RFI: Tire pressure gauge that is accurate

[Leroy Suggs]

Any one with experience with an accurate gauge that does not cost arms and legs?
0-60 psi.

[Guerrero]

Following with interest. The last couple tire gauges I've had were absolute crap.

[HeavyDuty]

Same. My Miata is very sensitive to tire pressure - a pound either way really affects handling. A good gauge for the glovebox would be welcomed.

[RJ]

I've had a couple knocking around in the car or truck, both work equally well, both are "accurate" in the sense they match each other, and they match the TPMS on my cars.

https://shop.slime.com/collections/auto-tire-gauges/products/digital-sport-tire-gauge-5-150-psi?variant=45259038152

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-Digital-Tire-Gauge/50126544

Also: Paging JRB OlongJohnson RevolverRob

[blues]

Years ago, the best pencil gauge seemed to be one from "Syracuse" but I don't know if they're still available or not.

[BehindBlueI's]

ANSI or ASME B40.1 Grade B is the minimum standard you're looking for. That's a good commercial gauges and will be +/- 3%, but a 0-60 gauge should be within 2% at the 30psi point. There are more accurate ones, but expect to start paying significantly more as you move up the scale. Digital ones are apparently more accurate these days, I haven't bought one for roughly 15 years so I can't speak from experience.

https://www.amazon.com/Motion-Pro-Digital-Pressure-Batteries/dp/B07GCS9ZCM for example, is advertised at +/- 0.6 Psi.

[TheRoland]

Depends what you want out of it. If you just want to see if all the tires are almost the same once in a while, any will do.

If you want repeatable over time and to actually read the number, get a dial intended for racing. Analog is usually cheaper and works fine. Longacre is the most common and the one I use. Expect to spend around $80.

[RevolverRob]

My understanding is most current digital gauges are accurate to within .2 of a pound.

This is what I keep in the vehicles: https://www.amazon.com/Accutire-MS-4021B-Digital-Pressure-Gauge/dp/B00080QHMM/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=accutire+ms-4021b&pd_rd_r=c96bcb5b-6899-4c19-b88e-390ae48fbed3&pd_rd_w=r9C7g&pd_rd_wg=y5epu&pf_rd_p=9ab5c07f-ecbc-469e-955f-4dd6d65646b8&pf_rd_r=H2XHX0P72GWTNFY8K1ND&qid=1603201875&sr=8-3

After that you want an ANSI certified, liquid filled, gauge and they start upwards of $75 and go up.

Here's a quick comparison: https://blog.tirerack.com/blog/tire-testing-at-tire-rack/under-pressure-pressure-gauge-vs-ambient-temperature - The digital gauge was a version of the Accutire I linked to above.

[SD]

62058
Intercomp USA purchased on Amazon several years ago. Little pricey but it works

[Kram]

Been using this Joe's Racing gauge for years with zero issues. I found about it while doing motorcycle track days years ago. Some really fast guys that I trust were using it and recommended it to me. Currently $30.


https://www.amazon.com/Joes-Racing-32307-Pressure-Gauge/dp/B00404WDUC/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=joes+tire+pressure+gauge&qid=1603203589&sprefix=joes+tire&sr=8-3

[Nephrology]

I like this one.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GWTAAIA/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[OlongJohnson]

https://www.amazon.com/Motion-Pro-Digital-Pressure-Batteries/dp/B07GCS9ZCM for example, is advertised at +/- 0.6 Psi.

Motion Pro is a leading brand of specialized tools and parts for powersports (motorcycles, etc.). They make really nice stuff, though it's not usually the cheapest solution. Sometimes, it's the only solution. Obviously, they don't make the digital part of that, but I'm sure they've tested the heck out of it before putting their name on it. Would use with confidence, but it's honestly probably overpriced on this one.

Just to note, the +/- 0.6 PSI corresponds to 1% of full scale.


If you want repeatable over time and to actually read the number, get a dial intended for racing. Analog is usually cheaper and works fine. Longacre is the most common and the one I use. Expect to spend around $80.

See comments to follow...


My understanding is most current digital gauges are accurate to within .2 of a pound.

Here's a quick comparison: https://blog.tirerack.com/blog/tire-testing-at-tire-rack/under-pressure-pressure-gauge-vs-ambient-temperature - The digital gauge was a version of the Accutire I linked to above.

Most consumer digital gauges only read to 0.5 lb. There is no way to know whether where the break points are between readings. If 1.5 psi is the difference between the right setting and the car starting to feel not right, I like more resolution. And for things like motorcycles, where I might run 12-14 psi, I like more resolution.

From the Tire Rack test, describing the various gauges:


$50 0-60 psi dial gauge w/bleeder valve
This gauge has been in service for several years, replacing one ruined by a single drop onto the pavement.

