Panthers65
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- First Name
- Brent
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- Aug 23, 2021
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- Atlanta, GA
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I figured I'd share what I've learned over the past few days for airing down and airing up your tires. All of the below is on 315/70R17 Kendas to give you an idea on the times.
I started off with the x-bull tire deflator kit above (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B091YD2YMG?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details). It comes with 4 of the automatic tire deflators, one of the quick valve deflators, and a packet of extra valve stems, caps, and 2 valve stem tools. I originally bought this for the automatic deflaters and set them around 17 psi. To do this, get a tire and set it for the low PSI that you want. Screw the cap on the deflator all the way down, then thread it onto the valve stem. Once it's seated, slowly start unscrewing the cap on the deflator until you start to hear air coming out of it, then screw it back in a half turn and set the lock ring to set the pressure.
All that to be said- The first time I tried to use the automatic deflators, It took 13.5 minutes before the "Whistle" of the air coming out was relatively quiet. At 17 minutes there was still a slight bit of air coming out, meaning the tires still hadn't gotten to my set PSI. I started checking the PSI and it seems the last PSI or two takes the last 3-5 minutes since it's coming out so slow, but either way for me I didn't want that setup, 17 minutes while everyone else is waiting on me wasn't good for me. Don't know if this is just the cheap deflators or what, anyone that spent the $100 on the stauns feel free to provide input. I'm sure they are better, but I don't see how they could be substantially better time-wise.
The rapid deflator that came in the kit was a lot better. From 36 psi to 15 psi took about a minute and a half per tire. I would consider this the best budget option, although it was a bit of a pain to push the valve stem in, thread it and turn since the pressure of the tire was trying to push the plunger out.
Many thanks to Kevin Chon on Youtube for this video (
I basically copied his design for a 4-tire inflator, but made a few small changes. He has a purchase list in his video, plus I added a 1/4" female air chuck to put on the compressor, and used a 4-way copper manifold after Kevin said the Aluminum ones weren't high quality. Using the components, I started by building the manifold:
I built the manifold to the factory hose ends from the Flexzill hose were on the coupling, I just think it looks better, doesn't really matter. I left this manifold in front of the Jeep, near the passenger front tire, and started laying out the hose. I ran the passenger side of the hose down to just past the rear tire and cut it there, then added a barbed fitting and locking air chuck:
Then at the front tire I cut the hose right at the center of the wheel and added a t-fitting and piece of hose that reached the top of the tire with an air chuck same as above:
To do the passenger side, I put a gas can in front of the driver tire to keep the hose away from the tire and ensure I had enough slack, then did the same thing on the driver side I did for the passenger side, ended up with a slightly longer, but otherwise identical passenger side.
For my compressor, I used one of the Maxi-Trac Air compressors from napa, Caught it on sale for like $75 (https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/BK_MTWM10215C)
The compressor comes with some special quick disconnect air fitting, but to use my manifold and because I wanted to use normal air tools if I needed to, I cut the end off and used a barb/female air chuck to add a normal fitting:
Hindsight being what it is, I should have skipped the x-bull kit and done this form the start, I timed out long it takes to air up and air down the system with the 4 tire system I built. To deflate just hook the chucks up to the valve stems and open the ball valve at the manifold. Close the valve off to check pressure. with my 315's, deflate times are:
36 PSI to start
27 PSI at 1 minute
21 PSI at 2 minutes
18.5 PSI at 2.5 minutes
16 PSI at 3 minutes.
This is obviously way faster than any of the methods above. Given that I'm going to have my kit with me anyways because I'll be airing back up at the end of the day, I would recommend just doing this from the start and not mess with any of the other deflate systems.
To inflate, just hook the chucks back up to the valve stems, hook the compressor up to the manifold, open the valve, and turn on the compressor. I was running the compressor off my idling Jeep to make sure the times would be the same, inflation times are:
16 PSI to start
24 PSI at 1 minute
29 PSI at 2 minutes
34.5 PSI at 2.5 minutes
37 PSI at 3 minutes.
Again- these are the times that I was looking for, much better than any of the bought solutions, and they can be used for both. I did leave the air hoses hooke dup for about 5 minutes and noticed the pressure "Evened out" and settled at about 35 PSI. The only thing I don't like about this solution is how hot the manifold and hoses get near the manifold. After 3 minutes of airing up the manifold is almost too hot to touch. Wouldn't be a bad idea to keep a glove or rag or something to unhook the air coupler when your done. I have about $140 in my "Kit", including a ton of extra hose clamps and tool, barbed fittings, and about 6' of the flexzilla hose left that I'll probably make a little jumper air hose with and about 25' of the hose and a gauge that game with the air compressor that I'll probably make a hose with for air nailers and what-not.
