VIAIR Portable Inflator Comparison Review

Viair 00088 88P Portable Air Compressor

VIAIR manufactures a wide range of high quality 12 & 24 Volt DC portable air compressors. From the economical VIAIR 85P that usually sells for under $50 and can inflate up to 31" tires to the brute power of the VIAIR 440P that can fill a large 37″ x 12.5″ tire from 0 to 30 PSI in under 5 minutes.

VIAIR portable compressors are powered by your vehicle's electrical system. Smaller portable compressors such as the VIAIR 85P simply plug into your vehicle’s cigarette lighter or 12-volt accessory jack, heavy-duty models like the VIAIR 440P use special clamps to connect directly to the vehicle battery terminals. In either case, you can keep one of these in your car or truck and always be prepared to inflate a tire without searching around for a gas station with an air pump, which is becoming increasingly difficult to find nowadays.

The VIAIR portable air compressors compared here are all top selling models with hundreds of positive 4 and 5-star Amazon customer reviews. Even if you intend on buying a VIAIR 12-volt tire inflator from a local retailer such as Walmart, Harbor Freight or AutoZone, I highly recommend that you read through some of the negative reviews at Amazon for the models that interest you so you’ll know what problems or complaints others have experienced.

Compare VIAIR 12V Tire Inflators

Item

Specs

Rating

Price

VIAIR 85P Portable Air Compressor

VIAIR 00085 85P Portable Inflator

Power

12V 15A


CFM @ 0 PSI

1.26 CFM


Max Tire Size

31"

Plugs Into 12V Outlet


Viair Quality


Great Amazon Reviews!

Viair 00088 88P Portable Air Compressor

VIAIR 00088 88P Portable Inflator

Power

12V 20A


CFM @ 0 PSI

1.47 CFM


Max Tire Size

33"

Direct 12 Volt Battery Clamps


120 PSI


Inflate 33" Tires

VIAIR 300P Portable Inflator

VIAIR 30033 300P Portable Air Compressor

Power

12V 30A


CFM @ 0 PSI

2.3 CFM


Max Tire Size

33"

Heavy Duty


Inline Air Gauge


Thermal Overload

VIAIR 400P Air Compressor

VIAIR 40043 400P Portable Air Compressor

Power

12V 30A


CFM @ 0 PSI

2.3 CFM


Max Tire Size

35"

Duty Cycle: 33%

@ 100 PSI


Inline Air Gauge


25' Air Hose

VIAIR-440P Air Compressor

VIAIR 44043 440P Portable Air Compressor

Power

12V 44A


Max Air Flow

3.0 CFM


Max Tire Size

37"

Diamond-Plate

Sand Tray 


Inline Air Gauge


Hundreds of 5 Star Reviews.


VIAIR 85P 12V Inflator Review

VIAIR 85P Portable Air Compressor Review

The VIAIR 00085 85P portable 12V tire inflator is a best seller with thousands of positive reviews. It is a powerful little compressor capable of inflating tires up to 31" and features a built-in LED work light.

The 3-foot-long air hose features a twist-on tire chuck constructed of solid brass and a 10' power cord makes it easy to reach any of your vehicle's tires. The 85P outputs 1.26 CFM in free air and can inflate a 225/60R18 tire from 0 to 30 PSI in only 3 minutes.

VIAIR recommends this 6-foot air extension hose (P/N 00016) for use with the 88P.

You'll want to make sure your vehicle is equipped with a suitable 12-volt DC power jack or cigarette lighter plug with at least a 15-amp capacity. If you lack this, you'll want to get the VIAIR 88P, reviewed below, that offers direct battery clamp connectors. Also note that this model has a 60 PSI air pressure limit, which is plenty for most cars and SUV's that use 32 - 35 PSI recommended tire pressure.

