Tesla Air Compressor — Super easy to use, once you know how to open it

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Using some Tesla referral credits that were about to expire, I recently obtained a tire repair kit and air compressor from Tesla. I love him! However, it was a little mystery figuring out how to open it.

Refilling air in your Tesla Model 3’s tires is a task I’m a bit tired of doing. Since I don’t need to get gas, I sometimes have to go out of my way to go to the gas station to get air for my tires. It was always a little weird, especially at Wawa stations that I eventually discovered offered free air (no coins needed anymore). “I shouldn’t have been there,” and yet I was breathing their free air.

At one point, I received a portable home air compressor from someone who didn’t need one. However, I found that it was a bit awkward and complicated to use, and decided to stick with Wawa. However, again, I’m not putting in enough effort and leaving the tire pressure too low (which is not good for driving efficiency). Then I found a Tesla Air Compressor and Tire Repair Kit while looking for something in the Tesla store to spend my referral credits on.

There are a few things I like about this air compressor, which I just used for the first time today:

Very easy to use (see how to use it in the video below). Very small (easily stored in my cramped one-car garage). Electric, and powered by the Tesla Model 3 itself. It has a PSI scale that is easy to read and use. Smooth appearance. Tire repair kit included! (I hope I never need it, but it’s easy to use and seems handy if you do.)

The only weird and complicated thing is that when you take it out of the box, it is not at all clear how to open or use the device! Here’s a short video on how to open it and how to use it:

Hope this was helpful! I absolutely love the little machine and recommend it.

One commenter’s note on the provided video may also be helpful:

“I recently got one of these. I haven’t used it to seal any flat tires yet, but I did inflate 8 tires in a row as a test for the first day. It’s noticeably faster than the 12V car tire air compressor I already own, and the built-in PSI gauge is much more accurate. The design is very space-efficient, and I appreciate that none of the hot surfaces are exposed. I suggest being careful with the power cable, which is relatively thin, to allow it to fit into the small compartment it lives in when not in use. I’m quite happy with the unit, but I can understand that some people might find very strict tolerances a bit difficult. As with most things Tesla, this air compressor is unconventional but very good if used on its own terms.“

You can read my recent 5-year review of the 2019 Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus to learn more about Model 3 ownership.

You can currently get $1,000 off a new Tesla vehicle by using your Tesla owner referral code. If you need one, here’s my account: https://ts.la/zachary63404