Auto Express – July 30, 2019

94 SpecialIssue http://www.autoexpress.co.uk

PRODUCTS 12VCompressors

books,

games &apps

Minitest

Properinflationoftyres

keepsyourcostsdown

k

Appoftheweek

Half-TonMilitary

LandRover

Lotus72:1970-75

CarXHighway

Racing

VoomVoom

MarkJCrook(VelocePublishing,

http://www.veloce.co.uk)

Price:£25Rating:★★★★★

PeteLyons(EvroPublishing,

http://www.evropublishing.com)

Price:£50Rating:★★★★★

Availablefor:iOS,Android

Price:FreeRating:★★★★★

Availablefor:Android

Price:FreeRating:★★★★★

THISisagoodbookaboutone

ofthemostinterestingearly

LandRovers–theSeriesI

Lightweight–butnota

restorationguide.LandRover

aficionadosandmilitary

historybuffswillenjoyit,and

onlytheslightlycheapprint

qualityletsthesidedown.

WITHaforewordbyEmersonFittipaldi,thisheftytitle

coversoneofthebest-knownF1

cars:theLotus72.Insixseasons,

thiscarwon20GrandPrix,three

constructor’stitlesandtwodriver’s

titles,makingitwellworthyof

exploration.F1fans–especially

thosethatrememberthecarinits

prime–willlovethisbook,which

hasexcellentphotography. High

productionvaluesmakeitworththeprice.

AFAIRLYgenericon-rails

racerwithnotalot

ofactiontobehad,

althoughcontrolsare

slickandthegraphics

aregood.We suspect

thatspendingmoney–

whichyou’reencouragedtodoatalmostevery

turn–wouldseeprogressrampupprettysharply.

AterribleEnglishtranslationisanotherdownside.

INtheory, thisshouldsynthesise

anenginenotetoturnahatch

intoasupercar.Brieflytheapp

workedwell,butit’sverydifficult

tosetupandthere’sonlyone

freecar.Aniceidea,butneeds

plentyofworkinpractice.

BEST BUYTHERTC1000wonstraightout
ofthetrapearlierthisyear,evenatahigher
pricethanitspredecessor.Themarkethas
cutthatcost,addingtoitscompetitiveness.
Itsinflationtimeisstillverygood,and
thenoiselevelwasatouchhigherthanits
rival’s.LiketheMichelinitwas0.5psioffat
30psi,andbothhadthreescales(psi,KPA
andBar),threeaccessoryadaptorsanda
screw-onvalveadaptorwithbleedvalve.
We lovethebigcentraldisplay,itswide
LEDlightandhugeon/offbutton.The70cm
hosewrappedneatlyaroundthedevice,
andthe3.5-metrecableisthebestyet.
Neatandwellpackaged,thezip-up
paddedbagprotectsitwhilebeingstored.

RECOMMENDEDTHEnamesuggestedit
hadextrapowerforlargetyresandheavier
vehicles,andourtestinflationtimeofjust
1minute28secondswasthebestever.
Theunitwasalsoreallyeasyontheears,
ataround72dB.However,at2.25kgs,this
MichelinwastwicetheweightoftheRing.
We likedthecleardisplay(albeitsmaller
thantheRing’s),anditsleadandhosewere
okay.Thatsaid,wrappingthehoseround
thehandlesmackedofanafterthought,and
we’dhavelikedamoresubstantialholder.
Overall,averyimpressiveunitand,
althoughit’sdear,itstillearned4.5stars.

NEW PRODUCT

Michelin12312

ProgrammableRapid4x4/

SUVdigitaltyreinflator
Price:£70Time20-30psi(mins:secs):1:28
Rating:★★★★★
Contact:08450579000,www.halfords.com

CURRENTCHAMPION

RTC1000PremiumRapid

DigitalTyreInflator
Price:£39.99Time20-30psi(mins:secs):1:38
Rating:★★★★★
Contact:01132132000,www.ringautomotive.com

ONEofthebestwaystokeepyourtyres
toppedup,maximisingfueleconomy, wear
andsafety,istousea12Vcompressor.
TyregiantMichelinhaslaunchedafour-
strongdirect-driverange,butwe’retesting
what’slikelybeoneofthebiggestsellers:
thelargersingle-pistonmodelwithpresets.
To seehowitcompares,wetriedit
alongsideourcurrentchampion,Ring’s

“Pumpyour

tyresupto

maximisefuel

economy,wear

andsafety”

DavePollard

RTC1000.We pumpedour15-inchtyrefrom

20-30psi,measuringthegauges’accuracy,

thetimetakenandthenoiselevel.

Wealsogavepointsforfeatureslikehose/

cablelength,storage,accessories,case,light

anddisplay.Pricewasthefinalfactor.

TheMichelinmadeagreatdebut:it’swell

featured,powerfulandquick.Butitsprice

holdsitbackbehindtheimpressiveRing.