How to Fill Your Tires With an Air Compressor

Air compressors are a useful tool for a variety of tasks and repair needs, but are most often used to air up low or flat tires. Whether you need to top off your tire pressure due to a slow leak, or if you have a partially or completely flat tire, having an air compressor available offers a quick and simple solution to fix your low tire pressure problems. Low pressure in the tires of any vehicle or equipment can delay your plans, and driving with low tire pressure can result in unsafe driving conditions and rapid tire wear. Air compressors can be stationary or portable and range in tank size and capacity, but nearly any compressor is sufficient to air up most automotive tires. You don’t even need a full-sized compressor to complete basic tire maintenance – portable air compressors and small 12-volt tire inflators can be handy for flat or low tires when you’re out on the road, and are great for routine tire pressure checks. If you need a new air compressor or tire inflator, browse our wide selection of air compressors to keep in the garage, portable compressors and tire inflators, and other tire inflator and tire sealant essentials at O’Reilly Auto Parts. Read on to learn how to properly air up your tires using an air compressor.

Tools & Materials

Air Compressor Air Compressor
Tire Chuck Tire Chuck
Tire Pressure Gauge Tire Pressure Gauge
safety glasses Safety Glasses
Gloves Gloves

Get to Know Your Tires

Before filling your tire, it is important to know how much air your tire needs. Each vehicle has a recommended pressure level to keep your tires in the best shape possible. Some vehicles even require different pressure levels for front and rear tires. You can find this information in your vehicle’s owners manual, a car repair manual specific to your make and model, or listed on your vehicle’s driver-side door. Air pressure in your tires naturally increases or decreases due to extreme temperatures, and your tire pressure can slightly increase in the heat and decrease in the cold. Low tire pressure can lead to increased wear and tear, and potentially result in a completely flat tire if not addressed. Too much air pressure in your tire can make your car hard to handle while driving, reduce ride quality and traction, and put your tires at risk of exploding as they heat up with use, resulting in dangerous driving conditions. Knowing your vehicle’s correct tire pressure recommendations, and regularly monitoring your tire pressure, are helpful ways to increase your tires’ lifespan.

There are a couple of ways to check your tire pressure. Many newer vehicles will send alerts to the tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) if tire pressure levels are too high or low. The TPMS receives these alerts from TPMS sensors that are attached to your vehicle’s wheels and tires, and electronically monitor individual pressure levels for each tire. You may be able to check individual tire pressures using your vehicle’s system screen, but older vehicles may only have a TPMS warning light or a general TPMS system alert that does not allow you to see each tire’s status separately. Even if your vehicle is equipped with TPMS, it is best to also check the tire pressure using a tire pressure gauge. Using a tire gauge simply requires you to remove the cap from the tire’s valve stem and press the gauge down on the stem until the hissing sound stops. This means that the gauge is receiving the full pressure from the valve stem on your vehicle, and this should provide the most accurate reading. There are a few different types of tire pressure gauges, and the way they are read will be different for each gauge. If you check your tire pressure and the reading does not match the recommended pressure level for your vehicle or tire, add or remove air to the appropriate level as soon as possible. Checking your tire pressure once a month is typically recommended to best maintain your vehicle’s tires and ensure maximum performance and tire life.

How to Fill Your Tires Using an Air Compressor

To fill your tires using an air compressor, there are a few simple steps to follow. These steps should be common to nearly any vehicle, trailer, lawn and garden or agricultural equipment, or heavy-duty or construction equipment that utilizes tubed or tubeless tires.

Mechanic attaching a tire chuck to an air compressor hose.

Step 1: Hook Up Your Air Compressor

Begin by locating an electrical outlet with the correct voltage for the air compressor. If not already attached, secure the hose to the compressor, and the tire chuck to the end of the hose fitting. This may require you to pull down a collar on the end of the hose to insert the valve end of the tire chuck, and then the collar can be released to secure the tool to the hose. The tire chuck features a valve fitting at the opposite end that is depressed when the valve stem to direct air flow through and open the valve stem, and both the valve stem and chuck shut off the flow of air when separated.
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Monitoring tire pressure with an air compressor gauge.

Step 2: Regulate Air Flow

Many air compressors have a regulator control valve that allows you to set the compressor to the desired pressure level, and this can prevent too much air from flowing into the tire at one time to limit the risk of overinflation. If desired, set the regulator to your vehicle's recommended inflation level before filling up the tire. The recommended pressure for your vehicle’s tires can be found on the inside of your driver-side door, or in your vehicle's owner or repair manual. If your compressor does not have a regulator, or if you don’t wish to use it, you can always add air while regularly checking the pressure with your tire gauge until you reach the appropriate level.
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Attaching a tire chuck to a tire’s valve stem.

Step 3: Begin Filling Your Tires

Unscrew and remove the cap from the valve stem on your tire, and attach the tire chuck to the valve stem. Press down on the valve stem until you hear the air begin filling the tire. If at any point you hear a hissing noise, air is not flowing directly into the valve stem, and you likely need to readjust the angle of the tire chuck or apply more pressure to the valve stem. Be careful not to exert too much pressure, especially at an off-axis angle, as this can damage the valve stem or cause leaks.
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Checking tire pressure with a tire pressure gauge.

Step 4: Monitor Your Tire Pressure

Continually monitor the pressure levels with your tire gauge to avoid overfilling the tire. If the air compressor does not have a regulator attached to the hose, you can monitor your tire pressure by pausing at 10- to 20-second intervals to attach a tire pressure gauge to the valve stem. As you get closer to the appropriate pressure, reduce the time between pressure checks. If at any point you overinflate the tire, most tire pressure gauges have a pin to allow air to escape the valve stem when depressed. If your gauge does not have this, you can use a flathead screwdriver to depress the metal pin at the center of the valve stem — just be careful not to bend it. Air will begin to release, causing a hissing sound, as you press in on the pin. Then you can check the pressure with your tire gauge to ensure the proper amount of air has escaped. Repeat this process as needed until your tire has the appropriate amount of air pressure.
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A TMPS warning light is illuminated on the dashboard, indicating low tire pressure.

Step 5: Replace the Valve Stem Cap 

When you reach the recommended air pressure level for the tire, put the cap back on the valve stem. If your vehicle has TPMS, turn the key to the Run position and check to see if the system alerts are gone after filling up the tire.
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The Tire Resources You Need

Having the right tools and knowledge for the job makes tire maintenance or repair much easier, and routine service can help keep your tires performing at their absolute best for as long as possible. You can find air compressors and air compressor accessories, tire pressure gauges, TPMS sensors and parts, and the right car repair manuals at O’Reilly Auto Parts. If you’re still not sure how to properly fill your tires using an air compressor, or not sure which parts or tools you need to complete your repairs and maintenance, our Professional Parts People® can help you find the right tools and information needed to get the job done right and keep your vehicle on the road. For more tire maintenance and pressure tips, visit our How-To-Hub for tire inspection and service information, videos, and articles.

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