12V Slime Inflator Review: An Easy Solution for Unexpected Low Tires

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12V Slime Inflator Crash Course

• Uses any 12-volt accessory outlet in your vehicle to refill a low tire.

• LED light assists with flat tires at night.

• Comes with a separate air hose for mattresses and rafts.

Automoblog Review & Evaluation Process

In January 2023, we purchased the Slime inflator featured here (called the “All-Purpose Inflator”) with our own money. While using the unit and writing this review, we kept three things in mind, outlined below.

12V Slime Inflator Review Summary (Updated Design)

The Slime Inflator pictured here – i.e., the one we originally purchased – looks different from what you will find on Amazon and the Sime Products website today. Slime has updated the inflator’s design to be more user-friendly when stowing the 12V power cord and air hose.

Rather than trying to “stuff” the hose and power cord back into the unit, like how we have to with ours, the new design lets you quickly wrap them around the outside of the unit.

It’s a welcome design change since that was one of the main critiques of the unit we currently own. You needed to be a Tetris champion to put the power cords and air hose back in the storage compartment each time!

The only other difference we can see is the built-in pressure gauge. Ours goes up to 100 PSI, whereas the new design stops at 60 PSI. This is unlikely to be a deal breaker, especially if you are using the 12V Slime inflator for car and motorcycle tires.

Otherwise, all the other specs and attachments remain the same, which we will detail further below.

12V Slime Inflator: What It Offers

It’s pretty much ready to go right out of the box! Included with the 12V power cord are two air hoses: a high-pressure one for tires and a high-volume hose for things like rafts and mattresses (a needle is also included for balls).

Next to the green on/off switch is a PSI and BAR gauge (zero to 100 for PSI and zero to 7 for BAR).

12V Power Cord

The 12V cord plugs into the accessory power source (i.e., cigarette lighter) on your center console or dashboard. The power cord is 10 feet long. That should be enough for the average sedan or crossover by the time you drape the cord out the window or door so the inflator can touch the ground. From there, you should be able to reach all four tires easily.

The only caveat is if you own a larger SUV, like a GMC Yukon or Ford Expedition. You can use the power outlet in your center console or on your dashboard for the front tires, but it likely won’t reach the rear tires. If you have a power outlet in the rear cargo area, use that for your back tires. The actual high-pressure air hose will also give you an extra two feet.

Inside the 12V power cord is a fuse. If the Slime inflator stops working, unscrew the top of the cord and replace the fuse.

LED Flashlight

An LED flashlight on the front, now consisting of five smaller bulbs thanks to the design change, automatically turns on once the Slime inflator has power (our unit has four bulbs). Although it’s best to have a separate LED flashlight in an emergency kit, the lights on the inflator will help you at night if you need to refill a low tire.

Inflate Portal

The inflate portal near the bottom is for things like rafts and air mattresses. Attach the high-volume air hose to the portal, and you can fill up your giant rubber ducky pool inflatable.

Using The Slime Inflator

Slime says the All-Purpose Inflator can fill the average tire in about eight minutes (however, it’s quicker if you use it right after your TPMS light comes on, which is preferable). The unit is loud once you turn it on, so it may vibrate and rattle around a bit. I recommend keeping your hand on it while filling your tires.

Furthermore, put your vehicle in its accessory power mode versus having the engine run to supply power to the Slime inflator (this is an old safety trick I picked up working at an express lube when I was younger).

If your tire is totally flat, it may have separated from the rim. If that’s the case, jack up your car slightly before using the inflator. Otherwise, air will continue to leak out as you fill the tire.

Is The 12V Slime Inflator a Good Buy?

Although we don’t own the 12V Slime inflator with the updated design, we believe it’s a change for the better when it comes to keeping the power cord and air hoses organized. We prefer a cordless unit that is battery-powered, but we have no regrets about buying our 12V Slime inflator, and we’ve continued to use it for unexpected low tires. 

Not counting any deals or discounts, the updated 12V Slime All-Purpose Inflator will set you back about $55 on Amazon. The big red button above will ensure you get the best price on Amazon if you decide this Slime inflator is right for you.

Carl Anthony is the Managing Editor of Automoblog and the host of AutoVision News Radio and AutoSens Insights. He is a Midwest Automotive Media Association member and on the board of directors for the Ally Jolie Baldwin Foundation. Like many Detroiters, Carl is holding out for a Lions Super Bowl win. 

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