VIAIR 85P vs 300P vs 400P-RV

VIAIR 85P Fill Rates

195/70R14

Fill Rate

20 to 30 PSI

42 Seconds

30 to 40 PSI

46 Seconds

225/60R18

Fill Rate

20 to 30 PSI

55 Seconds

30 to 40 PSI

65 Seconds

VIAIR 85P Resources

VIAIR 85P Specifications & Features

  • 100 PSI Gauge
  • Oil-Free Pump
  • Deluxe Carry Bag
  • 3 Inflation Tips
  • 15 Amps
  • 60 Max. PSI
  • 1.28 CFM @ 0 PSI
  • LED Work Light
  • Length 9.1"
  • Width 3.1"
  • Height 5.6"
  • 4.3 Lbs.

Power

Good power for size - 1.28 CFM in free air with 60 PSI maximum.

Quality

Good quality tire inflation compressor considering price.

Cost

The 85P is competitively priced and usually retails under $80.

AIRpsi.com

Overall Rating :  4.5

The VIAIR 85P is an excellent choice for many users. We rate it 4.5 stars.

Pros

  • Highly Portable
  • Powerful
  • Included Accessories
  • Excellent Buyer Reviews

Cons

  • DC Jack Only
  • 60 PSI Limit

VIAIR 85P 00085 12V Inflator

ASIN: B0036E9VB6 - UPC: 818114000850


VIAIR 88P Inflator Review

Viair 00088 88P Portable Tire Inflator

The VIAIR 00088 88P 12V compressor is a powerful tire inflator with direct battery clamps. The direct battery connection is better, however the trade-off is you need to open the hood to access the vehicle's battery which is typically less convenient than simply plugging into a 12 volt power outlet. The upside is, the 88P has more power with 1.47 CFM and a 120 PSI maximum pressure than the plug in VIAIR 85P model and can inflate tires up to 33".

Like the 85P the VIAIR 88P offers a solid brass twist-on tire chuck and a 10 foot 12 volt DC power cord, however the air hose is a generous 16 feet long. The extra long air hose is really convenient for hard to reach tires such as trailer tires. The 88P outputs 1.47 CFM in free air and can inflate a 225/60R18 tire from 0 to 30 PSI in only two and a half minutes, even a massive 33″ x 12.5″ tire can be filled  from flat to 30 PSI in around 5 minutes and 45 seconds.

This power comes at a price, the 88P draws up to 20 amps, requiring you to keep the engine running while using this compressor, which is something we recommend anyway whenever using a 12 volt DC compressor running off of a vehicle's battery.

VIAIR 88P Fill Rates

195/70R14

Fill Rate

20 to 30 PSI

35 Seconds

30 to 40 PSI

40 Seconds

225/60R18

Fill Rate

20 to 30 PSI

50 Seconds

30 to 40 PSI

60 Seconds

VIAIR 88P Resources

VIAIR 88P Specifications & Features

  • 120 PSI Gauge
  • Oil-Free Pump
  • Direct Battery Clamps
  • 3 Inflation Tips
  • 20 Amps
  • 120 Max. PSI
  • 1.47 CFM @ 0 PSI
  • LED Work Light
  • Length 9.8"
  • Width 3.2"
  • Height 5.6"
  • 4.75 Lbs.

Power

Good power for size - 1.47 CFM in free air with 120 PSI maximum.

Quality

Good quality tire inflation compressor considering price.

Cost

The 88P is competitively priced and usually retails under $100.

AIRpsi.com

Overall Rating :  4.5

The VIAIR 88P is a good choice for many tasks. We gave this inflator an overall rating of 4.5 stars.

Pros

  • Direct Connection
  • More Powerful
  • Fills 33" Tires
  • Excellent Buyer Reviews

Cons

  • No 12V DC Plug
  • Some Quality Concerns

VIAIR 88P Tire Inflator

ASIN: B005ASY23I - UPC: 818114000881


VIAIR 300P Air Compressor Review

VIAIR 300P 30033 Air Compressor

The VIAIR 300P is a more powerful compressor than the VIAIR 85P & 88P models. The 300P can inflate tires up to 33 inches. The 300P is powered from your vehicle's 12VDC electrical system using easy to connect alligator clamps. A long 25' air hose with inline tire pressure gauge is included.

