Astro Pneumatic Tool 3018 3.5" Digital Tire Inflator with Hose

I looked around at many reviews and articles for the best digital tire pressure gauge and inflator. This Astro 3018 unit came up as the best choice. My local car dealership's service center uses the prior version in their service drive to inflate customer tires. They had it for years and praised it. Their only complaint was the batteries needed changing often, but they had the prior version that used the small button battery. The current Astro 3018 now uses AAA batteries for longer battery life. I've had mine for a few months now, and I use it every other week to inflate my car's tires with my Porter Cable air compressor. The gauge is very accurate, and it's great that you can inflate and deflate. This allows you to quickly and easily get your tire pressure exactly where you want it to be. It's a little surprising to see how quickly tires lose pressure. Keeping tires properly inflated will increase the lift of tire and fuel economy, which means this tire pressure inflator will quickly pay for itself. Prior I was using a separator run-of-the-mill, analog, pen-style, tire pressure gauge and just a standard tire inflator that didn't have a pressure gauge. It made for a tedious and time consuming process of going back and forth between the inflator and pressure gauge. This all-in-one-unit made it so much easier and quicker. I use my Astro 3018 with a quick disconnect for the extra convenience factor. As much as I really like this Astro 3018 unit, and I have not found anything I would use over it, There are a couple of things that could be improved upon it. Technically I would rate this unit at 4.5 stars. It is tricky at times to get the locking chuck to lock onto the valve stem without having air constantly leak out, and sometimes it is also tricky to remove the locking chuck without losing air pressure in the tire. Also, the stainless steel braided hose is quite stiffly and cumbersome to manipulate. This is mostly due to it's short length. If the hose was just a little bit longer it would make it significantly easier to use and connect the locking chuck to valve stems properly. It is very difficult to get to the batteries. You have to peel away the rubber housing quite far, and it's fairly stiff. Aside from these tiny things that could be improved upon, this is still the best choice for a digital tire pressure gauge and inflator.

The Astro Pneumatic Tool 3018 3.5" Digital Tire Inflator with Hose is a game-changer for anyone looking to achieve precision and efficiency when inflating tires. After using this tool extensively, I can confidently say it simplifies a process that can otherwise be tedious and time-consuming. Digital Precision The digital gauge is incredibly accurate and eliminates the need for guesswork. You can set and monitor the exact pressure you're targeting, which is especially useful for vehicles with specific PSI requirements, such as high-performance cars or bicycles. Time-Saving The integration of the inflator with a digital gauge means no more stopping repeatedly to check with a manual gauge. The built-in display shows real-time pressure, so you can inflate directly to the desired PSI in one smooth process. This tool significantly cuts down on the time required to inflate tires. Ease of Use Connecting the inflator to your air compressor is simple, and the tool feels solid and ergonomic in hand. The hose is flexible enough to reach awkward angles, and the overall build quality inspires confidence in its durability. Backlit Display The large, backlit display is easy to read even in low-light conditions, such as a dimly lit garage or at night, making it practical for anytime use. Versatility While primarily designed for car tires, the tool works just as well for motorcycles, bicycles, and even sports equipment. Its versatility adds to its overall value. The Astro Pneumatic Tool 3018 is a must-have for anyone who values precision, speed, and ease of use in tire inflation. Whether you’re a car enthusiast, a professional mechanic, or just someone who takes tire maintenance seriously, this tool is well worth the investment. It saves time, removes uncertainty, and makes achieving the perfect tire pressure effortless.

