CarCareTruth Score
Decent.
Opens Amazon in a new tab. No account needed to look.
Saved to your guest loadout. Sign up to also save to your Cabinet (consumables) or Kit (tools you own).
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Full disclosure
Prices may varyThis product ranks #18 of 21 in Tire Inflator.Three above it ↓
Last reviewed June 28, 2026
TL;DR Tom's Guide's hands-on test found the gauge reads within 1 PSI of a vehicle's TPMS · solid accuracy. No canonical flat-to-35-PSI fill time has been measured by the community, so fill speed remains unverified.
The CMCE520B is a tri-power cordless inflator running on Craftsman's V20 battery platform, 120V AC, or 12V DC car adapter · battery sold separately. The digital gauge auto-shuts at the preset pressure target, and Tom's Guide confirmed it hit within 1 PSI of the vehicle's TPMS reading in a December 2022 hands-on test. Rated to 160 PSI, covering all passenger cars and SUVs; community confirmation above 80 PSI is not yet available. No UL or ETL electrical certification has been found in any primary source. It's well-reviewed by a large owner base, reflecting consistent satisfaction from an established following.
Built for Craftsman V20 platform owners who want a tire inflator that shares batteries with their existing tool lineup · that compatibility is the primary value driver. The tri-power design means it's functional even without a charged battery via 12V or AC. Battery sold separately: factor the cost of a V20 battery and charger into the entry price if you don't own any yet. Skip it if you need confirmed high-PSI performance above 80 PSI for truck tires or if third-party electrical certification is a purchase requirement.
No UL Listing or ETL Certification has been independently verified for the CMCE520B in North American safety databases as of May 2026. No active CPSC recall is on record. The product listing carries a California Proposition 65 warning · standard for Li-ion battery products and electronic components; it is a manufacturing-materials disclosure, not an indication of chemical exposure during normal tire inflation use. At end of life, the removable V20 battery is accepted at Call2Recycle drop-off locations (Home Depot and others) per Craftsman's documented recycling guidance at craftsman.com/en-us/product-and-battery-recycling. The tool body is standard e-waste recyclable at municipal drop-off events.
No · the CMCE520B is a tool-only listing. The V20 battery and charger are sold separately. The inflator also runs on 12V DC via the car's cigarette lighter and on 120V AC via a standard wall outlet, so it's usable without a battery if you have access to either power source. A bundle (CMCE520B + CMCB202-2CK 2.0Ah battery + charger) is available under ASIN B07XL326H9.
No UL Listing or ETL Certification has been confirmed for the CMCE520B in North American safety databases as of May 2026. All five mandatory lookups were completed · UL Product iQ, Intertek ETL directory, CPSC recall database, FCC database (not applicable · no radio functionality), and manufacturer technical sources including craftsman.com and ManualsLib. No certification language was found in any primary source. No active CPSC recall is on record for this model.
Tom's Guide's December 2022 hands-on review recorded the gauge reading within 1 PSI of the vehicle's TPMS reading · the most precise gauge comparison available from a single independent hands-on tester. Cross-confirmed accuracy data from a second independent hands-on source has not been found as of May 2026.
Three: a Craftsman V20 20V MAX Li-ion battery (sold separately and compatible with all other V20 tools), a 12V DC connection via the car's cigarette lighter/accessory port, and a 120V AC household wall outlet. All three modes are included in the box · the unit stores the 12V plug and other accessories in an onboard compartment.
The rated maximum is 160 PSI, which covers the target pressure range for passenger cars (25·44 PSI), SUVs, and light trucks (50·80 PSI). Community performance at the rated 160 PSI ceiling has not been independently verified as of May 2026. One community note reports difficulty completing all four consecutive tires on 35-inch light-truck tires, suggesting thermal limiting in very high-volume applications.
The Amazon listing for CRAFTSMAN V20 Tire Inflator carries a California Prop 65 warning. California requires this warning on a very wide range of manufactured goods — including electronics with wiring, solder joints, or plastic/metal housings — whenever trace exposure to any of roughly 900 listed substances (commonly phthalates or heavy metals) is possible, regardless of whether the specific product poses a meaningful health risk. As a passive electronics product, CRAFTSMAN V20 Tire Inflator has no Safety Data Sheet, so there's no chemistry breakdown to translate beyond that.
Marketing copy from CRAFTSMAN, via Amazon. Not editorial.
Weekly pick
One product, one safety verdict, every week. No spam.
Milwaukee
M18 Inflator (2848-20)
ETENWOLF
VORTEX S6 Tire Inflator
Fanttik
X8 APEX Tire Inflator
DEWALT
20V MAX Tire Inflator
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Full disclosure
Community
0 postsShare how you use this product
Drop a quick comment or post a full review with photos and a star rating.
Sign in to postNew here? Create a free account.