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This week, Torque News tested the Bullseye Pro Digital Tire Inflator from EMSON. This is a hand-held portable inflator (air pump) powered by a lithium-ion battery. Based on our evaluation, we would name this one of the best inflators on the market today. It exceeded our expectations in almost every regard during testing.
We test cars weekly here at Torque News along with E-Bikes, EV chargers, and other related vehicle equipment. One important part of vehicle testing is to ensure that the tires are properly inflated. Too much pressure can mean a harsh ride. Too little, and fuel economy suffers. So, it is our habit to check the tire pressure when a new media vehicle is delivered. We had, in the past, used a portable 12-V corded air pump. We have about five of them around the shop, and they all work OK, but they have one major downside.
Why A Battery-Operated Portable Pump?
It’s a hassle to move a portable inflator around while it is plugged into a 12-volt vehicle power supply (the one that looks like a cigarette lighter socket). You need to pass it through the cabin from side to side, and the cords always seem too short. Then, when it’s time to put one away, that cord gets all jumbled up and messy, meaning next time you need to untangle it. If only ther was a better solution. Enter the Bullseye Pro Digital Tire Inflator.
The Bullseye Pro Digital Tire Inflator has a lightweight, compact lithium-ion battery in its base. The shape is ergomically ideal for one’s hand. It is shaped just like a cordless drill. As you can see in the images, a perfectly long air hose comes out of the nose of the Bullseye Pro. The hose feels durable, of high quality, and it is nice and flexible. The air valve attachment is slick and operates nicely. You get a satisfying snap when it is applied to the Schrader valve of the car or bike.
Using the Inflator
Using the Bullseye Pro Digital Tire Inflator could not be easier. Once it arrives, you charge it using a provided USB connection and cord. It only took around an hour for ours to charge fully. Then, you use it like any other inflator. Turning it on is simple. Press and hold the power button for two seconds and the pump is on. There are two arrows to adjust your tire pressure setpoint. All vehicles have the manufacturer’s suggested pressure printed on the driver’s door jam (never inflate a tire to the max pressure shown on the tire itself).
Next, you snap the Schrader valve connection onto the tire valve after removing the little black cap. Watch that cap, they like to roll under the car if you let them. Once you have the valve connection on, you pull the trigger. You need not hold it, the Bullseye Pro Digital Tire Inflator is a smart inflator. It will now pump the tire up to the setpoint you assigned using those arrows and then shut off. You then remove the valve connection, put that black cap on again, and move to the next tire.
Easy Use
The air hose is just right sized. It is long enough to reach the top of a tire if the car is parked with the valve as high as it could be, but it’s not longer than necessary, so storage is easy. If you use other pressure units like KPA, BAR, etc., you can use the menus to switch the display.
It took only a few moments for the pump to inflate our 2024 Nissan Rogue’s front tires from 27 psi to 33 psi. The temps had dropped from 70F yesterday afternoon to 40F the morning we pumped the tires up. Air pressure changes about 1 psi for every 10-degree F change in temp. Our test vehicle was a bit low on air, so the test was well-timed. The pump is significantly quieter than the other ones we own. The specs say 53 dB, and that means nearly silent to our ears.
Bonus Feature!
The pump has four LED lights at the front. This is fantastic since, in an emergency, you could use the pump at night. The flashlight function illuminated our dark basement quite well in our testing.
The Pump Works With E-Bikes, Too
Next, we pulled our favorite Schwinn E-Bike out of the shed and pumped its tires up. They were low from sitting all winter, and the pump topped them up in about 15 seconds. Bike tires have less volume, and the pumping is very quick. Bike tires are also much higher in psi, so we used the arrows to adjust the pump to the right setting.
After pumping up six tires, the pump still had about 60% battery life remaining on the digital display. The cord and body of the pump were warm, which is completely normal for small air pumps. Physics means that compressing air makes heat. The portable pumps we used in the past were often hot to the touch, but this pump was not. Just warm. The battery did not change temperature at all. It was cool to the touch before and after use.
Thumbs Up
We would recommend the EMSON Bullseye Pro Digital Tire Inflator to anyone who owns a car or bike. The pump is ideally suited for quick and easy air top-off, and it has a built-in pressure gauge, so you won't need one (though we do suggest everyone carry one inside their car).
Price and Availability
The Bullseye Pro Digital Tire Inflator is available from Amazon for $69.95, and when we checked its price and availability, it was in stock for same-day delivery to Prime members. We’ve seen lower-cost inflators, but none of this quality. The price seems very fair.
Flexible Accessories
In addition to the pump, you get the charging cord, carrying bag, and adapters for sports balls and pool toys (floats). There is also a second cord that allows you to use this pump with a 12-volt power supply. Therefore, you can never be stuck with a dead battery.
A Few Tips
1) We suggest finding a cheap kneeling pad. It helps keep your jeans from getting holes in the knees when you kneel down to affix the valve connector. Kneeling on gravel or pavement is never easy on the body.
2) Remember that this type of pump is quick and offers fast inflation for tires and balls. It is not for air mattresses. Those pumps offer a higher airflow rate and are built differently. No portable pump can do everything.
3) Inflate tires when the vehicle has not been driven for an hour or more. That’s what “Cold inflation pressure” means.
4) Be mindful of pressure settings. Never over-inflate a tire or ball, as they can and will burst.
The Final Word
Our conclusion is that this is a great pump at a fair price. We love its many thoughtful features and would recommend the EMSON Bullseye Pro Digital Tire Inflator to anyone looking for a gift, perhaps for Father’s Day, which is fast approaching.
Testing Note: The manufacturer's agency supplied our Bullseye Pro Digital Tire Inflator at no charge. As with all products we test, Torque News offers to return the product when testing is concluded. If the products are not returned, we pass them along to other motor press members so they can test and review them. We won’t lie. We just may keep this one!
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John Goreham is an experienced New England Motor Press Association member and expert vehicle tester. John completed an engineering program with a focus on electric vehicles, followed by two decades of work in high-tech, biopharma, and the automotive supply chain before becoming a news contributor. In addition to his eleven years of work at Torque News, John has published thousands of articles and reviews at American news outlets. He is known for offering unfiltered opinions on vehicle topics. You can connect with John on Linkedin and follow his work at our X channel. Please note that stories carrying John's by-line are never AI-generated, but he does employ Grammarly grammar and punctuation software when proofreading.
All images by John Goreham
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