Beach days and gravel tracks are more fun when the tyre pressures match the terrain, and that means airing back up before the highway. I wanted a compressor that could do that quickly without taking over the whole boot. The XTM Air Compressor 160L 150PSI has been living in our Prado for a while now and has become part of the routine: clamp it to the battery, run the hose around, and pack away the awning while the tyres come back up. I paid $120 for it at BCF.
What’s in the box
A 12V compressor with an orange body, an alloy cylinder head and a carry handle on top. It’s rated at 160 litres a minute and up to 150 PSI. It clamps straight onto the battery with a 2 m cable that has a 60 A fuse, and it comes with an 8 m quick-release air hose with a gauge on the end. Everything packs into a soft XTM zip bag with carry handles.
What we like
- 160 L/min airs up fast
- 8 m hose reaches every tyre
- Cleanable air filter
- 60 A fuse and thermal cut-out
- Alloy cylinder head
- Packs into a zip bag
What we don’t
- Bulkier than a mini inflator
- Gauge is only a rough guide
- No auto stop
Quick Specs
| Spec | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | XTM |
| Colour | Orangewith black ends |
| Cylinder | 60 mmAlloy head and piston shank |
| Air flow | 160 L/min |
| Max pressure | 150 PSI |
| Power | 12VBattery clamps2 m cable |
| Power draw | Up to 45 A at 12 Vabout 540 W |
| Protection | 60 A fuseCircuit breakerThermal cut-out |
| Hose | 8 mQuick-releaseWith gauge |
| Air filter | Cleanable sponge filter |
Build
XTM uses an alloy cylinder head and alloy piston shank with a 60 mm cylinder, a sensible base for a 12V compressor that gets used on hot days. The sponge air filter can be cleaned after a dusty track. The carry handle on top makes it easy to carry from the boot to the front of the car, and the compressor sits on a rubber base, so it stays put on the ground or a tray while it runs. The finish is practical rather than flashy: it looks like a tool made to live in a 4WD and get used often.
Hose and gauge
The 8 m hose is what makes this compressor easy to use. With the compressor next to the battery, it reaches all four tyres of our Prado without moving the compressor each time. It clicks onto the compressor with a quick-release coupler, and the connector on the other end goes onto the tyre valve. The gauge on the hose is readable at a glance and keeps you in the ballpark, but it’s not precise, so I finish with a separate digital tyre gauge. There’s no auto stop, so you watch the gauge yourself.
Power and protection
A compressor this size draws up to 45 A at 12V, far more than a 12V socket can supply, so it clamps straight onto the battery, with the bonnet up and the engine running. The 2 m cable has solid red and black clamps and a 60 A inline fuse that’s easy to check, and there’s a circuit breaker and a thermal cut-out as well, which is reassuring on hot days. The thermal cut-out never tripped in my use, though I let it rest briefly between tyres when it’s hot, which is good practice for any portable compressor.
Airing up after the beach
From beach pressures back to highway, the 160 litres a minute feels strong for a 12V compressor: it gets air moving quickly, and that matters when the sun is high and you want to get going. The 150 PSI ceiling is more than any tyre needs, but it means the compressor isn’t working at its limit on big 4WD tyres. For how low to go on sand and back up for the road, see our 4WD tyre pressure guide. Afterwards the hose coils back into the bag without a wrestle, and the bag zips shut. It isn’t the smallest compressor: for a quick top-up in an ordinary car, a small inflator like the AstroAI 12V tyre inflator is easier to store.
Conclusion: XTM Air Compressor 160L 150PSIConclusion
The XTM Air Compressor 160L 150PSI does what a 4WD compressor should. It airs up big tyres quickly, the 8 m hose reaches every wheel from the battery, the fuse, circuit breaker and thermal cut-out protect it on hot days, and it all packs into a zip bag. It’s bulkier than a mini inflator, it has no auto stop and the gauge is only a guide. I paid $120 for it, and for airing up after the beach or a track, it’s an easy recommendation.
A strong 12V compressor that airs up big 4WD tyres quickly.
It has lived in our Prado for a while, airing us back up after beach days and gravel tracks, and the 8 m hose reaches every wheel from the battery. It's bulky, has no auto stop and the gauge is only a guide.
- 4WD tourers
- Beach & picnics
- Weekend trips
Yes. I paid $120 at BCF, and it has lived in our Prado for a while, airing us back up after beach days and gravel tracks.
