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The Glovebox Genie is the third device that’s clearly related to the Sakura SS5332/Sealey MAC01, and this is definitely the best of them. Price wise, it’s not much more expensive than the Sakura and is usefully cheaper than the Sealey yet, performance wise, it's only 25 seconds behind the Sealey's brisk test result. Although there isn't a deflate button, the Glovebox Genie has a digital gauge, auto-stop and a screwed valve coupling. The power lead is a touch shorter than many, but that's the only compromise to worry about.
Autocar says4 stars
3. Sealey MAC01
Price: £40.08
Buy from: www.amazon.co.uk
Contact: 01284 757500
Web: www.sealey.co.uk
Inflation test time: 2min 55sec
It’s not difficult to spot that this unit and the Sakura share the same casing, but the similarities end there. The MAC01 has a smoother note that suggests that different parts lurk inside, and it’s no shock that it took two minutes less than the Sakura to inflate our test tyre. Speed is the only advantage the MAC01 has over the two, though, as we favour the Sakura’s digital gauge and auto-stop to the Sealey's analogue dial. The MAC01's lever-type valve coupling is primitive compared to the Sakura's screw coupling and deflate button.
Autocar says4 stars
4. Sakura SS5332
Price: £29.80
Buy from: www.amazon.co.uk
Contact: 01488 689400
Web: www.saxon-brands.com
Inflation test time: 5min 10sec
The Sakura is barely any bigger than the dinky Michelin Top-Up yet, impressively, it has enough power to inflate most tyres from totally flat. The 5min 10sec taken to blow up our test tyre, though not terribly rapid by the standards of some others here, was rapid enough and well within the 15-minute duty cycle of the Sakura. They haven’t skimped on the extras either; there’s a digital display, auto-stop, a deflate button and both the power lead and air hose are decent lengths.
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Autocar says 4 stars
5. Michelin Programmable Superfast 4x4/SUV Digital Tyre Inflator - RECOMMENDED
Price: £65
Buy from: www.halfords.com
Contact: 0800 731 4973
Web: www.michelin-lifestyle.com
Inflation test time: 1min 50sec
This is the fastest inflator here, and it comes with a conveniently long, 3-metre power lead, an 85cm air hose, screw-on valve coupling and auto-stop, so it really is impressively easy to use. Sorting out over-inflated tyres accurately is easy with the deflate button, too. There’s even a tiny rubber protrusion to place the removed tyre valve cap on so that you don’t misplace it while you inflate the tyre.
Autocar says4 stars
6. Ring RAC830
Price: £79.00
Buy from: www.amazon.co.uk
Contact: 0113 213 2000
Web: www.ringautomotive.com
Inflation test time: 1min 52sec
The Ring lost the inflation speed test here by only two seconds to the Michelin Superfast, but in almost every other way there's almost nothing to choose between the two models. The large display shows actual pressure as well as target pressure, and a single rotary dial is used to set the target level. It allows you to toggle through PSI, Bar and other units, or twist it to set the pressure you want. Simple, and effective.
Autocar says4 stars
7. Sealey MAC04D
Price: £76.50
Buy from: www.amazon.co.uk
Contact: 01284 757500
Web: www.sealey.co.uk
Inflation test time: 4min
The Sealey tyre inflator gets the bulk of the basics right, but often in an unusual way. The generous 5m cable means the device can be positioned right next to the tyre, making the 2m air hose actually a little excessive. We like the digital gauge and auto-stop, but pressure is in PSI only, unlike with all the other units here that also offer BAR. The gauge also only shows target pressure rather than actual pressure, while a less precise bar display shows inflation progress. Our final complaint is the old-fashioned lever-type tyre coupling.
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Autocar says3stars
8. Draper 20582
Price: £46.50
Buy from: www.amazon.co.uk
Contact: 023 8049 4333
Web: www.drapertools.com
Inflation test time: 5min 40sec
The draper inflator is cordless, which is really convenient, but there’s also a 12-volt cable provided so that you can plug it in and carry on pumping if it runs out of battery before you’ve finished inflating the tyre. However, while the cordless use, auto-stop feature and compact size make this a very convenient unit, the slow inflation speed and short, 15cm air hose make longer pumping jobs tedious as you have to hold it for the duration of the inflation if the tyre valve is more than a few inches above the ground.
Autocar says3stars
9. Michelin Compact 'Top Up' Digital Tyre Inflator
Price: £34.49
Buy from: www.amazon.co.uk
Contact: 0800 731 4973
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