Tire pressure gauges- don't let the package provide confidence in the measurements

[GON]

Checking tire pressure this morning before work. Using the fancy looking accugauge. Thought the readings may beoff, so used two other gauges.

None of the three provided exactly the same readings, but the built in gauge and the cheap spine gauge provided results +/- 1lbs of each other. The accugauge was off by over eight lbs.

Guessing one may need to buy a aviation air gauge for confidence in tire air pressure.

 

[Hall]

I have one of those round dial-type gauges - like it a lot because it's so easy to read. Mine seems accurate too, well, at least if I check with 1-2 others and it's close. The most convenient is the built-in type but the readings/markings are way too sloppy. You basically get "around 30" or "about 35" if you're aiming for 30-36 psi.

 

[KrisZ]

I bought a cheapie dial style gauge similar to yours, but with an extension hose, as it makes it much easier to check the pressures on my motorcycles from Amazon and it seems to be close enough to my pencil style and the gauge on my inflator. That’s good enough for me.

 

[brianl703]

One thing I noticed about those round dial gauges...

...the more you drop them, the more inaccurate they get.

 

[Hall]

One thing I noticed about those round dial gauges...

...the more you drop them, the more inaccurate they get.

Mine actually has a rubber, ribbed boot around it. I haven't dropped it yet either.

 

[CKN]

I find a couple of pounds either way doesn't ruin the tire nor my day......

 

[Mickey D]

I have a dial gauge from Slime with the Dually hose/end. I find it’s been as accurate as my commercial dual head inflator. Very satisfied with the slime gauge.

 

[DuckRyder]

Milton and U.S.A. made…

 

[DwightFrye]

I bought two dial type gauges made by Vondior. They came with a certificate of calibration. I tested them and both read consistently the same. Then I compared them to an old dial type gauge that was probably 20 years old. That gauge was off by 3 lbs compared to the Vondior gauges. I used to run my tires +1 lb. over the recommended pressure so I was really under inflated by 2 lbs per tire for many years.

Then I compared the new Vondior gauges with the digital readout of each tire on the dashboard display of my Jaguar. The Jaguar reads 1 lb. less than the dial gauges. Close enough for me. I stopped using a pencil type gauge decades ago but when I checked an old one that I had lying around it too was about 3 lbs low compared to the new calibrated gauges.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072Z4SBN9/ref=dp_iou_view_item?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Nukeman7]

I have found this digital tire gauge to be the easiest to use and consistently accurate. It also does a great job of aligning on the valve stem (rubber or metal) for those of us with all thumbs.

 

[SaberOne]

I’ve been using the Longacre for about 20-years and it’s still hanging in there. Frankly, I like dial gauges but now that I’m older a digital display is easier to read.

 

[oldcodger]

Unless you have a calibrated and certified gauge to compare with you are just guessing. I have always just taken my readings with a grain of salt and hoped for the best.

 

[Hermann]

The Milton I purchased on Amazon 5 years ago, has matched the TPMS within 1 psi on all 3 of my vehicles in that period. It was like $7

 

[RooflessVW]

Milton and U.S.A. made…

And they can actually be calibrated.

 

[Ursatdx]

Milton and U.S.A. made…

Milton's are Made in USA with outsourced components.
I've ben buying and using Milton gauges for 40 years. Used to be ale to send them back to be refurbished.
Todays Milton's cant handle the abuse they once did. Yes, they can be recalibrated but the question is what is your benchmark gauge?
I use an old trailer tire and set it to 40PSI and then test pressure using a high quality 14 " tire/truck gauge. If they're with a pound or so I'm Ok.

 

[brianl703]

My experience with those digital tire gauges is...

...one drop and they're completely broken.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

I’ve been using the Longacre for about 20-years and it’s still hanging in there. Frankly, I like dial gauges but now that I’m older a digital display is easier to read.

View attachment 166312

I use the same one.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

Checking tire pressure this morning before work. Using the fancy looking accugauge. Thought the readings may beoff, so used two other gauges.

None of the three provided exactly the same readings, but the built in gauge and the cheap spine gauge provided results +/- 1lbs of each other. The accugauge was off by over eight lbs.

Guessing one may need to buy a aviation air gauge for confidence in tire air pressure.

View attachment 166300

Nothing fancy about the Accugauge. It's cheap for a reason.

 

[Kira]

Gotta be >40 years ago when my dear mom bought 2 rubber clad dial gauges with cloth hoses from Brookstone.
While I'm completely aware of calibration, I have never done it.

Ha, the closest I've ever been to calibration was buying a pros old oscilloscope which had been calibrated annually and bore a row of stickers.

Since my tires have always worn straight and true, I arrogantly conclude my tire gauges and my mechanic's alignment tools are in spec.

 

[D60]

I find a couple of pounds either way doesn't ruin the tire nor my day......

No but 8lbs is absurd. Especially if it's something like my JL where I run ~25

I've had similar experiences to @GON where Milton gauges have sometimes left me unimpressed while cheap bulk AutoZone specials are seemingly accurate and repeatable.

I don't know what the answer is but I'm gun-shy on name brand or more expensive gauges now. If it's a crapshoot either way I'll take my chances with inexpensive and at least have less money at stake