Best Jump Starter With Air Compressor for a Diesel Truck: Big Engine, 35-Inch Tires

Best Jump Starter With Air Compressor for a Diesel Truck: Big Engine, 35-Inch Tires

Getting a 35-inch tire back to full pressure is a much bigger undertaking than just topping off a regular car tire. Getting a tire ready for the road after you've deflated it for off-roading means your compressor needs to deliver a substantial volume of air. For jump starters with air compressors to be effective on 35-inch tires, they need to provide more than just a high maximum PSI rating. [1][2]

The compressor's ability to restore your tire pressure depends on its airflow, inflation speed, battery capacity, and maximum PSI. [1] Both the WOLFBOX MegaVolt 24Air and WOLFBOX MegaVolt 16Air offer tire inflation and jump-starting in one portable package. However, their specs and tested capabilities are better suited to different applications. [1][2] Learn how to find the best jump starter with air compressor for 35-inch tires, and how each of these WOLFBOX models measure up.

What Should You Look for in a Jump Starter With Air Compressor for 35-Inch Tires?

Large diesel engines and oversized tires put greater demands on a jump starter. Pay attention to these specifications before choosing a jump starter for your truck:

Compressor Airflow

Compressor airflow is possibly the most important spec you should consider when inflating 35-inch tires. Airflow is usually measured in liters per minute (L/min) or cubic feet per minute (CFM) and indicates the volume of air moved per unit time. [1]

Since larger tires hold more air, a compressor with higher airflow will typically complete an inflation job faster than a lower-airflow model.

Battery Capacity

The battery's capacity determines the total electrical energy available to power tasks such as running the compressor. Watt-hours (Wh) are a common unit of capacity, but manufacturers occasionally present it in milliamp-hours (mAh). [1][2]

The more demanding the inflation task, the more important battery capacity becomes. If you're only intermittently topping off pressure, your needs will be very different from if you expect to spend several minutes inflating several large tires away from a wall outlet.

Maximum PSI

The Maximum PSI rating simply indicates the peak pressure the compressor can achieve, not its inflation speed, for instance, when topping off a 35-inch tire. [1][2]

PSI, or pounds per square inch, measures air pressure, while airflow measures how much air the compressor can push. Both are important specifications to consider, but they don't convey the same information.

When checking your tire pressure, always inflate your tires to the vehicle manufacturer's recommended levels. The maximum pressure on the tire sidewall is not necessarily the pressure you should inflate your tires to under normal driving conditions. Both NHTSA and Michelin state the vehicle placard or owner's manual should be used as a reference. [3] [4]

Jump-starting Capability

Jump-starting capability becomes a consideration when you want a single portable device to handle both tire inflation and jump-starting a dead battery. Peak current is defined as the maximum momentary current a jump starter can supply, as defined or advertised by the manufacturer. [1][2]

Jump-starting capability should be considered separately from tire size. Ensure that the jump starter matches up with your vehicle's engine and battery requirements. Make sure the compressor can handle the workload your tire inflation tasks will require.

WOLFBOX MegaVolt 24Air: Best for 35-Inch Tires and More Demanding Inflation

Rated at 45 L/min airflow and 160 PSI compressor pressure, and designed for gasoline and diesel engines up to 10 liters, the WOLFBOX MegaVolt 24Air features a 24,000 mAh battery with 88.8 Wh of energy storage. It is also rated at 4,000A peak current. [1]

For a 35-inch tire, the WOLFBOX MegaVolt 24Air's 45 L/min indicates decent air-moving capacity for a portable combo unit. Testing results have highlighted the WOLFBOX MegaVolt 24Air's performance in inflating tires larger than 35 inches. Testing done by WOLFBOX showed that the unit could raise the pressure in a 37×12.5R17 from 35 PSI to 40 PSI in just 1 minute and 50 seconds. [1] This runtime is applicable for drivers who need to make minor adjustments in emergency situations or simply want to regain some pressure after losing air.

Additionally, the 88.8 Wh battery provides this unit with a fairly large energy reserve when the compressor is in use. [1] This large battery will come in handy if you need to perform more demanding tire-inflation tasks. The more energy stored in the battery, the longer you can use the compressor away from a wall outlet.

The WOLFBOX MegaVolt 24Air isn't meant to replace a specialized, high-output off-road compressor when you're frequently topping off several 35-inch tires from significantly low trail pressures. Adding a relatively small amount of pressure to a single tire is one job. Replacing a significant amount of lost air in four aired-down trucks is an entirely different workload for a compressor. [2]

Rather, the WOLFBOX MegaVolt 24Air excels at quickly inflating tires for emergencies, making pressure adjustments, and occasionally inflating large tires. It's not designed to repeatedly air up a set of 35 inches tires as fast as possible. [1]

It is also worth noting that this unit uses a 20" hose, which will work for most vehicles. However, it could be tight around larger wheels, depending on the valve stem's location. [5]

WOLFBOX MegaVolt16Air: Best for Compact Emergency Inflation

For those looking for a more compact jump starter and compressor unit that can handle occasional large-tire inflation, the WOLFBOX MegaVolt16Air is a solid choice.[2] The WOLFBOX MegaVolt16Air offers 3,000A peak current, 45 L/min airflow, a 59.2 Wh battery, and a 160 PSI compressor. The WOLFBOX MegaVolt16Air is rated for vehicles with diesel engines up to 6 liters.

