Tire gauge?

[jymbee]

Tons of options out there but would like advice as to what models would offer the most accurate measurements. Digital or "analog" preferred?

 

[BIG JOE1]

Tons of options out there but would like advice as to what models would offer the most accurate measurements. Digital or "analog" preferred?

I have both Analog & Digital, by Jayco, and their tire pressure checker. All three read indentacle with each other. got'm from Amazon.com.

 

[triplethreat]

Longacre brand offers gauges that are guaranteed to be accurate to 1/2 of one percent.  At 60 psi for example, that would be .3 psi.  They aren't inexpensive, but I guess it depends on just how accurate you want to be.  I've got a 0-60 psi gauge for my motorcycle tires and I had it tested after I bought it, using a machine that is certified annually and is accurate to within 1/000th psi.  I had the guy start at 20 psi and increment it 2 psi, all the way to 60 psi.  It was within the +/- one half of one percent at every test point.

 

[Gizmo]

In my experience, I have found little to no difference between a quality analog tire pressure gauges and a quality digital tire pressure gauges.  The plus side to digital is easier to read the result.  The downside is they run on batteries, which have to be changed and usually at the wrong time.  For this reason I am back to my standard pencil style analog which is serving me well.

 

[SpencerPJ]

I like digital, and find them much easier to read.  Accuracy is usually petty good, look on Amazon.  The sun shining on a tire can raise it 3 psi, I don't care if I'm a 1/2 psi off.  (but must admit, I have a cheesy stick one in my glovebox as well) 

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

First of all, accuracy is not critical and few gauges are better than +/- 3% when new and most deteriorate after a year or so anyway.  Sometimes a gauge gets damage or clogged up inside, so it's a good idea to have a second gauge to make an occasional comparison. If not your own gauge, one of a friends or maybe a local tire shop.  I's ok if the two gauges are a few psi apart - its the change in that difference that will alert you to calibration problems.

A pencil type analog gauge (where the metal road shoots out under pressure) is subject to user error (especially if your eyesight is not great) but the mechanism is accurate enough for practical purposes. An analog dial gauge is a solid performer, but digital gauges are light weight and easy to read. I like the Accutire digital gauges, but there are several good and inexpensive brands.
https://www.amazon.com/Accutire-MS-4710B-Motorcycle-Digital-Gauge/dp/B000YQQZCW/
The batteries in a digital gauge should last for years in normal use, but it is something you have to remember to change once in awhile.

 

[triplethreat]

First of all, accuracy is not critical and few gauges are better than +/- 3% when new and most deteriorate after a year or so anyway.  Sometimes a gauge gets damage or clogged up inside, so it's a good idea to have a second gauge to make an occasional comparison. If not your own gauge, one of a friends or maybe a local tire shop.  I's ok if the two gauges are a few psi apart - its the change in that difference that will alert you to calibration problems.

A pencil type analog gauge (where the metal road shoots out under pressure) is subject to user error (especially if your eyesight is not great) but the mechanism is accurate enough for practical purposes. An analog dial gauge is a solid performer, but digital gauges are light weight and easy to read. I like the Accutire digital gauges, but there are several good and inexpensive brands.
https://www.amazon.com/Accutire-MS-4710B-Motorcycle-Digital-Gauge/dp/B000YQQZCW/
The batteries in a digital gauge should last for years in normal use, but it is something you have to remember to change once in awhile.

I agree, absolute precise readings aren't critical in most instances, but they were in my motorcycle tire application, thus the reason I bought one that is so accurate.  The particular tires I was running would start hot tearing (rear tire) if the tire pressure got over 25 psi while on the track, so charting tire temperatures/pressures were necessary in order make a tire last longer than one day on the track.  Even 26-27 psi hot of the track would cause tearing.....and at $200 a tire, it was kind of important.

 

[mel s]

Tons of options out there but would like advice as to what models would offer the most accurate measurements. Digital or "analog" preferred?

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61LzPbLX4IL._SL1200_.jpg

 

[Ghostman]

Your tire pressure will fluctuate at least 10% While driving so any tire gauge should be fine. I like the gauge hooked to the inflator. Don't have to go back and forth.

 

[triplethreat]

Your tire pressure will fluctuate at least 10% While driving so any tire gauge should be fine. I like the gauge hooked to the inflator. Don't have to go back and forth.

And tires are engineered/built with that in mind.  But it is still important to inflate to the correct cold pressure before the start of the drive.

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

I too like the gauge on the inflator, but I always cross-check with my Accutire digital gauge after inflation. My gauge reads 1-2 psi under the inflator dial gauge, but that's on a 100 psi tire.

Tire pros recommend keeping a pristine gauge stored away to check the calibration on the one you carry in tool box or whatever. That's good practice, cause even the gauges used in tire shops get out of calibration from constant use and hard knocks.

 

[Gizmo]

First of all, accuracy is not critical and few gauges are better than +/- 3% when new and most deteriorate after a year or so anyway.  Sometimes a gauge gets damage or clogged up inside, so it's a good idea to have a second gauge to make an occasional comparison. If not your own gauge, one of a friends or maybe a local tire shop.  I's ok if the two gauges are a few psi apart - its the change in that difference that will alert you to calibration problems.

A pencil type analog gauge (where the metal road shoots out under pressure) is subject to user error (especially if your eyesight is not great) but the mechanism is accurate enough for practical purposes. An analog dial gauge is a solid performer, but digital gauges are light weight and easy to read. I like the Accutire digital gauges, but there are several good and inexpensive brands.
https://www.amazon.com/Accutire-MS-4710B-Motorcycle-Digital-Gauge/dp/B000YQQZCW/
The batteries in a digital gauge should last for years in normal use, but it is something you have to remember to change once in awhile.

Agree with this.  The Accutire gauge you referenced is indeed a good one, I had one and found it to be reliable, however as I now have a DRW truck I was unable to use it on the inner rear tires for obvious reasons.  I now have a double chuck truck style pencil gauge which I found to be within .5 of a $50.00 digital dual chuck truck gauge that quit working on me. 

 

[kdbgoat]

DW has a digital gauge that Runs right on the gauges at a couple of tire shops here. I have two Schrader's and both read 2 pounds low compared to her's and the tire shop's. Once a person knows how the gauges read, consistency is the key.

 

[grashley]

There is a big difference between Precision and accuracy!

A Precise gauge will give you the same reading time after time, i.e.  85.0  85.0  85.5  85.5  85.0  84.5  85.0
The actual pressure may be 87, but the gauge is precise.  See Goat's comment above.

Accuracy measures how close to the "true" number the gauge reads.  A gauge that measured 87.0  89.5  86.0  84.0  88.5  91.0  84.0  would be considered accurate - the average value was 87.0.  However, the precision is horrible!

 

[triplethreat]

There is a big difference between Precision and accuracy!

A Precise gauge will give you the same reading time after time, i.e.  85.0  85.0  85.5  85.5  85.0  84.5  85.0
The actual pressure may be 87, but the gauge is precise.  See Goat's comment above.

Accuracy measures how close to the "true" number the gauge reads.  A gauge that measured 87.0  89.5  86.0  84.0  88.5  91.0  84.0  would be considered accurate - the average value was 87.0.  However, the precision is horrible!

Absolutely true my friend!  Nice post!

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

Absolutely true, but also absolutely academic in relevance to this use.  An old expression comes to mind: "Measured with a micrometer but cut with an axe".