]

Nigel L, DBK , they have recommended for us 3.25 bar front (1480kg) and 5.25 bar rear (1920kg). I'm ashamed to say I haven't got a clue what they are at the moment .

Those are 47 and 76 psi respectively. The 76 might be a struggle with some pumps. What I would recommend is getting a decent pressure gauge. You may well find your tyres don't need pumping up but letting down a tad.

 

[Clivefog]

I got one of these <Broken link removed> at everything. Although the guage has not been far off I check with a pressure guage to be sure.
-Car-Tyre-Inflator-Handheld-Air-Compressor-LCD-Display/274017675787?epid=4039331096&hash=item3fccb9ea0b:g:W~YAAOSwe7JdjMoi.
Initially to inflate high pressure cycle tyres and Moped tyres which it does with ease. Use it to inflate car and the motorhome now, it can inflate a 16" flat car tyre to 33psi on one charge. Also able to run from the cigar lighter socket.
As for forecourts I have used motorway ones as the length of lead is longer, costs though.

 

[Nigel L]

Nigel L, DBK , they have recommended for us 3.25 bar front (1480kg) and 5.25 bar rear (1920kg). I'm ashamed to say I haven't got a clue what they are at the moment .

Ours was 3 bar front (1620kg) and 3.25 bar rear (1720kg) 3340kg overall on a 3500 plate. we had fully loaded the van as if we were ready to go away, including water and diesel prior to going to the weighbridge. Probably quite light compared to others, but we tend only to take minimal stuff away when we go away
I currently have set the pressures at 3.25 front and 3.5 rear, so slightly over what Continental recommended, but then gives a bit of margin if we do bring a bit more home that we left with

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[peterc10]

Our Continental tyres require 5.5bar at the rear and 3.5bar at the front. I use petrol stations, including the supermarkets' ones, to check and pump them up and have never had a problem doing so.

 

[franknjan]

We go to our regular tyre dealer in our village. They check the presssures and inflate as necessary.
I think the smaller 12v pumps are not man enough for the job and can create problems. Maybe useful in an emergency.

 

[ManTheVan]

I bought one of these recently and I’ve got to the thing is absolutely bloomin wonderful.

Cordless Tyre Inflator - 12V

Effortlessly top-up tyres, sports equipment, toys and more with the cordless, portable power of the VonHaus 12V Tyre Inflator.

www.vonhaus.com

 

[Stealaway]

How good is the compressor that Fiat supply with their repair kit? That should be powerful enough even if it's slow.

 

[Euromobil]

Don't rely on your local garage forecourt, I found I was letting out more air than putting in, due to low cut off at compressor. Pump attendants had no idea how much it would inflate to, like others I now trust my own pump and a decent gauge. Plus I can check my tyres wherever, not just at the filling St.

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[Langtoftlad]

I bought one of these recently and I’ve got to the thing is absolutely bloomin wonderful.

Cordless Tyre Inflator - 12V

Effortlessly top-up tyres, sports equipment, toys and more with the cordless, portable power of the VonHaus 12V Tyre Inflator.

www.vonhaus.com

What bar/psi does it go up to?

 

[Coolcats]

How good is the compressor that Fiat supply with their repair kit? That should be powerful enough even if it's slow.

Indeed this is what was supplied with ours <Broken link removed>

 

[tribalbrit]

I run my work van at 65 psi, never had an an issue at local shell garage.

 

[JohnJan]

What bar/psi does it go up to?

 

[JohnJan]

I bought one of these recently and I’ve got to the thing is absolutely bloomin wonderful.

Cordless Tyre Inflator - 12V

Effortlessly top-up tyres, sports equipment, toys and more with the cordless, portable power of the VonHaus 12V Tyre Inflator.

www.vonhaus.com

It can even blow up your balls!

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[ManTheVan]

Ha! Haven’t tried that particular trick yet, but it has done the MH, cars and bikes. It’s a dream to use.

Sorry Langtoftlad, it goes to 125psi.

 

[TUCANO]

Same as gerry mcg for us.

Same same.

 

[Ian Bosman]

I guess the answer is to check at your local garage......

But considering a cheap domestic 10 bar air compressor will deliver 145psi, which is, at a guess, almost double your required pressure. I’d say the commercial forecourt equipment will be up to the job bearing in mind goods vehicles use them.

IMPAX OM227-24 CM2 PROE3625 24Ltr Electric Air Compressor 230V - Screwfix

Order online at Screwfix.com. Powerful yet compact oil-free compressor with high air delivery rate, improving the continuous performance of all accessories. Highly reliable, low noise, anti-vibration design. Suitable for spraying, nailing, stapling, drilling, sanding and grinding. FREE next day...

www.screwfix.com

Recently had to replace two tyres which the fitter said must not go over 70 psi so he said he went to 68psi. These are the standard size camper tyres for a Ducato

 

[Rumour and Innuendo]

For home I have a 50 ltr compressor. When I am away, I have an RAC Ariva card!

 

[Billy Carroll]

Go to the nearest motorway services and use the HGV Air pump.

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