Air Tank / Compressor for the garage

[e82n54]

I'd like to have an air tank in my garage for adding air to the tires quickly and easily. What do I need to buy? Do I need a tank and compressor?

I'm looking for a small portable unit. I also don't want to have to turn on a loud air compressor every time I want to add air to my tires.

Any recommendations? Thanks.

[cdde323]

I researched this pretty heavily a few months ago...

I went with this:
http://www.amazon.com/Makita-MAC700-.../dp/B0001Q2VK0

I'm very happy with it... I can have a normal conversation with someone in my garage with the garage door closed. Don't read that as silent though, no compressors are going to be silent, some are just more quiet than others. There is a few other options for air tank compressors, I read good things about these also:

http://www.amazon.com/California-Air...dp/B00889ZYD8/
http://www.amazon.com/Rolair-JC10-Su...dp/B0058NRVMO/

I went with the Makita for the higher HP (tank fills/pressure ramps up quicker) and somewhat bigger tank... but I mainly use it for air tools.

If you don't plan on using air tools or anything that would require needing air pressure built up and ready to use, you might just want to look into tankless compressors like this:

http://www.amazon.com/Bon-Aire-i8000...dp/B003XGYDE2/

Hope that helps..

[e82n54]

Awesome! Thanks for the very detailed info and links! This is exactly what I was looking for.

[bmw1racer]

Originally Posted by e82n54

I also don't want to have to turn on a loud air compressor every time I want to add air to my tires.

Any recommendations? Thanks.

A bicycle pump... Seriously.

I've had the same bicycle pump for 20+ years and it's quick and easy to top off a tire.

[e82n54]

Really? That seems like it would take forever. I'll have to give it a try. Thanks

[bmw1racer]

Originally Posted by e82n54

Really? That seems like it would take forever. I'll have to give it a try. Thanks

It could take forever if the tires are really low...

I check my tire pressures every other week and if I'm down a pound or so, about 5-6 pumps gets me back to where I need to be.

[JimD]

I have two 120V compressors but what I normally use is my Viair 70P 12V compressor. It is quieter and does the job quickly. My compressors are both oil-less and thus pretty noisy. I carry the Viair in the trunk of my 128i as protection against flats and pull it out when a tire needs air. It serves both purposes well and costs about $50. If you get one, be sure to get the accessory outlet that clamps to the terminals of the battery for a few dollars more. The outlets of the bimmer only stay powered for a minute or so after the car is turned off so you have to run the engine to air up the tires if you don't have the clamp on outlet.

I also carry a plugging kit in the bag of the Viair but all the flats I've had in 40 plus years of driving have been slow leaks. With a compressor, I could always have gotten home.