Rechargeable tyre inflators can be extremely useful when on the move, as they're completely portable and can be used anywhere.

It’s noisy, dishing out 77dB in operation. And the pressure gauge can be difficult to read since, because it goes up to 250psi, that crucial 0 to 60psi zone is crammed into the first quarter of the dial. However, it pumped up our test tyre from 20 to 30psi in just under two-and-a-half minutes, with no fuss or faff. It’s a shame that the supplied accessories are so basic – just a ball inflator and two adaptors for inflatable toys – still, if you’re looking to spend as little as possible, then the Storm Force Mini does the job. Ring have just come out with an all new rapid digital tyre inflator – the RTC1000, it comes with more accessories than you’d imagine, so we put one to the test. Tyre pressures are typically between 30psi and 40psi (or 2 bar and 2.8 bar). How to test your tyre pressure

Pros

Many new cars come equipped with their own tyre inflators, which is a surefire sign it's worth getting one.

When attaching the pump to your tyre valve using the screwed air hose the current tyre pressure will be displayed on the screen after a few seconds. Using the small yellow dial on the front you can set your desired pressure and then press it in to confirm your selection. Then at the bottom is a big power button that you can't miss - this gets the inflation process underway. Again, it’s not the most attractive machine in the world, but again, this is tyre inflation, not Paris Fashion Week. The analogue scale goes from 0psi-100psi, with around a centimetre between each increment of 10psi. That means that the difference between, say, 30psi and 32psi is just a couple of millimetres, making it a tad difficult to know exactly how much pressure you’re putting into your tyres — an issue exacerbated by the fact that the machine moves around a lot as it inflates. There is also a powerful LED light at the side of the device, if your tyre goes down at night, it is all the light you will need. Other than road rescuers, this would suit camping and caravanning supremely well, where you’ve got a bit of extra space to carry it and perhaps a leisure battery to hook it up to. Ring could extend its usefulness by offering this pump with a couple of different power leads though. If it was easy enough to fit a three-pin plug for example, I’d happily leave this handy unit set up in my garage. Cordless compressors are becoming more useful and well priced, so we’ve included our top three products from both these categories. The tests were similar, and we were impressed by those that featured lights, adaptors, clear instructions and other extras. Verdict

What’s it like?

I’ve used it to top up car and motorbike pressures and once to seat a stubborn tubeless tyre on a mountain bike. I like the screw-on fittings and long hose but generally think a digital gauge is easier to use than an analogue one. It’s a hefty bit of kit, but super speedy and surprisingly quiet.

The Ring RTC1000 Premium Rapid Digital Tyre Inflator is a modern and easy to use tyre inflator, which makes pumping up your tyres a simple process. Is The Ring RTC1000 Easy to Use? The inflator sits on four rubber feet to prevent it scuttling around your driveway, while the air hose wraps snugly beneath the device. The same can’t be said for the 12V connector, though, which must be wrapped around your hand and cable tied before it can be reinserted into the inflator. Much improved is the tyre valve connector which, unlike many others, is now sturdier. This new, bigger brass unit makes it much easier to connect to a tyre valve that’s all covered in road gunk because it’s big enough for you to grip properly. It’s also much easier to attach to tyres with awkwardly placed valves. As always, there’s a deflator valve if you need to let some of the air out. The unit is small enough to keep in your boot and comes with its own case to keep the dirt out of your car. The 12v connector can be neatly wound away on a spindle, saving the normal tangle you get yourself into. The 3.5m lead isn’t perhaps as long as some on the market but can do the job of reaching the tyre furthest away from the in-car power supply. with DC, AC, LF reject input sensitivity ≥ 5 mV/div: < 0.8 div (meas.) input sensitivity < 5 mV/div: < 1.5 div (meas.) with HF reject all input sensitivities: < 1 div (meas.) with noise rejection input sensitivity > 5 mV/div: < 1.5 div (meas.)

Ring RTC1000 Tyre Inflator Review: Quick Summary

Overall, I think the Ring RTC1000 is an excellent digital tyre inflator and does everything we ask of it. We were clutching at straws to find negatives with this really as it does everything well and is well priced for the quality you'd expect from Ring.