Power Tool Review: Milwaukee M18 Cordless Tire Inflator
A must-have for garage geeks in unpredictable climates.
When I was a young homeowner, I used Ryobi power tools. When I had the money, I put away childish things and upgraded to Milwaukee. I’d like to say that it was because I needed an impact driver with more torque or a better reciprocating saw. After all, both of those statements are true. If I’m being completely honest, however, I chose to make the switch because of a portable air pump. That’s the tool I’m reviewing today.
I still remember where I was the first time I saw the Milwaukee M18 Cordless Tire Inflator. I was at a LeMons race with my team, Nacho Friend Racing, and we were busy unloading our battered Celica from the hauler. As we prepared the car, I saw my teammate, Nash, grab a tool that looked like a miniature red boombox, thread the hose into the valve stem, dial in a tire pressure on a large digital display, hit the button, and walk away while he handled other business. It was love at first sight.
By comparison, my cheapo Ryobi inflator required me to sit there holding the trigger for what felt like an eternity. A year or so later, when I had some extra cash, I made the switch to Milwaukee, and I haven’t looked back – all because of this portable tire pump. Living in Northeast Ohio, a climate where it’s not unheard of to go from freezing temperatures to highs in the mid-60s in the same week, this thing gets a workout. It’s exceptionally precise, and one battery lasts quite a long time. That’s a good thing when you’re a degenerate like me with a double digit number of vehicles.
It works fast, too. It will fill a car tire from flat in just a couple of minutes, and if you’re topping off, you’ll actually spend more time threading and unthreading the adapter. In fact, the lack of a clip-on adapter is one of my only gripes with this thing.
I’m not saying that this tire inflator is the only reason to make the switch to Milwaukee. I’m not saying it’s the best reason, either. All I’m saying is that it’s the only reason I needed. Of course it was spendy (around $200 with a battery and charger). Any of the top-tier power tool brands are. What I’m saying is this – be realistic and honest about what your wants and needs are, look at what’s available from each manufacturer, and go from there. For me, a precision, high-quality tire inflator is a big deal, and I like that it uses the same battery system as a dozen other tools I use regularly.
Price: ★★★
Quality: ★★★★★
Features: ★★★★★
Function: ★★★★
Overall: ★★★★
Photos: Milwaukee