I run 80 lbs in my truck tires and the cars get 35 or so. I believe that the pencil gauges may not be accurate at all ends of their range. I really don't care as long as all 4 tires are measured by the same gauge. That eliminates having a soft tire.
Tire pressure gauge problem
- Thread starter LVSteve
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Besides the Safety Seal plug kits in our vehicles, I keep an
80 cubic foot SCUBA tank that a pro-dive shop buddy,
set up a regulator system for tire inflation and air brushes.
Dry air for the air brushes, for yacht paint touch up, but still use two water traps.
A buddy who was the Gibson guitar refinisher in Florida,
had more water traps than a golf course, on his paint system, and would occasionally have a cherry sunburst get wet.
80 cubic foot SCUBA tank that a pro-dive shop buddy,
set up a regulator system for tire inflation and air brushes.
Dry air for the air brushes, for yacht paint touch up, but still use two water traps.
A buddy who was the Gibson guitar refinisher in Florida,
had more water traps than a golf course, on his paint system, and would occasionally have a cherry sunburst get wet.
Depending on the year, model you might have 5 tires to check. Unfortunately many people miss that!
My last 4 Vettes had a very good tire pressure system. Of course I only use that for reference. When I add or subtract air I do it with a analog gauge. FWIW the analog always was a pound different that the car gauge showed.
Do not forget that there is a old rule of thumb that a tire gains or looses about 1 pound for every 10 degree change in ambient temperature. With my year around daily drivers that could be a gross total of 12 pounds difference over the year. Of course tire pressures are set a few times a year.
Saw a Youtube video where the guy did a comparison. He bought 2 of every gauge he tested. The one he thought was the best was the Harbor Freight Merlin digital tire inflator. It was $30 but, I got it and so far so good.
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I use a 0-60psi gauge from Joes Racing. These have been accurate and dependable for me for a long time. I think I have three of them now. Use them on both the race cars and street cars and my motorcycle. Also reasonably priced. Amazon has them as well.
Summitt Racing - Joes Racing tire gauge
Thanks - just ordered one of these!
Chances are that your tire gauge has a standard watch battery inside. I have a digital gauge and battery died after many years of use. I pried open the case and it had a watch battery, so picked up a new one and the gauge now works like new. Worth a check. Don't know what brand I have, but looked like this one and it was cheap.
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Interesting thread and I appreciate the recommendations.
Since I first had a vehicle with A TPM system, I've only found one gauge (an analog from RhinoGauge.com) that matched exactly what my TPM indicates. Having said that, I still don't know if either actually states the exact pressure but I'm only going to chase this issue so far.
Since I first had a vehicle with A TPM system, I've only found one gauge (an analog from RhinoGauge.com) that matched exactly what my TPM indicates. Having said that, I still don't know if either actually states the exact pressure but I'm only going to chase this issue so far.
OP
LVSteve
Member
Chances are that your tire gauge has a standard watch battery inside. I have a digital gauge and battery died after many years of use. I pried open the case and it had a watch battery, so picked up a new one and the gauge now works like new. Worth a check. Don't know what brand I have, but looked like this one and it was cheap.
I had two examples of my digital gauge, made by Radio Shack. That dates them
. When one of them quit, I opened it up and fitted another battery. It still didn't work.I suspect the problem I am having is a mechanical peculiarity with the valves on my wife's car. The gauge seems to work fine on the other vehicles in the stable.
I take my car to the dealer for periodic check ups....
Around these here parts they's called tar gauges.
OP
LVSteve
Member
Too much time between dealer visits for the way the temperatures vary here.
This one has severed me well for years.
I have two pencil gauges. They read different by 8 psi.One pencil gauge reads about a pound off from the digital one I trust. There is a digital gauge in my compressor, and estimate it under-reads by three or four pounds. Trouble is when you look at the specs of many of these devices, +/-10% is not uncommon. When you are looking at at least 30 psi in a tire, it is an error that can make quite a difference in ride and handling.
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Pencil/stick gauges are notoriously unreliable for accuracy. I NEVER use them anymore.
On our hunting trip, the idiot tire light came on.
We found out that it was the right rear tire, that had the sensor going off.
Before leaving for home we used the pensil stick to check with the "lighter"
air pump, that we used to put more air in the tire.
The pump unit was euro readings, so the user used the "Stick" to get the PSI.
