Pencil Tire Gauge Prices

[NibbanaBanana]

My new Mitsubishi Mirage came with a pencil type tire pressure gauge. I used it to check the tires and got two very different readings. Checked once and it read 35, checked again and it read 55. So decided to replace. Bought a bunch at WalMart to keep in each car for a little over $1 each. Made in PRC of course.

Thought about getting a higher quality gauge. Made in USA maybe. Kentools doesn't offer them. Went to snapon.com.
https://shop.snapon.com/product/Pen...uo;s-Choice-Pencil-Tire-Pressure-Gauge/PGPS50
I'll summarize. $83. $83 for a made in USA pencil type tire pressure gauge. Don't know what to think.

 

[Zee09]

My new Mitsubishi Mirage came with a pencil type tire pressure gauge. I used it to check the tires and got two very different readings. Checked once and it read 35, checked again and it read 55. So decided to replace. Bought a bunch at WalMart to keep in each car for a little over $1 each. Made in PRC of course.

Thought about getting a higher quality gauge. Made in USA maybe. Kentools doesn't offer them. Went to snapon.com.
https://shop.snapon.com/product/Pencil-Tire-Pressure-Gauges/Master’s-Choice-Pencil-Tire-Pressure-Gauge/PGPS50
I'll summarize. $83. $83 for a made in USA pencil type tire pressure gauge. Don't know what to think.

Do a Nancy
Just say no.....

 

[zfasts03]

I use Milton. Lots of quality products to choose from, I think they are still mostly USA made.

Fairly priced.
One example:
https://www.amazon.com/Milton-S-921...1753964972&sprefix=milton,aps,123&sr=8-3&th=1

 

[Slick3914]

My new Mitsubishi Mirage came with a pencil type tire pressure gauge. I used it to check the tires and got two very different readings. Checked once and it read 35, checked again and it read 55. So decided to replace. Bought a bunch at WalMart to keep in each car for a little over $1 each. Made in PRC of course.

Thought about getting a higher quality gauge. Made in USA maybe. Kentools doesn't offer them. Went to snapon.com.
https://shop.snapon.com/product/Pencil-Tire-Pressure-Gauges/Master’s-Choice-Pencil-Tire-Pressure-Gauge/PGPS50
I'll summarize. $83. $83 for a made in USA pencil type tire pressure gauge. Don't know what to think.

$83? They are smoking some good stuff!

 

[Dave P.]

Not bad for 24 carat gold!

 

[NibbanaBanana]

I use Milton. Lots of quality products to choose from, I think they are still mostly USA made.

Fairly priced.
One example:
https://www.amazon.com/Milton-S-921-Single-Pencil-Pressure/dp/B0002SQYTG/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2K8Z560LIR6VS&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Vu9cCgF3wZAuG8VMsEGjtHI7b1_0hI-DIr1I8Xa2bd34QB-JeCQ91G15sfHkdKueHGruYQKYA_idUFUgrOvE7rERw39eop5PAU3kJKbk00tSqTgEGzZUvSsem3XWJU6t6EAJHpmwlMzRfT_92P6QAe5cZeYELQirlT2T0fNovuPUoaGVlXYiG3QfG_BHrq10iDGtX3S3kjTwAHvzv17enSdMXxWcND0CYkuVQ9YZT5Oqvdw8XGxusftgrBEfWOjastPqYV4gbv_6rl_-CADoGi4PPv39eybHrOZ-MN3faeU.dcUA7Mh9BXkGfnSqZuC1uIN0SJk_UwL-e9uD8T6_pnQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=milton+tire+pressure+gauge&qid=1753964972&sprefix=milton,aps,123&sr=8-3&th=1

Thanks. I'll pick some up.

Snap-On does make great products and I'm all on board to support USA manufacturers but something is disconnected there. And I know is it partly a reflection of the plummeting value of the US currency but that just doesn't make sense (to me at least).

 

[mdtn952]

Milton.. consistent quality

 

[John105]

This is ridiculously accurate. Is the pencil type sought for saving space, or putting in one's shirt pocket? I'd recommend keeping this in the glove box and knowing what the psi really is. This also shows Costco's inflators to be dead on. Not only that you'd have an extra $53 in your pocket. That would buy a case of Twinkies and probably a McD's 20 piece nuggets

https://a.co/d/06V0wkZ

 

[97prizm]

My new Mitsubishi Mirage came with a pencil type tire pressure gauge. I used it to check the tires and got two very different readings. Checked once and it read 35, checked again and it read 55. So decided to replace. Bought a bunch at WalMart to keep in each car for a little over $1 each. Made in PRC of course.

Thought about getting a higher quality gauge. Made in USA maybe. Kentools doesn't offer them. Went to snapon.com.
https://shop.snapon.com/product/Pencil-Tire-Pressure-Gauges/Master’s-Choice-Pencil-Tire-Pressure-Gauge/PGPS50
I'll summarize. $83. $83 for a made in USA pencil type tire pressure gauge. Don't know what to think.

