Tire Pressure Gage

Jesse16 · Jesse16's Garage

Just wanted some basic buying advice. I have 3 of the standard brass stem, dial type tire pressure gages with the push-button air release. All look exactly alike, two have the "Slime" brand name and one is "Accu-Gage". Got em all at various times at my FLAPS. Found that one Slime gage reads 2.5 psi High and one is 2.5 psi low from the Accu... in the middle. That 5 psi difference was killing me adjusting tires. No idea if any of them are accurate. Guess I want to go buy a "nice" gage someplace to be designated "the judge" and will keep it safely in the garage tool box. Anyone have a buying suggestion without going nuts on price ?
Maybe keep it under $25. Sears is my first thought.

Bill Verburg · Bill Verburg's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jesse16

Just wanted some basic buying advice. I have 3 of the standard brass stem, dial type tire pressure gages with the push-button air release. All look exactly alike, two have the "Slime" brand name and one is "Accu-Gage". Got em all at various times at my FLAPS. Found that one Slime gage reads 2.5 psi High and one is 2.5 psi low from the Accu... in the middle. That 5 psi difference was killing me adjusting tires. No idea if any of them are accurate. Guess I want to go buy a "nice" gage someplace to be designated "the judge" and will keep it safely in the garage tool box. Anyone have a buying suggestion without going nuts on price ?
Maybe keep it under $25. Sears is my first thought.

I have a half dozen or so gauges but rely on a Longacre, hey have several different versions and are a little more expensive than most but seem to be worth it.

Don't discount the value of the lighted gauge faces, I didn't think this was an asset but turns out it is very nice to have.

Targa Me · Targa Me's Garage

I've often wondered how accurate the auto parts store tire gauge is. I suppose if you buy a Sears Craftsman or Snap-on they would be pretty accurate.

chuckr · 08-19-2011, 07:55 AM

This is the one I use....Available right here !

Jesse16 · Jesse16's Garage

Our host has one with a flex hose but its poorly reviewed. Been told its bad to carry these gages in the car, the little mechanism doesn't like constant vibration. The lighted face could be nice but I'd prefer not to get another item needing a battery.

Jesse16 · Jesse16's Garage

The photo above is our hosts model. (probably Chinese) I checked and even a $45 snap-on gauge says its made in China. Guess I gotta just get something and move on!

Pazuzu · 08-19-2011, 08:18 AM

I prefer the very cheap FLAPS dials that do NOT lock the pressure. Sure, they might not be ACCURATE, but they're PRECISE. I've found that I'm more concerned with getting the same pressure in both tires on an axle, and less concerned that I'm within 2 or 3 psi of the door tag.

Steve@Rennsport · 08-19-2011, 08:21 AM

I have a whole bunch of tire pressure guages and I've always sent them out for calibration.

This tells you the most accurate part of their ranges for each application you may use them in.

I use my Longacre ones, most of all.

carreraken · carreraken's Garage

I have a couple of the Longacres as well - they work fine for me.

Por_sha911 · Por_sha911's Garage

The narrower the range, the more accurate the guage. Find one that is no more than 0-60 psi. As already stated, a few psi won't matter unless you are racing. The main thing is balance between all wheels. Always use the same guage and then you can adjust to taste.

86 911 Targa · 08-19-2011, 09:09 AM

I use the one that came with the car inside the plastic tool kit, tire inflater ect... bag.

gordner · gordner's Garage

Spend the money to get something that can be calibrated to ASTM, then when in doubt just get it calibrated, no need to keep buying gauges that you are uncertain of from the first use. Snap on in this case you are only paying for the name, their gauges are not made by snap on and some are not even calibratable and are not great quality either way.

revmax · 08-19-2011, 08:06 PM

marc bixen over at Red Line Technik has a really good gauge. the gauge reads from 0-60lbs. pressure in 1 lb. increments. Big 4" face with a rubber boot covering and a bleed down valve. made in america and Class B certified too. It's a great gauge and a lot of PCA racers (and Grand-Am / ALMS teams) are using it. I think it retails around $50. I have one (bought at the Festival of Speed last Spring) and I love it.

5String43 · 09:22 AM

I've got a 20-year-old Michelin tire gauge that I absolutely rely on. The new ones are quite different, but I wouldn't hesitate to buy one of them. Just Google 'em. Plus I'd be amazed of Amazon doesn't have them.

[EDIT]

More on this - the gauge I refer to above is the Shrader Vigil, made in France. Hard to find, it turns out, but they can be found. I'd buy another one of these in a heartbeat.

pwd72s · 08-19-2011, 08:20 PM

Still using the "blue point" gauge I bought off a snap-on truck. It was "made in the USA", but I've noticed the same gauge today is not.

Quicksilver · 08-20-2011, 05:53 AM

The important thing isn't how accurate the gauge is. It how consistent the gauge is.

Find one good, consistent gauge and use only it. You are measuring the differences between tires and once you get a baseline it doesn't really make any difference if it is measured in psi, bar, inches of mercury, or cookies. You are just trying to consistently measure differences.

That being said, I use a Longacre. I suspect it is real close but more importantly, it is real consistent.