That is the big problem with mechanical dial gauges. They are delicate instruments, and the life of a tire pressure gauge is not for delicate instruments. I've had one ruined before, and it led to considerable inconvenience. The gauge had a zero stop peg, and the deflection of the needle was in the negative direction, so it read ~8 psi lower than the actual pressure and I had no way to know until I checked it against a different gauge.

On the other hand, digital gauges seem to just work or not, and seem to be far less susceptible to mechanical shock damage.

Years ago, an automotive enthusiast magazine did a tire pressure gauge comparison, lining up an array of gauges against a quality NIST-traceable mechanical, and the cheap $10 digital (Accutire, if I remember) was as good as any, better than most.

I have a 0.1-PSI reading digital I've used for ~15 years. Probably not still available under that brand anyway. If I needed to replace it, I'd probably go with something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/JACO-ElitePro-Digital-Pressure-Gauge/dp/B07VV78RZ1/

[JRB]

We used these Longacre digital gauges for pretty much everything that mattered and they were very consistent and accurate. There were a few times that it was frustrating to deal with dead batteries in them, but there's a reason there's a joke about how batteries die the instant they're put into a race trailer. Being accurate to 100psi was nice for truck and trailer tires, etc.

https://www.amazon.com/Longacre-52-53036-Gauge-Digital-0-100PSI/dp/B00TO6BLZE/

Edit: x2 to OlongJohnson's vouch for Motion Pro if you really want to just have one ideal kick-ass item that should last a lifetime.

[baddean]

+3 for a Motion Pro gauge.

https://www.motionpro.com/product/08-0402

Have had one for years. Very durable and accurate.
For the OP. I've always been anal about tire pressures on my Motorcycles. Because it could literally be about "arms and legs".

[Leroy Suggs]

I really appreciate all the reply's.
I just ordered the Jayco digital that OlongJohnson recommended.

[Doc_Glock]

I got these for all the cars after being frustrated with dial gauges losing zero. Happy.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002YKB4BS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
(https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002YKB4BS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

Dang it. Thanks to this thread I added this for the garage:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07VV78RZ1/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[SD]

That style used to be my favorite, all our vehicles had at least one. They don't make them the way they used to or maybe i haven't looked hard enough.
I got these for all the cars after being frustrated with dial gauges losing zero. Happy.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002YKB4BS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[Guerrero]

That style used to be my favorite, all our vehicles had at least one. They don't make them the way they used to or maybe i haven't looked hard enough.

The last couple I've had like that have been absolute crap. I have one that belonged to my dad that's at least 40 years old that still works really well.

[Outlier]

The Motion Pros with the angled chuck head do look the ticket for motorcycle work. For stuff involving four wheels, I have been very pleased with my PCL digital gauge/inflator. It is probably a little more applicable to a professional setup though.

[flyrodr]

So . . . are y'all saying my Schrader "Service Tire Gauge", which I found in a "junk drawer" at my late uncle's house about 40 years ago, thus making it a few decades older than that, is maybe not too accurate? That the spring might be a bit weak?

62069

You'd be the same ones that would tell me I need to change the springs in an equally old 1911 too, right?

[rayrevolver]

This can apply to tire gauges:
"A man with a watch knows what time it is. A man with two watches is never sure."

I have the Joes 0-60 that I used when I was racing motorcycles, with a working cold tire pressure 21-32psi. I still use that one but have supplemented with 3 additional gauges. A 0-100 Summit Tools gauge off Amazon (65psi in the trailer tires), another cheapo one that fits on the air compressor, and then a Lowes portable 120v for the travel trailer (below).

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-DC-12V-AC-120V-Dual-Power-Air-Inflator-Power-Source-Car-Electric/1000092575

So I assume the Kobalt is the truth and it matches my Joes at 33-45psi for my cars. The 0-100 is off by about 1 psi.

For my "sports" car I like to use the Kobalt to get me about 1psi higher than the target and then use the Joes to get me down. For the trailer, I select 67psi and run it a few times until it settles on 66psi..

This Long Acre looks nice but yeah I have some Motion Pro tools from the old days that I like. Good kit.


We used these Longacre digital gauges for pretty much everything that mattered and they were very consistent and accurate. There were a few times that it was frustrating to deal with dead batteries in them, but there's a reason there's a joke about how batteries die the instant they're put into a race trailer. Being accurate to 100psi was nice for truck and trailer tires, etc.

https://www.amazon.com/Longacre-52-53036-Gauge-Digital-0-100PSI/dp/B00TO6BLZE/

Edit: x2 to OlongJohnson's vouch for Motion Pro if you really want to just have one ideal kick-ass item that should last a lifetime.