The problem is that the USA has lost the ability to manufacture anything small. Check out smarter every day channel where just getting machine shops/factories to make a made In the USA grill brush was an ordeal.

 

[rijndael]

I only use digital ones now: https://www.amazon.com/Topeak-60100005-D2-SmartGauge/dp/B0051LQ0X4

It does Presta and Schrader.

 

[John105]

...the plummeting value of the US currency but that just doesn't make sense (to me at least).

How is US currency plummeting? Compared to what? If anything, it's stronger vs 15 years ago.

 

[Marcozi]

Just buy a digital gauge for $15.

 

[Marcozi]

How is US currency plummeting? Compared to what? If anything, it's stronger vs 15 years ago.

Actually, the US dollar is down about 15% YTD versus a basket of currencies. It's down about 2-0% versus the Swiss franc.

Source: The Economist.

 

[John105]

Actually, the US dollar is down about 15% YTD versus a basket of currencies. It's down about 2-0% versus the Swiss franc.

Source: The Economist.

edit copy that

 

[SOUNDMAN5000]

I know you may have a need for a pocket gauge but if I may offer my 2 cents. It takes a lot to impress me and I'm IMPRESSED!

I purchased this Made In The USA Joes Racing tire gauge from Amazon and in this world we now live of import junk, I was blown away with the build of this thing!

I ended up loosing this gauge ( perhaps someone liked it as well as I did ) but I had to have another so I purchased the same one twice!

I can't believe its only $25! Don't believe its as good as I say? Look at the 2,233 (4.6) STAR Amazon reviews!

I got more than I expected with this product, feels very Heavy HD PRO. ( lower PSI and higher PSI ) versions are also available.

AMAZON Joes Racing LINK

 

[John105]

Actually, the US dollar is down about 15% YTD versus a basket of currencies. It's down about 2-0% versus the Swiss franc.

Source: The Economist.

gotcha, ytd. jmoymmv it doesn't cause a Snap On gauge to be $83. I think it's the build it and they will buy conundrum. Maybe it's more of a collectors item than a tool

 

[AZjeff]

Bought a bunch at WalMart to keep in each car for a little over $1 each. Made in PRC of course.

What kind of precision do you expect for $1? +/- 5psi? 10 psi? There are 2 things you want, accuracy and repeatability.

Suggest getting a decent tire gauge like some listed to keep at home and use it to check the $1 stuff you want to keep in your cars.

The question is how do you confirm that the reading of any gauge you get is accurate unless it comes with a cert of accuracy.

That JOES gauge looks good but here's what their website says about it: (good to know)

JOES Economy tire pressure gauges utilize a ‘Bourdon Tube’ design that includes a metal pressure tube along with a small gear rack. This is a delicate but accurate mechanism that is sensitive to shock, over-pressurization and vibration. It is best for garage use.

This gauge head technology is inexpensive and is very common in the vast majority of entry level gauges on the market today. While this is the most affordable gauge we offer, the Bourdon tube design is very sensitive to shock, vibration and high pressure spikes. This gauge CAN NOT be dropped, over-pressurized or see heavy vibration because it will no longer be accurate and it cannot be re-calibrated.

 

[Hermann]

I use Milton. Lots of quality products to choose from, I think they are still mostly USA made.

Fairly priced.
One example:
https://www.amazon.com/Milton-S-921-Single-Pencil-Pressure/dp/B0002SQYTG/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2K8Z560LIR6VS&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Vu9cCgF3wZAuG8VMsEGjtHI7b1_0hI-DIr1I8Xa2bd34QB-JeCQ91G15sfHkdKueHGruYQKYA_idUFUgrOvE7rERw39eop5PAU3kJKbk00tSqTgEGzZUvSsem3XWJU6t6EAJHpmwlMzRfT_92P6QAe5cZeYELQirlT2T0fNovuPUoaGVlXYiG3QfG_BHrq10iDGtX3S3kjTwAHvzv17enSdMXxWcND0CYkuVQ9YZT5Oqvdw8XGxusftgrBEfWOjastPqYV4gbv_6rl_-CADoGi4PPv39eybHrOZ-MN3faeU.dcUA7Mh9BXkGfnSqZuC1uIN0SJk_UwL-e9uD8T6_pnQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=milton+tire+pressure+gauge&qid=1753964972&sprefix=milton,aps,123&sr=8-3&th=1

I have that one and it has performed well for at least 2 decades

 

[supton]

I somehow wound up with a stack of pencil gauges. So one day I took an inflated tire and "tested" them all against it. I figured, the tire was not going to lose that much pressure, so all were getting the same applied pressure. Results were all over the place. I threw out the worst... but in the end, I just don't trust them. I'll check out the linked Milton but these days I just grab my Makita inflator and "trust" that digital readout. Maybe I shouldn't?

I did have a cheap digital readout that I got for $10 or $15. It suddenly died one day so I guess its quality was related to its price.

 

[JeffKeryk]

Milton for the win. I also have a Milwaukee battery inflator... FYI I don't buy that brand anymore.