Sturdy Tire Inflator Makes Fast Work of Sluggish Leaks

Fanttik X8 Apex Tire Inflator

Professionals

Built-in Energy Financial institution

Fast & Easy Operation

Adapters & Charging Cable Included

Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Affiliate, Automoblog earns from qualifying purchases. Commissions from Amazon and different affiliate companions come to us at no further value to you. The X8 inflator seen right here was despatched to us by Fanttik for this evaluation.

Moveable tire inflators, just like the Fanttik X8 Apex, pack the comfort and performance of a bigger air compressor right into a cordless, handheld unit. Full with completely different adapters and adjustable presets for autos, bikes, bicycles, and balls, the Fanttik X8 Apex gives a most stress of 150 psi. Likewise, the X8 Apex is well-suited for any winter emergency equipment with an built-in flashlight and USB-A outlet, which can cost a cellphone in a pinch.  

On the time of this writing, the X8 Apex is on the market by Fanttik’s official website and via Amazon for $120. Beneath we cowl the principle options of the X8 Apex in case you are available in the market for a conveyable tire inflator. 

Fanttik X8 Apex: What It Presents

The X8 Apex has a digital show display screen, a rubber air tube roughly 18 inches lengthy, a needle valve adapter, a Schrader-Presta valve adapter, USB-C charging cable, an proprietor’s guide, and a fabric storage bag. Contained in the storage bag is a separate pocket for the adapters and charging twine. The adapters connect to the highest of the rubber air tube.

Air Tube

The air tube screws clockwise into the highest of the X8. Because the air tube is already fitted with a Schrader valve, you possibly can inflate automobile tires with none further equipment as soon as the tube is hooked up (the Schrader valve, or “American valve,” is the usual valve on almost each motorized vehicle at this time). The rubber air tube is versatile and maneuverable, making it simpler to connect to the valve stem regardless of how your automotive is parked or positioned.

Presta & Needle Valve Adapters

Use the Presta valve for bicycle tires, together with mountain bikes and 700cc street bike clincher and tubular tires. The Presta valve adapter makes the Fanttik X8 Apex a extra versatile software, particularly in case your automobile has a motorbike rack put in. If wanted, the X8 Apex can inflate your automobile and bike tires on the go. The needle valve gives further comfort for inflating basketballs, footballs, volleyballs, and soccer balls on the spot.

Flashlight & Energy Financial institution

On prime of the X8 Apex is an LED flashlight for working at night time (the button for the flashlight is to the left of the facility button). It doubles as an SOS beacon within the occasion of an emergency. On the underside of the X8 is a further USB-A port that serves as an unbiased energy supply when it’s not inflating tires. You should utilize this function to cost your cellphone, pill, or different digital machine.

Fanttik X8 Apex Battery Life

The Fanttik X8 Apex takes between two to 2.5 hours to cost absolutely. In line with the proprietor’s guide, the battery ought to final about 40 minutes on a full cost in splendid situations. The battery’s precise life will depend upon how demanding the inflation job is, the climate situations and ambient temperature, and when you use the flashlight concurrently.

Relying on the job, the Fanttik X8 Apex ought to present the air you want between 30 seconds and 6 minutes. Fast “top-offs” may be completed in below a minute, whereas filling a flat could take a couple of minutes. In line with Fanttik, on a full cost, the X8 Apex will deal with as much as 4 average-sized automobile tires, 17 bike tires, 12 bike tires, and almost 90 balls. It’s unlikely you’ll ever want that a lot capability at one time, however Fanttik’s “over-engineering” makes the X8 Apex value each penny.

Show Display & Mode Choice

Press and maintain the facility button to activate the X8 Apex. The brilliant white textual content reveals the completely different modes, battery life, and the present and goal tire stress with a +/- two psi accuracy. The mode button, to the suitable of the facility button, is indicated by a small “perpetual circle” icon. Faucet it to scroll by 4 preset modes: Automobile, Bike, Bicycle, and Ball, every indicated by a small icon on the show display screen.

