Size is probably the most important thing. The smallest inflators are around 20 x 20cm, so you can leave them in your car without losing too much luggage space. The best don’t skimp on the length of the power lead and air hose, which makes it easier to reach all four valves. Most can be preset to stop inflating when your tyre reaches the correct pressure.

The pressure is usually shown in two formats: bar and psi. There are typically two sets of these. The lowest is for normal use, but you may well see another set of higher pressures for when the car is heavily loaded, increasing the weight that’s pushing down on the tyres. If you’re a Michelin fan and like to buy a trusted brand though, this one is a good choice if your budget won’t stretch to the 12266 at the top. The digital display will tell you the current pressure of the tyre when it’s connected to a valve, to the left you can adjust the tyre pressure with the blue buttons, and to the right the other blue button switches the LED light on and off, which is incredibly bright.

Tyre pressures are typically between 30psi and 40psi (or 2 bar and 2.8 bar). How to test your tyre pressure

If you want to be equipped for every flat tyre eventuality, the VonHaus Cordless Tyre Inflator has you covered. It will run for up to ten minutes from the supplied 1.5A lithium-ion battery, but if you forget to charge it you can always switch to the bundled 12V adaptor, which comes with an unusually generous 3.5m cable. It has a small, but still readable, digital pressure meter. And you can just set your desired pressure, pull the trigger and let it go to work: it will stop when it reaches the right level. Auto Express 'recommended' 2022. A recommended product in the annual Auto Express best tyre inflator guide With all new cars now fitted with tyre pressure monitors, having an inflator means that you can respond immediately to any warning that your tyres are running low. The compressor is small, at 20cm long, and weighs just over 1kg. A long air hose and power lead offer plenty of reach, although stowing them is a bit fiddly. The 635 includes a large white light, as well as a red one for alerting other drivers. There’s also a three-piece adaptor for use with bicycle tyres, blow-up toys and footballs, along with a padded case for tidy storage. Something a little different now, in this cylindrical offering. The Michelin Rapid 12262 tyre inflator has a totally different design to the others above, and works well.style>