I used to use lots of cheap ass dial tire gauges, and because they were so cheap, they never aqreed, and they didn't last very long. Last year I got a better dial gauge, and it's nice and I like it. Now I would like to upgrade to an inflator with diag gauge combo, but I want to get a very accurate brand/model. Do you guys know how much of the difference between a $40 gauge and a $140 gauge of the same type, is due to materials and build quality vs accuracy. I'm sure it some of both, but how much do I need to spend to get super accurate readings with sufficient quality to last ? And which are the better brands ? I see about three or four more expensive brands, but I don't know which have the best reputation among serious motorheads and racers. How do the nascar guys do it ? I imagine a 1/2 psi difference means a great deal at 200 mph for different conditions. I know it doesn't really matter for daily drivers, but working on my own vehicles as a personal hobby beyond normal DIY maintenance items, and being a nerd and quant by nature, and by a fatal flaw with a tire pressure fettish, any advice woudl be appreciated.

Btw, I increased my tire pressure 2 lbs all the way around on my F150, my avg gas mileage went from 16 to 18 mpg. I thought that was pretty interesting. I measure tread depth front/back and across the tread, and rotate accordingly, as well as adjusting pressure to modify the contact patch to try to balance performance, mileage, and wear pattern. Ride not so much unless it pops up as a freebie. Too bad it's a typical engineering tradeoff like the rest of life.

I have been using an ARB gauge. It’s pretty damn accurate and I am quite happy with it.

This is the one I bought: https://www.amazon.com/ARB-ARB...-Gauge/dp/B0010E1UGI

quote:

An ARB air pressure gauge is the ideal way to accurately measure your Tires’ PSI when you’re making adjustments for off-road conditions. A fully geared, solid brass precision movement and Bourdon Tube gauge with flexible hose means easy access for rims with intricate styling.

I love the made in USA intercomp stuff

For the road / off-road: https://www.intercompracing.co...uges-c-35_36_38.html

For the compressor at home: https://www.intercompracing.co...es-c-35_36_39.html#1

The 60 psi gauges work for my cars and trucks.

I use one similar to the above Amazon link. There are a lot of them, check reviews.

If checking fairly often, you’re already in the upper 85% of drivers.

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:
I love the made in USA intercomp stuff

I did, too, until mine got to be about 7 years old and just stopped working right. It was never dropped, always handled with care, and it started giving consecutive readings that were different. Sometimes it would push the needle right up to a reading, and sometimes the needle would crawl up to the reading. I felt I could not trust it any more.
 
I've gone to all Milton stick gauges, made in the USA, inexpensive, and they all read the same on a given tire.
 
Milton does make an expensive inflator with digital gauge, but I've never tried that one out. In the link below, note you can get the gauge with a half dozen different "feet" styles. I just chose to picture the one style I prefer. Amazon has mixed reviews.
 
Milton S-587e digital inflator/gauge.
 
Refer to Milton's catalog for different feet. They are all numbered in the S-58xe format.

This topic is an easy rabbit hole to go down...

The first question you have to ask yourself is how accurate do you want to be? Is +/- 1 psi good enough or are you looking for something more??

In my Porsche racing days I was fortunate enough to spend time with some of the Rolex Cup teams and learned a lot about car set up and the importance of proper tire pressure. I was fortunate to also attend some team workshops put on by Porsche AG and got into a deep dive on tire pressure that is way beyond what anyone here needs to know.

The take away for the average enthusiast is that an analog gauge is not as accurate as most digital gauges on the market. This is just a fact. For the average guy something like this gauge will provide repeatable results time after time..
https://www.autobarn.net/meams4020.html

I have these in most of my vehicles primarily for emergencies etc.

Given my background I’ve gone a little further and have this in my shop and Jeep where I often inflate and deflate my tires...

https://www.amazon.com/Longacr...d_i=B013ESUL4Y&psc=1

This has lasted me several years...buy once, cry once.

Intercomp here too...