Hope this helps anyone else looking at a similar situation. The compressor and hose kit all fit on the passenger side under the rear seat, I keep my straps and shackle under the seat on the driver side.
I started off with the x-bull tire deflator kit above (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B091YD2YMG?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details). It comes with 4 of the automatic tire deflators, one of the quick valve deflators, and a packet of extra valve stems, caps, and 2 valve stem tools. I originally bought this for the automatic deflaters and set them around 17 psi. To do this, get a tire and set it for the low PSI that you want. Screw the cap on the deflator all the way down, then thread it onto the valve stem. Once it's seated, slowly start unscrewing the cap on the deflator until you start to hear air coming out of it, then screw it back in a half turn and set the lock ring to set the pressure.
All that to be said- The first time I tried to use the automatic deflators, It took 13.5 minutes before the "Whistle" of the air coming out was relatively quiet. At 17 minutes there was still a slight bit of air coming out, meaning the tires still hadn't gotten to my set PSI. I started checking the PSI and it seems the last PSI or two takes the last 3-5 minutes since it's coming out so slow, but either way for me I didn't want that setup, 17 minutes while everyone else is waiting on me wasn't good for me. Don't know if this is just the cheap deflators or what, anyone that spent the $100 on the stauns feel free to provide input. I'm sure they are better, but I don't see how they could be substantially better time-wise.
The rapid deflator that came in the kit was a lot better. From 36 psi to 15 psi took about a minute and a half per tire. I would consider this the best budget option, although it was a bit of a pain to push the valve stem in, thread it and turn since the pressure of the tire was trying to push the plunger out.
Many thanks to Kevin Chon on Youtube for this video (
I basically copied his design for a 4-tire inflator, but made a few small changes. He has a purchase list in his video, plus I added a 1/4" female air chuck to put on the compressor, and used a 4-way copper manifold after Kevin said the Aluminum ones weren't high quality. Using the components, I started by building the manifold:
I built the manifold to the factory hose ends from the Flexzill hose were on the coupling, I just think it looks better, doesn't really matter. I left this manifold in front of the Jeep, near the passenger front tire, and started laying out the hose. I ran the passenger side of the hose down to just past the rear tire and cut it there, then added a barbed fitting and locking air chuck:
Then at the front tire I cut the hose right at the center of the wheel and added a t-fitting and piece of hose that reached the top of the tire with an air chuck same as above:
To do the passenger side, I put a gas can in front of the driver tire to keep the hose away from the tire and ensure I had enough slack, then did the same thing on the driver side I did for the passenger side, ended up with a slightly longer, but otherwise identical passenger side.
For my compressor, I used one of the Maxi-Trac Air compressors from napa, Caught it on sale for like $75 (https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/BK_MTWM10215C)
The compressor comes with some special quick disconnect air fitting, but to use my manifold and because I wanted to use normal air tools if I needed to, I cut the end off and used a barb/female air chuck to add a normal fitting:
Hindsight being what it is, I should have skipped the x-bull kit and done this form the start, I timed out long it takes to air up and air down the system with the 4 tire system I built. To deflate just hook the chucks up to the valve stems and open the ball valve at the manifold. Close the valve off to check pressure. with my 315's, deflate times are:
36 PSI to start
27 PSI at 1 minute
21 PSI at 2 minutes
18.5 PSI at 2.5 minutes
16 PSI at 3 minutes.
This is obviously way faster than any of the methods above. Given that I'm going to have my kit with me anyways because I'll be airing back up at the end of the day, I would recommend just doing this from the start and not mess with any of the other deflate systems.
To inflate, just hook the chucks back up to the valve stems, hook the compressor up to the manifold, open the valve, and turn on the compressor. I was running the compressor off my idling Jeep to make sure the times would be the same, inflation times are:
16 PSI to start
24 PSI at 1 minute
29 PSI at 2 minutes
34.5 PSI at 2.5 minutes
37 PSI at 3 minutes.
Again- these are the times that I was looking for, much better than any of the bought solutions, and they can be used for both. I did leave the air hoses hooke dup for about 5 minutes and noticed the pressure "Evened out" and settled at about 35 PSI. The only thing I don't like about this solution is how hot the manifold and hoses get near the manifold. After 3 minutes of airing up the manifold is almost too hot to touch. Wouldn't be a bad idea to keep a glove or rag or something to unhook the air coupler when your done. I have about $140 in my "Kit", including a ton of extra hose clamps and tool, barbed fittings, and about 6' of the flexzilla hose left that I'll probably make a little jumper air hose with and about 25' of the hose and a gauge that game with the air compressor that I'll probably make a hose with for air nailers and what-not.
Hope this helps anyone else looking at a similar situation. The compressor and hose kit all fit on the passenger side under the rear seat, I keep my straps and shackle under the seat on the driver side.
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