Off-roaders are constantly looking for ways to enhance their vehicle’s performance.
Tyre deflators are one of the most useful accessories out there. That’s because the 4WD’s tyres adapt to different types of terrain. This makes for a more comfortable and potentially safer driving experience - for you and your wheels.
In this guide, we’ll identify some of the best tyre deflators in Australia. We’ve chosen a range of products at different price points, so there should be something for every budget.
Let’s get started!
| Staun Tyre Deflators 4 Pack | Campboss 4x4 Boss Air Tyre Deflators | Kings Tyre Deflator | Bushranger Tyre Deflator & Gauge | ARB E-Z Tyre Deflator (Analogue) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Our Pick | Best Value | ||||
Preset 18psi | 6-30psi | 5-30psi | ?? | ?? | ?? | |
Brass | Nickel-plated alloy and stainless steel | Brass | ?? | Bronze | |
0.03 kg | 0.15 kg | ?? | 0.5 kg | 1 kg | |
1 Year | ?? | ?? | 1 year | ?? |
Best Tyre Deflators Australia
Staun Tyre Deflators 4 Pack
Our Pick
This is arguably the best tyre deflator in Australia.
It’s a premium product with a lot of positive aspects. Firstly, they’re extremely small, lightweight and fast-acting. Staun also makes them to a standard 4WD design so they’re suitable for most vehicles in this class.
Meanwhile, Staun presets them to 18psi. However, they can be adapted to anywhere between 5 and 30psi. The product also has accurate deflation within 0.25psi.
Their finger grip and ultra-lightweight make them easy for users to handle. Also, these brass deflators come with a trendy leather pouch to keep them safe. Staun provides four in each pack.
These easy and effective tyre deflators also come with a standard one-year warranty. The only downside is that they’re expensive.
Campboss 4x4 Boss Air Tyre Deflators
Very Reliable Option
Campboss also makes excellent tyre deflators.
On the face of it, they’re very similar to Staun’s product above. They also come in a pack of four. However, they use nickel-plated stainless steel instead of brass. This also has an anti-corrosive layer.
Meanwhile, they’re compact and light, albeit slightly heavier than the Staun version at 0.15kg. Nonetheless, they’re relatively easy to handle. Campboss also provides a neoprene pouch for easy storage.
It has a range of 5-30psi. But the tyre deflator is slightly less streamlined and advanced than the Staun.
Kings Tyre Deflator
Best Value
The Kings Tyre Deflator is an excellent product available at a lower cost than the previous products.
It’s easy to read the dial as it increases by 1 psi increments, although this is less accurate than the 0.25 psi increments that the Staun offers. Meanwhile, the deflator works very quickly and is highly responsive. The brand is proud of its sensitivity.
This is a surprisingly well-made product too. It has a corrosion-resistant bronze gauge and a protective rubber guard. As a result, it’s robust and longer-lasting than similar products in this price range.
The main negative is that it’s less accurate than higher-priced products but that’s to be expected. In the end, you get what you pay for. Nonetheless, this is a great tyre deflator.
Bushranger Tyre Deflator & Gauge
Honourable Mention
The Bushranger Tyre Deflator is another lower-priced product.
One of the main positives is the easy-to-read dial that presents accurate reading. It enables users to choose between two settings. These allow for continuous or intermittent inflation/deflation.
However, it’s slightly heavier than other tyre deflators at 0.5kg. Also, it’s generally less advanced.
Bushranger supplies a carry pouch and a 12-month warranty.
ARB E-Z Tyre Deflator (Analogue)
Honourable Mention
The ARB E-Z Tyre Deflator is very similar to the previous products.
There’s no denying that it’s well-made. It uses quality bronze tubing to prevent humidity and other external climate factors from influencing readings. Meanwhile, there is a protective rubber guard to prevent damage in case it’s dropped.
It’s also corrosion-resistant. The dial is easy to read with 1 psi increments.
However, there’s a sense that this is overpriced. It’s not much better than the Kings Tyre Deflator but it’s much more expensive.
Points To Consider When Purchasing A Tyre Deflator
Now let’s check out some important points to consider when buying tyre deflators!
PSI Range
Probably the most important aspect is the tyre deflator’s pressure range.
