Seriously? I mean, COME ON!

Saw it while I was filling up. Yeah, I know it's handy. But I remember when it was free.

Casey's and HyVee has have free air. (The Grand Prarie HyVee has a cool set the digital PSI on the machine and it fills your tire to that pressure while you just hold the air chuck on your tire valve)I recall getting free air at Meijer's in other cities.I suppose historically gas stations were service stations that had large air compressors for their tools and a hose with chuck cost very little. Now the snack store type gas stations have no need for an air compressor to run their business.

Not only was it free, but it came from a nice big compressor. Not those little dime store things they have now that take 5 minutes to air up a tire.

@NoTime : I often used the Marathon station at Prospect and Elmhurst. They have a chuck hose. But the chuck is never on it. And yes, I know you're not surprised.

Many gas stations have air pumps that cost around $1.00 or so. Some have signs indicating the proceeds go to a charity. Supposedly. I use the old hand tire gauge for my 06 Impala. For my wife's 13 Malibu, I just peek at the digital dashboard screen that shows the tire PSI, lol.

@DennisinMH : Not a dollar any more $1.50 The one in the picture is trash. You set the pressure you need and then it starts to pump. When it reaches that pressure is drops back to 32 pounds. It is no accurate at all.

Casey`s is the only place for Free Air anymore.

And a little late1960s/early 70s gas station nostalgia for you. My dad owned a gas station for awhile. In the winter, people would air up a tire, leave the hose on the ground and it would freeze to the ground overnight if my dad didn't check it. The next day, someone would yank it from its frozen to the ground location and tear the hose rendering it useless. There is a station in Manito that has free air and I frequently noticed when I worked in that little burb that the hose was on the ground and my dad's story would pop into my head.

@ChefKevin : There is a sign like always that states please hang up the hose. I guess its the part of reading and applying what we read.

Beechlers is my go to air place. Not free but reliable.

@Mahkno : I don't think I can make it to Beechlers from the scrap yard. I do carry plugs and a small 12 volt air pump.