How can you possibly trust your tire gauge?

I keep pencil gauges around as a last resort. I found two identical brands, purchased at different times that read differently, so I don't count on them at all. But I've had a couple of digitals go crazy on me too and I ended up with four over-inflated tires. I have a dial gauge in my drawer right now that reads 4 PSI higher than any other gauge or the TPMS. My method to be somewhat accurate is to use two different digitals and compare them to what the TPMS says. If they're all within one PSI of each other on the same tire, I'm satisfied.
 
About 20 years old and still going strong…

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ARCOgraphite said:
I find pencils more robust due to their simple operating principle and mechanism. Bought a fancy 0-50psig dial gauge last year - doggone thing experienced a one time 8" drop and now it's done.

If you are at WM grab three of the same model gauges and check them on a bicycle in store with balloon tires. Toss the one that doesn't agree. Modal selection. Yes you can compare five samples, but someone in a blue vest with flair may get inquisitive.

p.s.: Some have hard rubber gaskets on the head, and you loose 3 pounds trying to get a repeatable reading
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That's the handy dandiest nugget I've gleaned from this forum in months. Much better than anything up in the oil sections.

SubLGT said:
Project Farm tested 23 different tire pressure gauges (2 samples each, for a total of 46 gauges).
The summary chart is at time point 18:45.

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Project Farm is the Dark Lord of You-Tube per BITOG. Or is that the excitable guy who makes oil videos? Maybe it depends on the day.....
 
That is strange to get so many different readings with different gauges. I keep two or three pencil gauges in the glove box and also keep air compressors with built in gauges in each vehicle and have never had much of a difference at all in the psi reading across different ones. AGAIN- VERY strange issue getting so many different readings. Try using the gauge on one of your compressors to see which one it comes close to and ditch the ones that are waaay off.
 
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I have several guages and too much experience with them. Don't use pencil type, never accurate. Got a guage on my compressor that perfectly matches my compression tester, that perfectly matches my talking digital guage. Must be right.
Digital talking guage can take multiple readings off the same tire, as many as you want till the tire drops .5 pound.

As far as TPMS goes they aren't very accurate. I can set all 4 tires perfectly and get 4 different readings. Not bad but 2-3 psi variance. Of course my digital reads to .5 psi and the TPMS doesn't.
 
How accurate does tire pressure need to be? Manufacturers cannot expect people to check tire pressure more than once a month. Tires will loose air over time even with no leaks. And pressure will change from the morning when it's 20F to mid day when it's 40F out. You loose a little air just by checking the tire pressure.
 
Donald said:
How accurate does tire pressure need to be? Manufacturers cannot expect people to check tire pressure more than once a month. Tires will loose air over time even with no leaks. And pressure will change from the morning when it's 20F to mid day when it's 40F out. You loose a little air just by checking the tire pressure.
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I check ours in the garage about 2 times a month. It is so easy now because I use the gauge that is on the battery operated , hand held mini compressor I keep in the trunks. I am planning to buy one of those wall/mount air station compressors I saw for sale a few days ago at Walmart. Not expensive @ less than $60 and they come with mounting hardware as well as about 50ft of hose that is stored when not in use wrapped up on the unit itself.



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I just bought truck tires at Costco. I now see they have a new self service pump, with a setting for setting pressure on the keypad for nitrogen. I did my daughter's tires. She lives about 6 blocks away.
Set pressure on keypad, then hook up. The chuck is kind of crappy the way it attaches.

I would think it is pretty accurate? I have about 6-7 gauges. I need to find out what is accurate..........this thread has motivated me........ in a sick disfunctional way............🤣
 
oilboy123 said:
I just bought truck tires at Costco. I now see they have a new self service pump, with a setting for setting pressure on the keypad for nitrogen. I did my daughter's tires. She lives about 6 blocks away.
Set pressure on keypad, then hook up. The chuck is kind of crappy the way it attaches.

I would think it is pretty accurate? I have about 6-7 gauges. I need to find out what is accurate..........this thread has motivated me........ in a sick disfunctional way............🤣
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Keeping them at proper psi saves us all money by keeping them from early to uneven wear. Also it is a good / easy thing to do for all the ladies in our lives. (Happy wife= Happy life) PLUS those type of little things can help keep some of us guys stay out of the "dog house" and earn some extra "yard passes" a buddy and I often joke about. ;)
 
How can I buy 4 TPMS sensors on Amazon that not only accurately measure air pressure but transmit it to the car for 29 bucks ….but I can’t buy a single reliable and accurate tire pressure gauge for that same price?

I have digital and analog gauges and none of them read the same as each other or the TPMS sensors in my Chevy. The most expensive is a BMW unit and is 4psi off at a TPMS of 36 psi.
 
I have had good luck with the Rhino USA dial gauge from amazon. Its been to the strip and had some dyno use. Seems to be very close to tpms readings. Also had a Victor brand dial i used forever and somehow got lost.
 
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