What’s a CO2 tire inflator?

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CO2 tire inflators rapidly inflate tires using compressed carbon dioxide. They come in various sizes, from small ones for bicycles to larger ones for cars and trucks. The larger inflators have refillable tanks and can be used for pneumatic tools. The price ranges from $10 to $400-500.

Cars, trucks, ATVs, motorcycles, and bicycles can be hampered by a common and very fixable problem: a flat tire. Over the years, the solution to a flat tire was the hand pump, which required a bit of patience and a lot of elbow grease. Over the years, various other inflation systems have come and gone, but several options remain. Among the newer options for inflating a flat tire is the CO2 inflator, which uses compressed carbon dioxide to rapidly inflate the tire. A CO2 tire inflator takes the hard work out of pumping up a flat tire, but there is a downside to this relatively new system.

A CO2 tire inflator will come in a variety of sizes to suit a particular need. A CO2 tire inflator designed to fill bicycle tires is extremely compact and can fit in a pocket or backpack. CO2 canisters are very small, which works well for the relatively low volume bicycle tire that is designed to be inflated. The CO2 cartridge is attached to a chuck that fits into the bicycle tire valve, and once the chuck is pressed against the valve, CO2 is shot from the canister into the bicycle tire, inflating the tire to seconds.

For ATVs, motorcycles, cars and trucks, the CO2 inflator is much larger. The tank containing the CO2 is often refillable and controlled by a valve and gauge. Some larger CO2 tire inflator tanks can be used to power pneumatic tools for a short time as well, making them a versatile option for off-road use that may find the user far from mechanical aid.

In either case, the same basic components exist: a tank full of compressed CO2; a chuck or wrench that connects the tank to the tire valve; and a valve control that modulates the flow of CO2. With larger units for larger vehicles, the chuck could be at the end of a hose, allowing for more movement and versatility. While most larger versions of the CO2 tire inflator almost always come with a gauge that shows the amount of pressure being transferred to the tire, smaller units, such as those used on bicycles, may not. with a meter, which makes the process a bit more difficult and less accurate

A CO2 tire inflator can range in price from $10 US Dollars (USD) for a small bike-sized inflator, to upwards of $400-500 USD for a larger version. CO2 cartridges for smaller inflators are not refillable, but the cartridges are generally cheap. The larger inflators come with refillable tanks.




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