I work in a smaller shop with two other techs and out of all the tools I've purchased, this is one of the few I've had absolutely no issues with. To start, the build quality is very sturdy, with brass fittings and a stainless steel braided hose. Moreover, the strainless hose includes a rubber strain relief where the hose exits the tool. Even after months of heavy usage and getting tossed around, the hose shows no signs of wear at all. As far as air chucks go, it's the most comfortable and intuitive I've ever used. The smooth, yet sturdy steel lever is dual purpose. The first 50% of travel will release air. Squeeze it fully and it will start adding air to whatever it's connected to. In my opinion, this is far more comfortable than the vast majority of analog air chucks, which require you to tilt the air fitting off to the side to release air from the schrader valve. The locking chuck is a nice touch, but depending on the condition of the valve stem, it may or may not seal without some extra down-pressure on the fitting. This is less a problem with the chuck and more a problem with worn, dirty or low quality valve stems on tires. In day-to-day usage it's a non-issue for me. The single button powers on the tool with one press. Press it again and it will turn on the back light. Hold the button and it will switch measurement units (PSI, KG and BAR). The back light does not stay on for very long (15 - 20 seconds), but this is okay as our shop is on the darker side, and I still have no trouble reading the display, even with all the bay doors shut. The back light is there just in case you're airing something up in the dark and need some extra light. It's not something you'll use all the time. It helps a lot with battery life. On average, I use this chuck about 20 times a day, 5 days out of the week and I'm averaging about 1 - 2 months on the 2 AAA batteries. In my opinion, this is excellent battery life. Just keep in mind this tool will give you no warning when the batteries are low. It will simply shut off completely and not power back on. There seems to be no difference in accuracy, regardless of the battery life. As far as accuracy goes, this tool is right up there with the best of them. I frequently air up tires on Alfa Romeos which have sensors that report pressures to the nearest 10th of a PSI. Airing them up to factory specs, I find the sensors to always report within 1 - 2/10ths of a PSI to the pressure I set. And this across 100+ different cars on different days with different sensors. This is excellent and great for picky customers that demand their tire pressures be exact across all four tires. Good luck trying to achieve this accuracy with an old-school Milton tire inflator. And if you're worried about this gauge taking a while to update the reading, worry no more. As soon as I release the trigger to check the pressure, it updates the reading within 1/4 of a second. Awesome. In spite of my glowing review, I do see some areas that could be improved in a later version. First of all, the hanging loop built into the rubber boot that fits around the tool is starting to show very slight tearing (I always hang it from a re-purposed coat hanger on the side of my lift. I would prefer a hard hanger molded into the body of the tool for better longevity. Second, it would be nice to have a mode where the backlight turns on as soon as the trigger is pressed (like some digital gauges from Mac). Lastly, there could be more contrast in the display itself. With the back light on, the reading looks somewhat ghostly and not as clear as you would hope. Again, it hasn't been a real problem in my usage, but those with worse eyesight would definitely appreciate more contrast. TL;DR: This unit from Astro absolutely dumpsters gauges even twice the price in overall comfort, quality, accuracy and reliability. If any of you air up tires very often, and you're still using an analog gauge, I strongly urge you to give this inflator a try. After getting used to this gauge, trying to read an analog gauge is like going back to the stone age. You will not be disappointed. Lastly, if I have any problems with this tool, I will update my review. If there are no updates, then you know it's still working perfect.

This is one of my most used tools. I work in a shop and every motorcycle, ATV or SxS that comes in is serviced with this inflator. It's a beast. I used to have the MatCo one and THEY ARE EXACTLY THE SAME TOOL. The Astro is half the price though! The gauge is acurate, the lever has good action and the valve is well built. No leakage. Full pull inflates, half deflates slowly. Perfect for getting tires to exact pressures. This is supper important on vehicles like ATV's or SxS's that run low pressure. Tool is super solid and feels great. It is bulky, but hey, it has it's own special place on my pegboard at the back of my bench. The one thing that you may have to replace after a few years though is the braided hose. I have had one fail. The replacement was ~$20. Well worth it. I also ditched the chuck that comes with it and put a 2 piece system on that has a brass 360 degree swivel first then a right angle JACO swivel chuck. In this configuration this is truly the do it all inflator. Keep in mind this too adds to the price but in my situation it is so worth it. If you are airing tires up all the time in a professional enviroment give it a shot.

