Tire pressure advice needed

[ChopperDr]

Not the age old question of what pressure to run, but what are you using to check yours?

I was using a gauge for quite a while that started reading super low. I'm in the market for a new one. I am an analog type of guy. I don't want digital unless its my last option.


Chopper

[tjs]

Snap-On dial gauge,or the dial gauge BMW sells. They both read the same pressure. tjs

[sgoodwin]

Any old POS pencil air guage in my tool box, they all seem to agree on psi pretty much, at least close enough to keep the rim off the ground.

[Dr. Curve]

Agreeing with tjs................BMW dealers have one with a 2.5 inch round face and easy to read dial which features a stainless braid covered 18" hose and BMW roundel on the face........is very good and reads almost identical to my Snap-On which cost three times as much. Get a rotary dial gauge first..........then send it off to be calibrated.......then you will have the exact pressure each time. Use nitrogen to fill the tires and they will hold a stable pressure longer because the gas is totally dry with no variables that humidity can cause.

[bradzdotcom]

curve, you forgot to take into account gravitational adjustments based on the tide.

and of course, altitudinal variations....depending on relative humidity and AGA.

like most others, i NEVER adjust tire pressure without first consulting my barometer and the common Farnetal conversion chart (as tradition dictates, mine hangs in the kitchen).

my local Costco gas station uses nitrogen. it's the main reason i live here.

[ckcarr]

Brad's right! Never ride during a full moon! The gravitational pull will kill you!

[roger albert]

I´ve never felt the moon was trying to kill me directly (the Sun does that) but it does make left turns harder.

[Noblehops]

Originally Posted by roger albert

I´ve never felt the moon was trying to kill me directly (the Sun does that) but it does make left turns harder.

In Australia it's the reverse.

N.

[RBMann]

Had to adjust tire pressure and sag post diuretics.

[twodear]

Don't knock gravity...

It is what keeps you guys in the wrong hemisphere from falling off the bottom and I know where to look for that bolt I just dropped.

[nathanmargolis]

It is kinda like purchasing a bathroom scale at Bed Bath & Beyond. You put three-four scales on the floor, check the weight, and then pick one that you like that is consistent with another one.

Not saying to go out and purchase or try out 3-4 gauges in the parking lot but if you are like most gearheads, you might have 3-4 of them laying around in glove boxes, center consoles, with your pens/pencils, tool boxes....

Even those digital gauge can be off.

[Dr. Curve]

Here in Florida, possibly because of the Areo Space Industry and such, there are multiple places where one can send their gauge to be calibrated.........if the gauge is of high enough quality in the first place. Snap On recommends that theirs be re-calibrated every three years or so.........if you simply must have it perfect and consistent every time. Some of us want it that way, not that we need it.......we just want it right every time. I have been using Nitrogen in my tires for over thirty years, but only because I want it just right every time I go out to hunt.

[markjenn]

Originally Posted by twodear

Since there is no "up/down" in space, I find it interesting that we all have a view of the earth with the N pole at the top. It's completely arbitrary. No wonder the Aussies have an inferiority complex. ;-)

- Mark

[PFFOG]

Back to our regularly scheduled program.

Almost any gauge works pretty good, the pencil gauges may not be dead on accurate, but very close. And IMHO a couple pounds one way or another is not a big deal, unless you are racing. Pressures fluctuate all the time dependent on load, vigor of the ride, road and air temps. get it close and ride.

[MykolG]

Originally Posted by Dr. Curve

Agreeing with tjs................BMW dealers have one with a 2.5 inch round face and easy to read dial which features a stainless braid covered 18" hose and BMW roundel on the face........is very good and reads almost identical to my Snap-On which cost three times as much. Get a rotary dial gauge first..........then send it off to be calibrated.......then you will have the exact pressure each time. Use nitrogen to fill the tires and they will hold a stable pressure longer because the gas is totally dry with no variables that humidity can cause.

The other day I had a issue with the tire pressure in my BMW 328i Sport Wagon. I got in the car to go for a drive when a big warning appeared on the dash telling me that one of the tires was low. I got out and looked around and I couldn't see a flat tire. So, I took out my "rotary dial gauge" and found both front tires and the right rear were at 31 psi. The left rear was at 30 psi. This was the morning after one of the coldest nights we've had here [SoCal] in a loooong time. I checked the sticker in the door frame and it said the rear tires are supposed to be 36 psi. The front were ok. Seeing as my air compressor is out now, I took the car to the local BMW dealer and they checked the tires for any FOD [found none] and filled all tires to spec for no charge. Our outside temperature dropped almost 50 degrees during the night.

[twodear]

Inferiority complex?

[ckcarr]

Originally Posted by twodear

Inferiority complex?

Well,

You know. You just have people that look like like Olivia Newton John, Nicole Kidman, Naomi Watts, Kylie Minogue.

Dumpy looking washerwomen with lunch lady arms.. Shame... hang your head...

[twodear]

You left out Delta Goodrem and a couple others - but okay.

[chewie]

Originally Posted by ckcarr

Well,

You know. You just have people that look like like Olivia Newton John, Nicole Kidman, Naomi Watts, Kylie Minogue.

Dumpy looking washerwomen with lunch lady arms.. Shame... hang your head...

hahaha !!

[ChopperDr]

Thanks for the replies. I'll swing into the dealer and pick up that BMW gauge.


Chop