Dash warning light came on and I checked all 4 tires manually. All showed good and within a pound of each other. The gauge I used was a monkey grip brand that's a few years old.

Headed to discount tire and their calibrated machine showed all 4 3lbs low.

How long do gauges last? Is there a difference between the $2 model on the store counter and the $15 fancy pants version on the shelf? Is one brand better than another?

I often air down my tires and would like to know that I'm not ruining my tires when I air them back up.

Dan

You can spend $3 on a stick gauge or hundreds on a professional quality gauge. Accuracy , repeatability , durability , are all things to consider .

Find one of these at your local auto parts store and your GTG.
https://www.amazon.com/Slime-2...id=1647806542&sr=8-8

quote:

Originally posted by greyeyezz:

Find one of these at your local auto parts store and your GTG.
https://www.amazon.com/Slime-2...id=1647806542&sr=8-8

That one goes to four bars. By the time I leave the second bar, I can't even read the gauge.

I've got a cheap-o gauge that elevates the rod to read pressure. In comparisons between that reading, my TMS on my truck, what and Discount tires reports is within 1 PSI.

https://www.amazon.com/AstroAI...47813191&sr=8-8&th=1

I've thought about a digital gauge, but meh, it's working.

Buy several, compare them, and expect to buy more.

The Accutire MS-4021R is a digital electronic model that gets excellent reviews for accuracy. I keep one in my wife's car. However, you can expect the battery to be dead when you need it.

The Bell Automotive 22-5-00876-8 pencil gauge costs about $8 and gets excellent revies also. I buy one more than the number of vehicles I have, and then compare them all to each other. Generally they are all within 1 psi. I put one in each vehicle and one in my garage tool box.

You may need a gauge for higher pressures for your spare tire.

Note that the tire shop free air stations may not be at all accurate either. Plus they don't fill to the pressure you want.

The expensive liquid filled dial type gauges may or may not be any good. Avoid anything with a long hose, because that eats up some of the air from your tire, reducing the pressure in your tire. If you have low profile or small tires (e.g. motorcycle) it can be an issue.

Fill you tires when cold. They will gain a few pounds as they warm up. That's ok and expected.

I've found reading the PSI on the dash from the TPMS sensors it runs low. I have to air about 4 pounds over to shut down the low air psi warning. This is both the OEM and replacements I put in. Guages all have to meet standards, the biggest killer of a guage is Slime - if there's any in the stem it will get into the guage and poof $12 goes in the trash, electronic or not.

As long as you don't exceed the max PSI on the sidewall it's good to go. With a low profile sidewall, good pressure is more important than airing down for ride as those tires are prone to damage from potholes. There is simply less room to flex before they impact the sidewall and the industry notes there are more damaged rims now compared to the older 70 series.

I have used this for several years. Vondoir Tire Gauge

I can HIGHLY recommend the Longacre Racing 52-52003 Tire Pressure Gauge. It has a great feature set and I've got ZERO complaints:

- 2-1/2 Inch glow-in-the-dark Face
- 0-60 PSI Range w/ .5 PSI Increments on Scale
- High-flow Air Pressure Release Valve
- Tell-Tale function: HOLDS PRESSURE READING UNTIL RELEASED
- Swivel type Angled Chuck (addl. Ball Style Chuck included)
- Internal Gauge Damper for more accurate readings and longer life!


https://www.amazon.com/Longacr...Deluxe/dp/B0055EFTWU

I purchased this Gauge last year and told my wife to give it to me for Father's Day!

I bought this gauge YEARS ago when I bought a partnership into a Piper Warrior. It has served me well...

Link

quote:

Originally posted by RogB:
https://sigforum.com/eve/forum...810074974#9810074974

Yup! Intercomp for the win!
https://www.intercompracing.co...essure-gauges.html#1

Like what nhracecraft cites but larger 4" dial available besides 2.5" for those of us with older eyes.


You really can't go wrong with either Intercomp or Longacre. In racing circles they are the two most common brands.

Several years ago member henryaz recommended this gauge:

Milton (S-921) Single Chuck Head Pencil Tire Pressure Gauge
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000...BNZ5YZ23K847CKMVHKJG

I bought one and like it very much. Solid brass with good chrome plating. Easy to read – partly because its scale tops out at 50 PSI. Plenty of range for my Hyundai Sonata.

$9 nowadays. About $6 when I bought mine.

Longacre Racing - Excellent products.

I have one of those also.

quote:

Originally posted by erj_pilot:
I bought this gauge YEARS ago when I bought a partnership into a Piper Warrior. It has served me well...

Link

 
Milton stick gauges are the way to go (made in the USA). I have about six, which all agree, and that's close enough for all but racing. I've tossed a couple that did not agree with the rest, since they don't cost much. They are available in a wide variety of psi ranges. I got a 2-20 and a 5-50, both of which read in 1 psi increments for easy reading. The 2-20 is for my wife's ATV which takes 7 psi, and the 5-50 for our various yard utility carts, all of which take 30 psi.
 
For general auto/truck use, I have the 2-120 and the heavy duty 10-160 service gauge. They both read in 2 psi increments.

Yeah, um, take it from me, check your spare tire pressure on a regular basis too.

One can be really disappointed if needing and expecting a non-flat spare.

That is all.

Agree on Milton. Cheap, accurate. USA made. Best of all, when the pressure pushes the stick with the numbers out, it stays right there so can walk over the the light and read it at your leisure. Lasts for years.