Most premium tyre deflators for 4X4 vehicles have a pressure range of 5-30psi. This is advisable because it allows for a greater range of flexibility for different types of terrain. Some products have a preset PSI but allow the user to adapt it to their preference.
Others have multiple settings like continuous or intermittent deflation. These can be useful in different situations depending on where you’re driving.
The usability of the tyre deflator is also important. Typically, they show readings in one psi increments but some, like the Staun deflators, are accurate to 0.25 psi readings.
Material and Weight
Manufacturers use a wide range of materials to make their tyre deflators.
One of the most popular is bronze because of its resistance to humidity and other external environmental factors. This is present in a couple of the products above.
Stainless steel is another common material because it’s strong and less corrosive than other metals. However, it’s slightly heavier too and less easy to handle. The weight of the tyre deflators isn’t a serious issue but lighter products are simpler to use.
The Staun tyre deflators perform remarkably well in this category while the ARB E-Z tyre deflators are less impressive.
Warranty
Any respectable company will provide a warranty for their products in case something goes wrong.
This is especially important for the more expensive tyre deflators.
Pouch
Almost all decent tyre deflator makers will provide a pouch for their products.
This may seem like a minor detail but you should use it. Don’t just chuck them loose into some compartment of your 4WD. You’ll either lose them, or damage them as they bounce around on the road. This can affect their pressure settings.
Tyre Deflators - FAQs
What are tyre deflators? How do they work?
Tyre deflators are useful accessories that help your tyres adapt to different terrains.
They achieve this by increasing or decreasing the pressure in the tyres. This improves the vehicle’s manoeuvrability across difficult terrain. For example, less pressure is preferable on soft, muddy ground because it provides more contact area.
This allows the vehicle to spread its weight and reduces the risk of sinking.
However, it’s advisable to have higher pressure when there is a solid base beneath the muddy surface. The tyre will make contact with this rigid area.
In contrast, lower pressure is better for rocky areas because the tyre will wrap around the edges. This may seem counterintuitive but the tyre has more give making it less susceptible to punctures.
If you do still get stuck in sand even after deflating your tyres, use a recovery track to get traction and get yourself out of trouble! If that's still not enough, it's time to fire up the winch!
Do you leave tyre deflators on while driving?
It’s inadvisable to leave tyre deflators on while driving for sustained periods.
They will fill with dirt and this can damage them.
Adjust the pressure before you set out. If you feel the need to change the psi, stop the vehicle and do so before continuing.
How do I use a tyre deflator?
Follow the steps below (from Tyre Watcher) to effectively use a Staun tyre deflator.
- Remove the tyre valve cap.
- Screw the tyre deflator spindle onto the valve.
- Lock the tyre deflator into place.
- Use the air release valve to expel air. This should be audible.
- Check the current tyre pressure by closing the air release valve. Then take an accurate pressure reading.
- Continue to adjust until it meets your desired psi.
- Remove the tyre deflator and replace the tyre valve cap.
- Repeat with the other tyres.
Can you use a tyre deflator to check tyre pressure?
Yes, this is easy to do by checking the gauge.
Just don’t adjust the air release valve!
Can I use my tyre deflator to inflate my tyres?
Unfortunately, no, tyre deflators will only remove air from a tyre.
You will need to use a compressor or some kind of pump to inflate the tyres.
What is the lowest pressure that’s safe to drive at?
This depends on the situation.
If you go too low, there’s a risk that the tyre could simply come off the wheel. 18 psi is generally recommended for beach driving, although as low as 15 psi may be necessary depending on how soft the sand is.
For sloppy mud driving, you may need to even go below 10 psi!
Final Thoughts
Tyre deflators are brilliant because they allow drivers to access different kinds of terrain with less risk of bogging or tyre damage.
We recommend the Staun tyre deflators as a premium product because of their accuracy and easy use. If you’re looking for a cheaper product, the Kings Tyre Deflator is also excellent at a lower price point.
If you have any questions, please leave a comment below!
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Note that while every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information on this page, there may sometimes be errors. Check all specifications with the manufacturer before purchasing any product.
The Campboss deflators have visual pressure reference points so you don’t need to manually set a tyre to a reference pressure first. How are the Stauns supposed to be more advanced?