Forget Paid Gas Station Air Pumps, Go to Gas Stations With Free Air

Tires are known to leak a small amount of air over time. It’s common for most vehicles to leak around 2 to 5 pounds per square inch (PSI) every month or so. This happens naturally because oxygen molecules can permeate through the tire’s rubber material.

Having a slow leak in your vehicle’s tires is also fairly common. These slow leaks aren’t caused by punctures, but rather by an imperfect seal between the tire bead and the metal rim. Sometimes, the tire valve stem could also be damaged. Either way, these slow leaks will require the driver to top up their vehicle’s air regularly.

To prevent your vehicle’s tires from wearing out excessively, you should regularly top them up every few months or whenever you notice the tires are deflating.

Many gas stations with free air pumps should be your go-to place to top up your vehicle’s tires. However, not all gas stations offer this service for free.

Some gas stations with air pumps require a few quarters to a few dollars to activate the tire inflating machine. This is done presumably for the cost of keeping the machine functioning. However, those paid air compressors are probably going to cost a fair bit of money in the long run, if you’re paying for regular air refills.

Some states require gas stations to have free pumps. Charging air could be a safety risk because it can discourage people from regularly topping up or checking their tires’ air.

You should know that constantly relying on paid tire air pumps at gas stations isn’t the best option. We’ll list the options that you should go for in this article.

Alternatives to Paying for Compressed Air

Purchase a Portable Air Compressor

You can purchase portable tire inflators for as little as $10. These devices can plug into your vehicle’s 12V socket and pump your tires to your desired pressure. There are also tire inflators that double as a jump starter. These rechargeable devices are useful because they’re a 2-in-1 solution.

The performance and features of these tire inflators can vary. Some tire inflators might be able to pump your tires fast, but they might come at a cost. That said, you don’t need to get a high-end tire inflator if you just intend to top up your tire’s air pressure.

If you pay a few dollars to refill vehicle air at the gas station, then it won’t take a long time for this device to pay for itself.

Aside from occasionally inflating your vehicle’s tires, these portable tire inflators can also come in handy if you notice your tire is low on air far from the nearest gas station.

You can get a tire inflator that doubles as a jump starter — you just keep it charged.

–Anthony Harlin, ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician

Some Gas Stations Offer Free Compressed Air

Several gas stations are known to offer free air. There’s even a dedicated website where you can search for the nearest gas station that has a free tire inflator. Aside from gas stations, you can also get your tires inflated at tire centers and Costco.

If you live in California, then you’re lucky because the state mandates that gas stations should provide free water, air, and air pressure gauges for their customers. Unfortunately, some gas stations might not have the air compressor turned on, so you have to ask the cashier to turn on the air compressor.

Repair Your Tire’s Slow Leak

If you’ve been constantly topping up your vehicle’s tires with air, then there’s a strong likelihood that your tires have a slow leak. If you’re constantly relying on paid tire inflators instead of repairing your problematic tires, then you’re wasting time and money pumping your tires. A slow leak might not be an urgent problem, but they’re not that hard to fix in a reputable tire shop.

If you recently purchased your tires in a tire shop, there’s a strong likelihood that they’ll give you a discount to fix the issue. The most common cause for slow leaks is a bead that isn’t properly seated. A tire technician can easily seal the bead at a tire shop.

Overall, the cost of inflating your tire is going to add up. Investing a little bit of money in an affordable tire inflator or doing research to find a free alternative is going to save you money in the long run.