Ryobi is shrinking its inflator line and pushing the pressure ceiling at the same time. Two new compact models land at Home Depot in October, and both top out at 150 PSI. That is a solid 50 PSI jump over the current compact USB Lithium inflator, enough to make the line actually useful for car tires rather than just balls and bike tubes.
The two new models
- Ryobi USB Lithium Smart Tire Inflator (FVIF52K): $79.97, 150 PSI, tops a car tire from 30 to 35 PSI in about 90 seconds, up to 8 top-offs per charge, and ships with two USB Lithium packs so you can swap one out for 16 total. Smart memory presets for car, bike, motorcycle, and sports balls, plus auto shut-off, oversized display, and an LED light.
- Ryobi Rechargeable Tire Inflator (FVIF01K): $49.97, same 150 PSI and same 90-second top-off pace, but the battery is built in and can’t be swapped. Two USB ports let it double as a power bank for your phone, and it includes a pinch valve adapter the pricier model leaves out.
The $30 gap between them is really a battery question. If you own or plan to buy the USB Lithium system, the FVIF52K makes sense for trucks and SUVs where you want a spare pack ready. If you just top off the car a few times a season, the $49.97 FVIF01K covers it and charges your phone on a camping trip.
Specs at a glance
- Max pressure: 150 PSI (both)
- Top-off speed: 30 to 35 PSI in about 90 seconds
- Runtime: up to 8 top-offs per charge
- FVIF52K battery: two swappable USB Lithium packs
- FVIF01K battery: integrated, plus two USB power bank ports
- Included: 16-inch hose, sport needle, Presta valve adapter; pinch valve on the FVIF01K
Why the pressure jump matters
Older compact inflators topped out around 100 PSI, which is fine for a bike tire but marginal for a car. Getting to 150 PSI means these actually move a passenger tire in a reasonable time. Ryobi says a typical car top-off runs about 90 seconds from 30 to 35 PSI, which is the range most drivers are actually correcting when they hit the gas station gauge.
That pressure number is the whole story. A compact inflator that only reaches 100 PSI stops being useful well before a car tire is properly set, and the faster you can top off, the less you dread the low-tire light. The jump to 150 PSI also gives these tools room to run higher-pressure loads like some e-bikes and garden sprayers without pegging the limit.
Inside the smart features
The FVIF52K adds memory presets, so it remembers your usual numbers for the car and the kids’ bikes rather than making you dial them in every time. Auto shut-off stops the pump when it hits the target, which keeps you from overfilling when you are moving fast.
The FVIF01K keeps things simpler and a little cheaper. Its headline extra is those two USB ports, which turn it into a small power bank on a job site or at a campsite. Neither model is going to replace a real air compressor, but as a glove-box or trunk companion they cover the common ground.
Where they sit in the lineup
This is the compact rung of Ryobi’s inflator ladder, one step below the 18V ONE+ tools. It competes right alongside the dedicated air compressors and the cordless inflators we have covered for the garage crowd. If you already keep a proper compressor on the bench, a pocket inflator like this fills the glove-box role instead of overlapping that job.
For full tire fill-ups rather than top-offs, the 18V ONE+ inflators are still the right answer because they move more volume. The new compacts win on portability and price. For rough use or a long road trip where battery availability matters, the swappable-pack FVIF52K is the one to lean on.
When and where
Both models arrive at Home Depot in October. Pricing is set at $79.97 for the FVIF52K and $49.97 for the FVIF01K. No listing is live yet, so treat dates and prices as the announcement, not a confirmed shelf date.
Bottom line
Ryobi’s two new compact inflators close the gap to the 18V line where it counts: pressure. At 150 PSI they will actually top off a car tire, and the $50 starting point makes one an easy throw-in at checkout. The FVIF01K is the value pick, the FVIF52K is the one for trucks or anyone who dislikes waiting on a charge.
Related reading: our breakdown of the best portable tire inflators, the tire pressure PSI chart for choosing the right number, and the full auto and garage tools hub for more garage gear.