Just like the caption says. I think this one is the original, i'm not too sure. Pros: - Big screen to see the numbers - Built in blue back light on the screen for those late night hours. or during a black out and you just have to check the tire pressure on the tires...LOL - I've had it for almost a year now and the quarter size battery gave out around the 9th or 10th month. Keep in mind that i used this tool every single day on every single vehicle that I serviced for 9 months. To me that's pretty outstanding for a small battery. I kept forgetting to replace the battery for almost a month so it just sat there. I just put it back in service a week or two ago and it's still working just fine. - The display shuts off automatically to preserve battery life. - Has a rubber or silicone cover to protect it from chemical spills or whatever. - Also for some people it might seem like it's a bit on the pricey side... BUT consider this. My coworkers told me that they paid almost the same amount of money for a PREMIUM BRAND regular air chuck with a regular manual pressure gauge. So they realized that they had paid too much for their air chucks when you compare them side by side. Cons: - I guess it would be that it may be a little bit on the larger side of things. So it can take up some room in your tool box. It will only fit on your deep top drawer of your tool box or that big box drawer on the bottom. ***I don't like to bend the hose so I keep it straight on the top drawer. - Not much else to report on this tool It's a really great tool to have specially now with all these new vehicles that come with the Tire pressure displays on the dashboard and many tell you the exact pressure on each tire. So it's best to have a tool that helps you set the right amount of pressure the first time and not have to go back and fourth to check the display to see if you got it right. Get this one. **** Update **** 2 years later and I'm still using it. Here is what has happened since I bough it - The gauge reading is off by about 1/2 psi to 1 psi - The hose that comes with the air gauge is a very firm or stiff rubber. I t doesn't like to bend too much. so the after some time the hose frayed from the base of the air gauge. Eventually it broke and it leaked air. Luckily for me at the time I worked and lived not too far from a business that build and repairs hoses of all types. So for about $10 I was able to get a new hose that was more flexible than the original hose. But I don't live there anymore so, hopefully this hose holds out for a long time. ****So if you buy this air gauge, store it with the hose sitting straight. or hang it with the hose straight down.. *** Also don't bend the hose and don't allow others to bend the hose when they use it. This gauge works really well, but it has a major flaw with the hose.. Don't know if they have updated the material for this product. So I would find out if this concerns you. it's been 2 years, so who knows. Still recommend this air tool... It's one of the best out in the market still.. At lower cost than some big name brands out there.

This product came in a very timely matter, packaged very well, works great, easy to put together and have never had a problem with it, it clamps onto valve stems no problem, never had it leak after clamping it on, very durable and easy to use and easy to read. I would buy this product again

This inflator is the best one in my shop now. The big backit display is easy to read day or night, the rubber overmold will prevent damage and will make it comfortable with bare hands in cold weather. The gauge uses a large 2450 lithium cell, this is not installed from the factory, but is included. Installing the battery is a bit tricky, you need to remove a pair of screws on the backside of the gauge itself. These screws are hidden behind cutouts in the rubber overmold. You'll need a #2 Phillips screwdriver to poke through the cutouts and remove the screws. They will be tight from the factory. The screws themselves can remain behind the cutouts when loosened, this prevents them from being lost. Carefully pull back the rubber molding from around the edge of the gauge face and lift out the display section. There is a ribbon cable connecting the display to the sensor in the gauge housing, this is about four inches long. The cell slides into a holder on the PC board. Reassemble the gauge by tucking the ribbon cable into place, squeezing the molding around the face, then tightening the screws. This cell should last a long time, especially if the backlight is not used often. The big trigger is easy to use even with bulky gloves on. Squeezing the trigger fully inflates the tire or item. Releasing it lets the reading stabilize with accuracy down to 0.1psi. The reading is "live" at all times and will rise considerably when inflating depending on the incoming air pressure. If you need to release some air from the tire, a partial squeeze of the trigger vents air from the tire. Once you get the knack of it, it becomes second nature to hone in on the exact pressure you need. I checked this gauge against a lab standard meter, and it was within .1psi at 10 psi through 50psi (the upper range of my lab standard meter). I expect the gauge will be well within spec over the entire operating range. The hose is a generous length, and the clip-on tire chuck is well made. The hose swivels, and this helps make a good seal with the clip-on chuck. The orifices in the gauge and chuck flow lots of air, so filling even big truck tires from empty goes pretty fast. My only complaint is the chuck itself is not of the dual-foot variety needed for some dual wheel and ag tire configurations. The chuck is a removable piece and not crimped to the hose like so many inflators, and it has a 1/4"NPT male fitting that can be attached to any style of chuck. The inflator has a filter screen on the air inlet end, a nice touch to keep any potential crud from entering the gauge and causing problems. This is now my go-to inftlator for everyday use.