Some key features include:

  • Deluxe zippered carry bag with storage compartments.
  •  5-in-1 inflator/deflator open ended air hose with 120 PSI gauge.
  • Heavy duty sand tray with vibration isolators

One disadvantage of the 300P inflator noted by users is the length of the power cord is only 8 feet. This can make it hard to reach tires in some vehicles even with the 25' coiled air hose. A suggested solution was to use jumper cables to lengthen the electrical connection to the air compressor.

VIAIR 300P Fill Rates

31" x 10.5"

Fill Rate

0 to 30 PSI

3 Min. 25 Sec.

15 to 30 PSI

2 Min. 0 Sec.

33" x 12.5"

Fill Rate

0 to 30 PSI

5 Min. 0 Sec.

15 to 30 PSI

2 Min. 45 Sec

VIAIR 300P Resources

VIAIR 300P Specifications & Features

  • Thermal Protection
  • Aluminum Sand Tray
  • 12V DC Clamps
  • 3 Inflation Tips
  • 30Amps
  • 150 PSI Maximum
  • 2.3 CFM @ 0 PSI
  • 33% Duty Cycle
  • Length 9.0"
  • Width 4.9"
  • Height 7.5"
  • 8.7 Lbs.

Power

Adequate power - 2.3 CFM in free air with 150 PSI maximum.

Quality

Good quality tire inflation compressor considering price.

Cost

The 300P is competitively priced and usually retails under $200.

AIRpsi.com

Overall Rating :  4.5

The VIAIR 300P is an excellent HD tire inflator We rate it 4.5 stars.

Pros

  • Carry Case
  • More Powerful
  • 25' Air Hose
  • Excellent Buyer Reviews

Cons

  • Direct Connect
  • Power Cable Length

VIAIR 300P 12 Volt Inflator

ASIN: B000X90YUO - UPC: 0818114003042


VIAIR 400P Air Compressor Review

VIAIR 400P Portable Air Compressor

VIAIR's 400P inflator is popular with off-road enthusiasts worldwide. The 400P is larger and more powerful, capable of inflating a large 35-inch tire from flat to 30 PSI in under 6 minutes.

This power requires a direct connection to the vehicle's battery using the included alligator clamps. The engine should be running when operating the 400P inflator to ensure that the current and voltage requirements of this powerful portable air compressor are met.

As with the VIAIR 300P, there were complaints about the 8' length of the power cord. Many consider this too short for ease of use, even with the 25' coiled air hose. A set of jumper cables can be used as a work-around if you have hard to reach tires on your specific vehicle.

Bottom Line - The 400P is an excellent choice for those needing to maintain larger tire sizes up to 35". For off-road, RV and farm use, having a portable tire inflator that can be used anywhere can be an invaluable resource.

VIAIR 400P Fill Rates

31" x 10.5"

Fill Rate

0 to 30 PSI

3 Min. 0 Sec.

15 to 30 PSI

1 Min. 35 Sec.

33" x 12.5"

Fill Rate

0 to 30 PSI

4 Min. 20 Sec.

15 to 30 PSI

2 Min. 5 Sec

35" x 12.5"

Fill Rate

0 to 30 PSI

5 Min. 20 Sec.

15 to 30 PSI

2 Min. 45 Sec

VIAIR 400P Resources

VIAIR 400P Specifications & Features

  • Direct Connection
  • I-beam Sand Tray
  • Deluxe Carry Bag
  • 3 Inflation Tips
  • Over-Temp Limiter
  • 150 PSI Maximum
  • 2.3 CFM @ 0 PSI
  • 1 Year Warranty
  • Length 10.87"
  • Width 5.83"
  • 10.40 Lbs.