Mucho-accurate...

quote:

https://www.amazon.com/Longacr...d_i=B013ESUL4Y&psc=1

I have the same exact one, from the days when I used to go to the track with my GT3. I think most PCA guys were using the same gauge.

10 years later, its still perfectly accurate.

I now use it on a 4runner... how hobbies change...

quote:

Originally posted by henryaz:
<snip>
I've gone to all Milton stick gauges, made in the USA, inexpensive, and they all read the same on a given tire.
<snip>

I bought the Milton S-921 pencil gauge a couple of years ago on henryaz’s recommendation. It works quite well for pressure up to 50 PSI (plenty for me). Easy to read.

"Peak reading" is where your gauge is supposed to be most accurate. The email is lost, but I *think* the Meiser gauges I sold 7-8 years ago were Commercial B grade. I use a 60# gauge and typically set my tires at 40#. When mostly storing my truck in 2019 I set them at 45# and was elated to find they had only lost 5#, uniformly, over the entire year.

Somehow I don't think it's all that critical for the average person.

For racing where it matters I use the intercomp digital. Very happy. I have several and factory support is quite good if you need it. For your everyday car/truck tires I can’t imagine anything very expensive is needed.

quote:

Originally posted by Flash-LB:
Somehow I don't think it's all that critical for the average person.

"Well, that's the news from Lake Wobegon, where all the women are strong, all the men are good-looking, and all the children are above average."
—Garrison Keillor

To paraphrase Keillor, most SigForum members are above average.

quote:

Originally posted by Flash-LB:
Somehow I don't think it's all that critical for the average person.

Agree. Much more important for the average person to regularly check the tire pressures even with an inexpensive stick guage and to maintain them at recommended psi.

I still use my Blue Point/Snap ON gauge from 1988. It seems to work OK. Because I'm a Jeeper, I also have a low pressure gauge that seems pretty good down between 10 and 20#. Different ranges for different people. Keep your 35# gauge for desert sand. Not a problem, you're stuck a few hundred feet from the gravel/blacktop. I inflate with compressed CO2. May not be the best, but its easy to carry along and a whole lot faster than a pump. Bought the tanks (10# and 20# depending on where I'm going) just for this. If I had a beer tap, it would work for that, too.

For anybody checking their street car, this Milton analog inflator gauge is more than sufficient (1st link). Also pretty bullet proof.
If you must, get a good digital to check it against and follow the instructions to adjust in the second video.
The third link is the Milton catalog for those that want more choice.
Before I spent a lot on a more accurate gauge, I'd make sure I have a good compressor with reliable source of dry air.
Find the model you want then do a search with the model number for the best price.

https://www.amazon.com/Milton-...flator/dp/B0002SRL20

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzLpQy_-C0U

https://www.miltonindustries.c.../inflator-gages.html

I used to be anal about checking tire pressures weekly, but now that I'm old and mobility limited, getting myself low enough to do this is a chore. Well, it's not that hard for me to get down, it's getting back up that's the problem.

Easy solution: Discount Tire has a drive-through lane where they will check your pressures and inflate to the requested value, and quickly assess tire condition. No charge, it's FREE, whether or not the tires were purchased at Discount Tire.

I think they use a 78% nitrogen blend.

quote:

Originally posted by sourdough44:
If checking fairly often, you’re already in the upper 85% of drivers.

Do you mean the upper 15%?

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:
I used to be anal about checking tire pressures weekly, but now that I'm old and mobility limited, getting myself low enough to do this is a chore. Well, it's not that hard for me to get down, it's getting back up that's the problem.

Easy solution: Discount Tire has a drive-through lane where they will check your pressures and inflate to the requested value, and quickly assess tire condition. No charge, it's FREE, whether or not the tires were purchased at Discount Tire.

I think they use a 78% nitrogen blend.

But your tires wouldn't be cold unless DT is close by.

The App for my Charger shows the TP on my phone. My pressure gauge was used to check the accuracy of the App and its +/- one pound. Satisfies me.
What I need is a small portable inflator thats of decent quality without being exorbitantly expensive. The last one I bought would overheat while pumping up a motorcycle tire and quit. Chinese POS.