Works great. Very accuratew for my racecar

Now I have this reviewed this unit in the past as I owned the Matco DT4 but since my original review, my Matco unit has developed a few issues that were not worth fixing considering how much use my inflator sees in an average day and I ended purchasing the updated Astro model from Amazon this time. Unlike my old Matco, the battery changes on this version are much simpler and it now runs on 2 AAA batteries, meaning you could run rechargeable batteries if you wanted. In the roughly 6 months though that I have owned the updated unit, I have yet to need to change the batteries it shipped with so battery life has improved as well. The new stainless steel braided hose with strain relief these units ship with is also a welcome addition as it should keep my new unit leak free for awhile yet. Most importantly though, the features I loved about my original unit are still here. It's still dead accurate, agreeing with known good stick gauges and car TPMS systems, inflates with a full press of the trigger and deflates with a partial press, turns off by itself after a period of inactivity, has the built in back light and ability to change units of measurement when needed. In short, I loved my original unit enough to buy a second one and this one has proven even better than the original unit. For anyone looking for a well built digital tire inflator at a decent price, look no further than the Astro 3018 as it's simply unmatched at it's price point.

Haven't used this item enough to make a full review. but very happy so far.

Although I've just received this product, I can confirm that it is very accurate and reliable. I work in a dealership and it makes inflating/deflating tires a breeze. I've been using the older Matco DT4 for the last few months (the dealership has had it for about a year or two), and the Astro Pneumatic 3018 is practically identical. The old version was exactly the same as the Matco and the only differences with the new version are the steel braided hose and the AAA batteries. I was pleased to receive the updated AP 3018 and not the older version (with red hose and coin style battery) like others have. The package comes with 4 AAA batteries which gives you 2 charges before having to buy new batteries. In comparison to the old coin style batteries, the AAA batteries are very easy to replace and aren't located on the back of the inflator like in the old version. The battery door is accessible by pulling back the side of the rubber cover as seen in the photos and can be removed with your finger nail. Matco was selling this inflator for about $140. So buying it here was a no-brainer. Time will tell how long this actually lasts. Will update if there are any problems. My ONLY complaint is that it doesn't come with a male air hose fitting. I wouldn't even mention it if other air tools I've bought in the past hadn't included them. This is hardly a deal breaker and it's barely worth mentioning but some people may want to know that before purchasing this product. Update: A year later and it still works perfectly. I use it almost everyday and still haven't needed to change the batteries. Even if I do, I still have the extra set that came with it. HOWEVER, I suspect that I will one day have an issue to address. The matco version of this gauge that we have at work have started to degrade but note that they see heavy use. The affected parts are serviceable (main issue was gasket for the valve/switch beneath the lever).

Don't forget to remove the plastic battery tab

This is the best inflator available on the market for heavy usage such as mechanics or tire installers. I have used this device in the past at dealerships as a mechanic and every single mechanic regards these as the best on the market. The quality is excellent and they do not break unless run over or dropped extremely hard on concrete. In the dealership, every mechanic has either this or the rebranded version of this that is Matco. The matco one costs twice as much as this for the same product, its all about brand name. The device is accurate and durable and the only time anyone has replaced one is when it was run over or dropped by careless apprentices many times. Usually they last around 5 years before either needing a recalibration or a replacement though. Overall its a great tire pressure gauge that is worth EVERY SINGLE PENNY.