TechGearLab verified that the WOLFBOX MegaVolt16Air can inflate a large off-road tire. The tester inflated a 275/70R18 all-terrain tire from 5 PSI to 35 PSI in just over 3 minutes. A 315/70R17 tire has an overall diameter of about 34.4 inches. [2] This puts the 315/70R17 just under that cutoff, giving the WOLFBOX MegaVolt16Air some practical value to those who install oversized tires on their pickups.

Another reviewer was able to start a V6 engine with a completely dead battery three times using the MegaVolt16Air. The battery used only about 3% of its capacity per start.[6]

The performance gap between the WOLFBOX MegaVolt 24 Air and the MegaVolt16Air becomes much more apparent as inflation requirements increase. While capable of starting your car and inflating larger tires in an emergency, the WOLFBOX MegaVolt16Air will struggle more than the MegaVolt 24Air if you plan on running the compressor repeatedly across multiple 35+ tires that are deeply low on air.

WOLFBOX MegaVolt 24Air vs. MegaVolt16Air for 35-Inch Tires

The WOLFBOX MegaVolt 24Air and WOLFBOX MegaVolt 16Air have identical stated compressor airflow and maximum pressure; They differ in battery size and jump-starting capacity. The flow rate and maximum pressure are identical for both models: 45 L/minute and 160 PSI, respectively.

The WOLFBOX MegaVolt 24Air sports an 88.8 Wh battery and a peak-current rating of 4,000A, supporting both gasoline and diesel engines up to 10 liters. [1] Meanwhile, the WOLFBOX MegaVolt16Air features a 59.2 Wh battery and a 3,000A peak rating, supporting diesel engines rated at up to 6 liters. [2]

For a 35-inch tire, battery size is clearly the biggest factor differentiating these two compressors. The WOLFBOX MegaVolt 24Air has considerably more energy on board for longer compressor run times if you need to inflate particularly large tires or multiple tires without recharging.

The WOLFBOX MegaVolt16Air is one of the best jump starter for diesel truck owners who occasionally inflate their tires. On the other hand, the WOLFBOX MegaVolt 24Air has been designed with larger-workload expectations in mind.

Consideration WOLFBOX MegaVolt 24Air WOLFBOX MegaVolt16Air
Airflow 45 L/min 45 L/min
Maximum compressor pressure 160 PSI 160 PSI
Battery capacity 88.8 Wh 59.2 Wh
Peak current 4,000A 3,000A
Best suited to More demanding 35-inch tire inflation Compact emergency use
Diesel engine rating Up to 10L Up to 6L

FAQ

Can a jump starter with an air compressor inflate a 35-inch tire?

Yes. Some adequately sized jump starters with a built-in compressor will inflate tires in the 35″ class. However, how useful that is varies by airflow, inflation time, starting pressure, intended pressure, and battery size.

Is 160 PSI enough for a 35-inch truck tire?

Yes. Having a max rating of 160 PSI gives you plenty of headroom for most truck-tire inflation jobs. Keep in mind that maximum PSI doesn't indicate how quickly the compressor will fill a large tire, so consider airflow and real-world tire inflation time as well. [1][2]

What matters more for a 35-inch tire?

Typically, airflow is more useful when comparing compressor inflation performance, as it shows how quickly the unit can move air. PSI indicates the maximum pressure the compressor can achieve. Your compressor needs to have enough PSI capability to reach your desired pressure, but airflow becomes more important as tire sizes and inflation tasks increase. [1]

Can the WOLFBOX MegaVolt 24Air replace a dedicated off-road air compressor?

No. If you frequently need to reinflate multiple tires from very low trail pressure, a portable combo unit will not perform adequately. WOLFBOX portable compressors are ideal for emergency inflation, pressure top-offs, and occasional reinflation of large tires. But multiple 35-inch tires can present a much greater workload than a portable combo unit was designed to handle efficiently. [1]

Which WOLFBOX model is better for inflating a demanding 35-inch tire?

The WOLFBOX MegaVolt 24Air is the better option, providing 45 L/min of airflow alongside an 88.8 Wh battery, and it's been tested on a 37-inch tire. [1] For those who prefer a more compact unit, the WOLFBOX MegaVolt16Air can still handle large-tire emergencies and occasional inflation. [2]

References

[1] WOLFBOX MegaVolt 24Air — Official Product Page

[2] TechGearLab — WOLFBOX MegaVolt16Air Review

[3] NHTSA — Understanding Tire Pressure and Load Limits

[4] Michelin — What Is the Right Tire Pressure for My Car?

[5] Popular Science — WOLFBOX 4-in-1 Jump Starter With Air Compressor Review

[6] TechGearLab — Best Jump Starters

Reading next

Best Jump Starter with Air Compressor: 'Car and Driver' Picks WOLFBOX MegaVolt 24Air
WOLFBOX vs Clore Jump-N-Carry Jump Starter: Which Fits Your Needs?

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