I need to put some air in one of the tyres on my Mini using the air compressor, l found in my garage. The tyres are 195/55 R16 run flats.
I have never used it before but l know where l have to plug it in the cigarette lighter place and where to attach to the valve on the tyre.
What l’m not sure is, where on the gauge do l need to stop once there is enough air in!
The tyres require, 30 - 34 or 22 (2.2?)
I feel so useless! Please can you tell me where l need to go to on this gauge?
Just to say, l have aborted the mission.
First, l think l was taking air out of the tyre, until l summoned up enough strength to close the thumb lock!
I switched the engine on and the compressor was very noisy and doing walkabouts! The gauge didn’t move, so l switched off the engine, had a little tear and gave up!
Looks like, l’ll have to waylay some kindly stranger as l hover round the air machine at the petrol station, with my ‘Oh, poor little me’ expression!!
Art, use the gauge to check the pressure on the opposite tyre then inflate the low one to the same pressure.
EZ, What? The arrow on the gauge didn’t even move, never mind me try in on another tyre! 
I have a go at most things in life but with this, l just feel totally useless.
I did have an on/off boyfriend who did all this sort of thing for me but l finished with him lately.
Oh dear! If the iffy tyre is totally flat it will never register anything on the gauge. Make sure you push the inflator fully onto the valve and lock it down fully. If you dont seal the connection you will lose the rest of the air from the tyre. Better yet, knock next door and flash those eyes at your neighbours husband.;-)
Art, is the gauge attached to the compressor ( pump) or is it separate?
Primus, It’s all one piece. This is the box it comes in…
Funny you should say that, Angel.
I have never bothered to check my spare tyre for years, quite possibly ever since the car was new in 2003! So, yesterday I went to the local Sainsbury’s petrol station where they have free air (some tight-fisted places charge you - for AIR!).
I could find no trace of recommended pressures in my car’s handbook, and I never check my tyre pressures anyway, assuming that when the car is serviced they do that job.
Consequently, I checked one of my tyres that looked to be the right shape and noted the indicated pressure. I then did the same on my spare and the gauge didn’t move at all!
Logically, I thought that perhaps I should top up the spare until the gauge read a fair bit over the pressure in the tyre I had just read.
I’m happy that all is as it should be now!
Right, put the hose onto the valve on the tyre don’t switch on the compressor yet, the gauge should indicate the pressure, there is usually two sets of numbers one in black and one in red, one will read in psi the other in bar, consult your handbook or the data plate on the car ( usually found on one of the doors) this will tell you in bar or psi what the pressure should be, switch on the compressor until the gauge reaches the correct pressure , then sw off and recheck
Got a headache yet Art??
JBR, l think it is scandalous that many places charge 50p for air! I know they have to supply the machine but the 50p’s worth doesn’t last long! If you are a bit slow, you have to put more money in to be able to finish the job!
I went to Sainsburys the last time and l was lucky to find a lovely motorist to help me. He even told me how to reset the tyre warning symbol on the dashboard!
EZ, l feel sick and tyred and… wait for it, deflated!
And under pressure…tread carefully…
Yes, that was me!
Art, can’t see from your profile what you drive…you said Mini…Mini Cooper?
Anyway presumably you take it to your local BMW dealer for MOT and service etc.
I’d go there tomorrow and get them to check all the tyres. Q.E.D.
ruthio, This is a car that l keep as a spare! Yes, it is a Mini Cooper.
I think one of the tyres at the front has a slow puncture? I did mention it when l had new tyres put on the back lately and they said to keep an eye on it.
I don’t go to the BMW garage since the TLC cover ran out, as they are too expensive!
I will take it to the MOT/ tyre place l always go to, tomorrow.
Yeah that’s what I’d do…no point getting yourself into a sweat about it in this heat, let the experts do the job!
Thanks for that, realspeed, it was helpful but I don’t know why the arrow on my air compressor didn’t move?!!
It is not an instant thing you need to let it run for 5-10 minuits
as it says in the video
On you compressor is there a dial you turn to the right pressure in the clock face. This then sets the pressure it will go up to? when plugged into the car and ignition switched on did the compressor run?