Accuracy if tire Pressure gauges rant

[RWebb]

yes, high purity with all the isotopes lined in little rows

[RKDinOKC]

Yep, the Ashcroft dial looks like that, but only goes to 60psi, has a rubber cover and bleed valve and line with end to hook on tire valves.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by 1990C4S

It is very unlikely that any measuring device you own is calibrated properly.

A cheap tire gauge? Nope.
An expensive tire gauge? Maybe. But not if it's old.
A sweep style meter? No.
Torque wrench? No.
Vernier? Probably okay.
Micrometer? Likely okay.
Ohmmeter? Likely no.

You should not be surprised.

My BS meter? Likely OK...I'm never surprised tho'

[1990C4S]

Originally Posted by KC911

My BS meter? Likely OK...I'm never surprised tho'

That one may be calibrated for life. Or it may me be beyond repair.

[KFC911]

^^^^ It's actually quite binary....an idiot light!

O reading = No BS
It moved = BS

Now GOML....

[wdfifteen]

I have a few tire pressure gauges that I’ve accumulated over the decades lying around and I noticed two of the gauges were giving me wildly different readings, and none of them totally agreed. I didn't know which ones were right, so I got a new Joes Racing tire pressure gauge because it’s supposed to be the gold standard of tire gauges.
I rounded up the gauges that I have and compared them to each other and the TPMS on the right rear tire of my Volt to try to find a consensus. For what it’s worth, here are the results:

TPMS – 38 psi

Gauges, Left to right:

AMFLO - 38 psi

Accu-Gage – 40 psi

CH – 35 psi

Accu-Gage – 38 psi

Joe Racing – 40 psi

Milton – 40 psi

Silver stick – 34

Blue stick – 40

[thor66]

Consumer Reports has your answer

[smadsen]

Buy a gauge that can be calibrated. There are companies that calibrate things, i.e. torque wrenches, tire gauges.... Request your gauge be calibrated to the area you usually measure, like 30 lbs on a 0-60 gauge. What's accurate at 20lbs. might be off at 40lbs.

[porsche tech]

Remember these? Used to come in the glove box of every new 911. Then the leather case became a cheesy black plastic one, then no more TP gauge.

[rusnak]

^ on one of these tire pressure gauge threads, I did a comparison between one of the VDO gauges, an Italian made analog tire inflator, the Intercomp digital calibrated gauge, and the Steelman digital tire inflator.

I found that the two tire inflators are very close, and they agree with the Intercomp within less than 1 psi. The VDO gauge was way way way off.

[A930Rocket]

My friend bought a Longacre gauge at the track last weekend. It wouldn’t work on either of our cars. He went back to the track side vender and they tried another gauge on a third vehicle. It didn’t work either. Maybe everyone was using it wrong. 😳

I used my trusty gauge all weekend. Set my tires at 29 cold and when I came in, they all read 31, except the left front was 35. Tire wire at the edge was all uniform.

I’ve read a tire pyrometer is best, but needs to be used at the pit to be accurate.

[herr_oberst]

It looks like the $28 JACO digital (dial type) is worth a look

[red 928]

my car has a built in tire pressure gauge.
if the pressure gets too low,
the light on the dash comes on.
All I have to do is pump the tires up for 5 or 10 seconds
and the light goes out.
problem solved.

[Sooner or later]

Originally Posted by red 928

my car has a built in tire pressure gauge.

So does mine.

[afterburn 549]

I never ever thought there would be so much inaccuracy in a simple gauge until it happened to me.
Project Farm was pretty informative! (and proof)
As tires and cars get more and more finicky this becomes more and more of a problem.
Now I don't trust my "Joes",
I never ever thought I would say this ...
But I am going to HF to Buy a Merlin, and or somewhere and get Eatenwolf and Jaco!

Thanx for the links!

[Dixie]

I'm still stuck on what car specifics 50psi? Did this get answered?

[craigster59]

I keep one of these in my office at work with a charged battery.

You can pick them up cheap at HD if you already have the battery and charger. I like the Ryobi One stuff for general all around use.

It's saved a few frustrations and flat tires. Can't always depend on gas station air. 3/4 don't work and I'm not swiping my Visa card for air...

[Evans, Marv]

I have a one ton T350 Ford van. It calls for 70 psi rear and 55 front. I usually do 50/55 when it's empty. I also have two tractors that take 20/25 psi. I just ordered the JACO digital (100 psi) from their site in hopes it might get fairly close in both cases. I have several gauges that are all over the place. Time to get rid of a couple.

[afterburn 549]

Originally Posted by Dixie

I'm still stuck on what car specifics 50psi? Did this get answered?

Motorcycles are very fussy and run 40 and up.
trk tires run over a 100

[Dixie]

Originally Posted by afterburn 549

Motorcycles are very fussy and run 40 and up.
trk tires run over a 100

Thanks, I didn't know this.

I always rationalized using one gauge that reads consistently is the secret. If it always reads 32 lbs as 30 lbs, so be it.