The light went of at 34 pounds.
We found out that it was the right rear tire, that had the sensor going off.
Before leaving for home we used the pensil stick to check with the "lighter"
air pump, that we used to put more air in the tire.
The pump unit was euro readings, so the user used the "Stick" to get the PSI.
The light went of at 34 pounds.
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Was in the 'tire business' in the earlier days of my youth. (did tire installs for Montgomery Ward while going to school.)
Stick gages were all that were available at that point in history, for me.
Now I use ONE digital pressure gauge.
Both of my vehicles have sensors and I diligently try to maintain exact pressures so I can readily see any deviations.
Now, you do know that you can calibrate your sensors, right?
My wife, who has a propensity to pick up any and all stray nails, told me the low tire light was on.
I had her take it to Discount Tire company just up the road.
She called me and said that three of the sensors were bad and they wanted to replace them. $60.00 apiece.
I told her to bring it home.
I used my compressor and digital air gage to match all four tires at 30 psi. Then I calibrated the sensors.
Then I put 32 psi in each tire.
This is done at ambient temperature.
Of course driving will raise the pressure incrementally as it warms up.
But, if there is a loss of pressure below 30 psi then the sensor will notify. As it should.
I never had to replace any of those 'bad' sensors.
We sold that car and moved on to the Fords we have now.
I do love the Ford Pass option for my vehicles.
When my wife travels to her parents house, 500 miles away, I can monitor her location and the status of her fuel and the air pressure in each tire.
I really do appreciate those options.
Never had a failure with a hand held digital pressure gage.
bdGreen
Stick gages were all that were available at that point in history, for me.
Now I use ONE digital pressure gauge.
Both of my vehicles have sensors and I diligently try to maintain exact pressures so I can readily see any deviations.
Now, you do know that you can calibrate your sensors, right?
My wife, who has a propensity to pick up any and all stray nails, told me the low tire light was on.
I had her take it to Discount Tire company just up the road.
She called me and said that three of the sensors were bad and they wanted to replace them. $60.00 apiece.
I told her to bring it home.
I used my compressor and digital air gage to match all four tires at 30 psi. Then I calibrated the sensors.
Then I put 32 psi in each tire.
This is done at ambient temperature.
Of course driving will raise the pressure incrementally as it warms up.
But, if there is a loss of pressure below 30 psi then the sensor will notify. As it should.
I never had to replace any of those 'bad' sensors.
We sold that car and moved on to the Fords we have now.
I do love the Ford Pass option for my vehicles.
When my wife travels to her parents house, 500 miles away, I can monitor her location and the status of her fuel and the air pressure in each tire.
I really do appreciate those options.
Never had a failure with a hand held digital pressure gage.
bdGreen
Jack Flash
Member
I just saw this video tire gauge comparison tests from Project Farm on YouTube. Very informative. Spoiler alert: JACO came out on top.
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHfv9FoPQnY"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHfv9FoPQnY[/ame]
Hope this post is better late than never.
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHfv9FoPQnY"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHfv9FoPQnY[/ame]
Hope this post is better late than never.
OP
LVSteve
Member
Pretty thorough test. Yes, the Jaco digital is definitely top dog. I'm surprised how accurate that Etenwolf gauge is given its small size.
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The dial gauge style works great until it gets dropped. Then it can be way off! Adjusting it isn't hard, but requires it to be opened and be adjusted by bending the metal tube inside. If they are not dropped they are usually accurate to 1 psi. I find the old cheap pencil style relatively accurate as well. I check them all against my Tire Pressure Monitor on both of our cars. They are all pretty darn close to +/- 1/2 pound! I have had to adjust a few dial models once in a while but again, if not dropped they are great. The pencil style is harder to read but definitely more durable.
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BTW, I also subscribe to Project Farm's channel and watch his video's, I just have to do so when my wife is out of the house - lol. His voice and rapid monotone way of speaking drives her nuts. I do find him a bit hard to listen to for more than 5 minutes as well, but he does give an excellent and thorough review of most items he tests. There are times he neglects to test some of the products in a category that he should, but overall a decent reviewer. Just wish he'd work on his speech and delivery a little as they are somewhat hard to take. Other than that, he seems like a decent enough and legit Youtube reviewer.
Jack Flash
Member
And low price. Sounds like a good one to get if money is very tight.
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