Power

2.3 CFM in free air with 150 PSI maximum pressure

Quality

Good quality tire inflation compressor for the money.

Cost

The 400P usually retails for around $250.

AIRpsi.com

Overall Rating :  4.5

VIAIR's 400P inflator is powerful. We rate it 4.5 stars.

Pros

  • Heavy-Duty Pump
  • I-Beam Sand Tray
  • 150 PSI - 2.30 CFM
  • Excellent Buyer Reviews

Cons

  • Gets Very Hot
  • Short Battery Cable

VIAIR 400P Portable Tire Inflator

ASIN: B000X9AXR8 - UPC: 818114004032


VIAIR 440P Portable Inflator Review

VIAIR 440P 44043 Portable Tire Inflator

The VIAIR 440P is the most powerful portable air compressor in the VIAIR lineup. 150 PSI rated and a massive 3 CFM air flow.

The 440P can rapidly inflate up to 37" tires. This is the best portable inflator kit to buy if you need to inflate large RV, tractor or truck tires.

A Vibration-Resistant Diamond-Plate Sand Tray helps keep dirt out of the compressor motor and reduce vibration and noise. The inline 120 PSI air gauge and 25-foot coiled air hose with open end air chuck make filling tires a breeze.

What we didn't like - As with the other VIAIR 300P - 450P heavy-duty compressors for tire inflation, the 440P has a 8 foot power cord which some users consider inadequate.

Bottom Line - If you want the most powerful portable inflator on the market, then the VIAIR 440P is likely your best choice.

VIAIR 440P Fill Rates

35" x 12.5"

Fill Rate

0 to 30 PSI

4 Min. 30 Sec.

15 to 30 PSI

2 Min. 15 Sec.

37" x 12.5"

Fill Rate

0 to 30 PSI

4 Min. 50 Sec.

15 to 30 PSI

2 Min. 40 Sec

VIAIR 440P Resources

VIAIR 440P Specifications & Features

  • Diamond-Plate Tray
  • 12V DC Alligator
  • Deluxe Carry Bag
  • 3 Inflation Tips
  • 44 Amps
  • 150 PSI Maximum
  • 3.0 CFM 
  • In-Line Fuse
  • Length 13.0"
  • Width 5.83"
  • Height 6.69"
  • 13.67 Lbs.

Power

3.0 CFM in free air running with 150 PSI maximum pressure.

Quality

Good quality tire inflation compressor for the money.

Cost

The 440P 12V Inflator usually retails under $350.

AIRpsi.com

Overall Rating :  4.5

The VIAIR 440P air compressor is a powerhouse. We rate it 4.5 stars.

Pros

  • Most Powerful
  • Diamond-Plate Sand Tray
  • 3.0 CFM
  • Excellent Buyer Reviews

Cons

  • Short Power Cord
  • Weight

VIAIR 440P Heavy-Duty Inflator

ASIN-B000X9BXQS


About VIAIR

VIAIR is leading manufacturer of high-performance mobile air compressors based in Irvine, CaliforniaVIAIR Corporation was founded in 1998 and is a global company offering a wide selection of 12- and 24-volt automotive air compressors and air accessories. VIAIR products are currently being utilized by auto enthusiasts, 4x4 and off-road, RV, farm, trucking and numerous others around the world. VIAIR products receive excellent customer reviews from thousands of satisfied customers.

Quick Tip: It is important that you keep your vehicle running while using your compressor. This will prevent your battery from discharging and insure that your 12V portable air compressor has the optimum DC voltage and current capacity that it requires to operate at peak efficiency.

The Bottom Line

Keeping properly inflated tires is essential. It would be hard to go wrong selecting one of VIAIR's portable air compressors to ensure that you can easily accomplish this task. All of the VIAIR compressors on this page come with a one-year limited warranty and are highly rated by users.

Leave a Comment: