Electric Scooter Air Pumps: Complete Guide

Proper tire inflation plays a crucial role in the performance of your electric scooter. Here is all you need to know about air pumps for e-scooters.

Introduction

Tire pressure greatly affects the performance of your electric scooter.

Wrongly inflated tires wear faster, provide less stability and decrease braking performance.

In a case study we conducted, we found that underinflated tires also decrease range significantly.

Buying a proper air pump is a cheap and effective way to get the most out of your electric scooter.

Let's take a quick look at the various pump types to consider and the pros and cons of each.

Pump types for e-scooter tires

There are three different types worth considering. Which one is right for you depends on your needs and your budget.

Electric pump

Electric pumps typically operate as air compressors but with smart features. The ones that cater to electric scooter riders are rechargeable and portable, so they fit in a backpack.

Most will let you specify your desired tire pressure, and with a press of a button, it'll take care of the inflation process. They'll also let you monitor your tire pressure with an accurate digital pressure gauge.

They're not as affordable as the manual options, but they get the job done easily. Like other compressors, they're also louder than the manual options.

Who is this for? Riders with the budget for one. It is superior in almost every way except price.

Floor pump

As the name suggests, this pump rests on the floor and lets you use your entire body to inflate your tire without much strain.

They're typically cheaper than electric pumps, but it comes at the expense of decreased portability.

Most floor pumps have an accurate pressure gauge so you can get as accurate tire inflation as with an electric pump.

Who is this for? Riders who can't afford an electric pump but want accurate results.

Mini pump

Mini pumps are both portable and affordable. They fit into a pocket, and some will even fit around the stem/frame of your electric scooter for quick access.

However, almost all of them lack a pressure gauge, so you have no idea how much or little to inflate your tires for optimal performance. We've found that the ones with gauges are also less accurate. They're also straining to use as you can't use the full force of your body to operate it.

Who is this for? Riders on a small budget who prefer something to bring on the go with a more accurate backup pump at home.

3 best electric scooter pumps

We researched more than 100 air pumps and tested the 10 most promising ones in-hand. These are our favorites of each type.

1. Xiaomi 1S air compressor

The Xiaomi 1S portable air compressor is easily the best electric pump we tested. Don't get fooled by its sleek, minimalistic looks - this is a powerful pump.

With an air flow rate of 15L/min, we were able to inflate tires in 16.5 seconds at the press of a button.

The Xiaomi 1S was the most accurate pump we tested, with an inaccuracy margin of ±1 PSI. The flexible hose screws onto valves tightly, and the air loss from disconnecting it is minimal.

Also, the hose excellently accesses even hard-to-reach air valves, killing the need for valve extenders.

The 1S air compressor is much more than just an electric scooter pump. With pre-defined settings for car tires, motorcycles, basketballs and more, it is both intuitive and versatile.

Its shy size and weight make it easy to bring with you in a backpack or the glove compartment of a car.

Testing the battery three times, we fully inflated completely flat tires to 50 PSI 12 times on average. If you're just partially inflating tires, you can expect more juice than that.

If you need to inflate your tire in the dark, the Xiaomi 1S compressor has a helpful built-in LED light at the top for visibility. It is particularly handy when trying to attach the hose to the tire valve. You can cycle between steady and blinking lights.

2. GOBKO floor pump with gauge

Despite its incredibly affordable price, the GOBKO was the best floor pump we tested. It packs all the essentials for a well-functioning floor pump in a relatively lightweight design.

Based on multiple tests, we were able to fully inflate a flat tire to 50 PSI in just 18.9 seconds on average. This was the fastest average of all three floor pumps we tested.

Not only does this high-pressure air pump inflate all the way to 174 PSI, but we also found the gauge to be accurate inflation to the point of ±2 PSI.

Despite using strong steel tubes inside and outside, the GOBKO weighs 31.7 oz (0.9 kg).

The handle is ergonomic and sits great in the hands. Also, we really enjoyed the sizable foot holders which added grip for stability even in wet conditions.

The GOBKO has a nice plastic case designed to hold various attachments that come with the unit. This means you don't have to worry about carrying loose parts separately.

A dual-head with Schrader and Presta support is at the end of the flexible detachable hose. By flipping the switch at the end of the dual-head, the GOBKO seals tight around the tire valve. On average, it only leaked around 3 PSI upon discharging, which is very solid compared to the other pumps we tested.

GOBKO offers a 10-year unconditional warranty with free replacements or money-back. This warranty speaks to the quality of the build and the company's belief in its construction and design.

3. Topeak Mini Morph portable pump

The Topeak Mini Morph held its own against the other portable air pumps in the manual category. Not only did it outperform the competition in terms of sheer pumping ability, but its thoughtful design with attention to detail shines throughout.

With a fold-out foot pad and a T-handle, it functions much like a smaller version of a floor pump. This allows you to put more force into pumping and minimizes overall strain on you.

The barrel is made from aluminum, ensuring optimum strength without increasing weight. At just 5.43 oz, this was the lightest tire inflator we tested.

We also tested its brother, the Mini Morph G, which has a built-in gauge, but we found it to be hard to read and inaccurate. Therefore, we recommend just getting the regular version as an on-the-go solution.

We could pump a flat tire to 50 PSI in just 43.2 seconds. With 50 cc of volume per stroke, it comfortably beat the other mini pumps we tested with 10+ seconds.

One of the major selling points for me was the smartly developed frame mount. With two reusable zip ties and rubber pads, it fits safely around most electric scooter frames without scratching the surface.

Switching between Schrader and Presta valve types is simple. It is integrated into the hose head, which can easily be unscrewed and flipped, so you don't need to carry any loose parts separately.

The only real room for improvement is that the foldable T-handle could be more centered. This would make driving force into the tire inflator easier when pumping.

How we tested

We set out to find the very best electric scooter pump.

Keeping important properties in mind (price, ease of use, accuracy, portability), we started the initial research process.

First, we compiled a list of more than 100 highly-rated models from Amazon and popular online e-scooter shops.

Next, we tediously read through customer and expert reviews across the web for each model. Based on what customers with hands-on product experience said, we narrowed the list to 10 products of varying types (electric, floor, and mini).

We then purchased each of the 10 tire pumps to conduct our own testing on.

These are the following qualities we looked for:

• Ease of use - is the tire pump easy to operate with limited background knowledge?
• Durability - Is the pump made from durable materials? Metal is prioritized
• Effectiveness - Does the chuck secure properly around the tire valve? Is there excessive air leakage upon disconnecting it? How long does it take to inflate?
• Versatility - Does the pump support multiple valve types? (Schrader valve, Presta valve)
• Weight and size - for its given category, how portable and lightweight is a particular pump?

Based on our findings with the above criteria, we settled on three pumps: Xiaomi 1S, GOBKO, and Topeak Mini Morph.

Important factors to consider

To guarantee the tire inflator you purchase is up for the task, ensure it is compatible with your tires' valve type and pressure range.

Valve types

The vast majority of electric scooters with pneumatic tires use a Schrader valve. Only a rare handful of electric scooters use the smaller Presta valve, which is more commonly found on bicycle tires.

Most pumps today are compatible with both Schrader valves and Presta valves. Before purchasing a pump, however, ensure it is compatible with the valve type of your scooter tires.

Max pressure

All air pressure inflators have a maximum pressure rating.

While the recommended air pressure of electric scooter tires varies, they typically fall in the range of 30-50 PSI. Most air pumps can handle this range, but there are exceptions intended for other types of vehicle tires.

Ensure the air pump you purchase can handle the pressure requirements - preferably with a fair bit of overhead.

Air loss

The majority of pumps will leak a bit of air upon disconnecting them. We recommend slightly overinflating if your pump leaks to ensure your tire isn't underinflated instantly.

If your pump has a built-in pressure gauge, you can quite accurately test how much you need to overinflate:

1. Inflate your tire to the recommended pressure.
2. Detach the pump as quickly as possible.
3. Attach the pump again and note the reading from the pressure gauge.
4. Subtract the reading from the recommended tire pressure you initially had.
5. Repeat the process several times, considering the average tire loss for a more accurate representation of air loss.
6. As air loss also occurs during the attachment process, take half of the reading as a standpoint for overinflating.

Here is an example:

My tire has a recommended pressure of 50 PSI. I inflate it to 50 PSI and quickly detach the pump. Upon re-attaching it, the gauge indicates a tire pressure of 46 PSI in the first run and 44 PSI in the second run.

This amounts to an average loss of 5 PSI for detaching and reattaching. Around half of that PSI loss comes from the detachment process. This means we should overinflate by 2.5 PSI. Therefore, we inflate the tire to 52.5 PSI.

Valve extender

In some cases, the tire valve can be hard to access and clamp your air pump around. A workaround is purchasing a valve extender. It is a highly affordable addition that can make the inflation process easier.

We recommend: ZHSMS 8.25" flexible metal extender

Frequently asked questions