Fanttik calls the person modes “managed inflation,” that means the X8 Apex delivers a default stress relative to the mode and no additional, stopping routinely as soon as mentioned stress is reached. For instance, the default stress in Automobile Mode is 36 psi, though you possibly can manually modify the vary from 26 to 50 psi by way of the arrow buttons. Both method, the X8 Apex will cease operating as soon as it reaches the set stress to stop overinflation.

The Fanttik X8 Apex additionally has a guide mode the place you possibly can modify the goal stress from as little as three to 150 psi. Press the “perpetual circle” button till you don’t see any icons on the show display screen for the opposite preset modes. When you set the goal stress, faucet the facility button to start out the circulate of air. Just like the default pressures within the preset modes, the X8 Apex will cease routinely as soon as it reaches the goal stress laid out in guide mode.

Fanttik X8 Apex In Motion

Once I acquired the X8 Apex from Fanttik, I had a gradual leak from a nail close to the sidewall in my proper rear tire. I’d sometimes use my Slime 12V Inflator for one thing like this, however it allowed me to check the X8 Apex as I waited for a alternative tire. Though I’m pleased with my Slime inflator and glad I purchased it, the cordless, handheld design of the Fanttik X8 Apex is extra advantageous when it comes to comfort and storage.

Granted, it’s not an actual apples-to-apples comparability – the Fanttik X8 Apex and the Slime 12V Inflator – but when it’s all the identical, I’ll go for a cordless unit whatever the model. With handheld, battery-powered tire inflators, you received’t problem with draping the 12V twine out your window and round your automobile (and Slime makes a cordless and portable tire inflator). Merely put, a cordless tire inflator with an inner battery is less complicated to make use of.

The nail in my rear tire solely precipitated a gradual and gradual leak, however gradual and gradual equate to persistent and annoying. I’d see a low tire stress warning mild on my data display screen each few days. For me, that is the place the Fanttik X8 Apex proved its value, particularly because the alternative tire I wanted was on backorder. Whereas the X8 Apex can deal with a totally flat tire, it’s ease-of-use for fast, repeated fill-ups like this make it a great choice in case you are available in the market for a conveyable tire inflator.

The default sensor accuracy is maybe our solely constructive critique of the Fanttik X8 Apex. In line with the proprietor’s guide, when the X8 Apex will get a studying on a tire, it’s inside a +/- two psi accuracy. In contrast, the smaller Fanttik X8 inflator has a +/- one psi accuracy. That is in all probability not a deal-breaker for the common particular person, particularly because the bigger X8 Apex is healthier for automobile tires versus the usual X8, however it’s one thing to bear in mind. Correctly inflated tires will guarantee your automobile gets the best gas mileage, and even a one psi drop can have a marginal affect.  

Is The Fanttik X8 Apex Price The Cash?

Moveable tire inflators are a type of issues that you’d slightly have and never want than want and never have. It’s handy when you’ve got a sudden low tire from a nail or bead leak or have to air up the occasional inflatable raft or volleyball whereas out with the household. You would possibly use a conveyable tire inflator extra ceaselessly when you handle a fleet of autos or have a number of vehicles and ATVs across the farm. In that case, you’ll admire the strong and sturdy really feel of the Fanttik X8 Apex. 

Residing in Michigan, I typically add issues just like the Fanttik X8 Apex to my winter emergency kit. The X8 Apex can air up a low tire, has a built-in flashlight with an SOS beacon, and a further USB port for charging a cellphone. That’s a fairly strong function set at an affordable worth. On the time of this writing, the X8 Apex is on the market by Fanttik’s official website and via Amazon for $120.

Carl Anthony is the Managing Editor of Automoblog and the host of AutoVision Information Radio and AutoSens Insights. He’s a Midwest Automotive Media Affiliation member and on the board of administrators for the Ally Jolie Baldwin Basis. Like many Detroiters, Carl is holding out for a Lions Tremendous Bowl win. 

Fanttik X8 Apex Picture Gallery

Photographs: Danielle Anthony.