Tire Pressure Gauge (accurate?)

[roger dodger]

After all the various threads on tires, and what pressure is best for this and that tire, I went out to buy a new digital gauge. The Slime gauge was recommended by a friend who has one, and we used it to check my 2 new PR3's after mounting.

Now the new gauge reads my pressure @ 48 psi, my older digital gauge reads it @ 41 psi, and a old pencil gauge reads it @ 40 psi.

So, either we have been riding on very high psi for the last few years....or the new gauge is way off? How can you check a gauge for accuracy? Is there any adjustment? When 3 or more gauges gather together, does that constitute a 'gang' of gauges?

I'm leaving for Vermont soon, and really want to know what pressure is correct.

[C1xRider]

[VirginiaJim]

I agree with the popcorn....  That's a substantial difference.  What did the packaging on the gauge say as far as accuracy? 

[philipintexas]

Some gauges have a procedure to follow in calibrating them. Hold it so air escapes for a couple seconds and somehow that calibrates the unit.? I have 2 -3 electronic gauges and they are all within 1% of each other.

[jjsC6]

Not that it's likely to be that far off, but does the digital gauge compensate for ambient temperature?

I like the high quality dial gauges that you can get for around $15-20. 

BTW, my Honda dealer has a calibrated gauge that Honda supplied them with for checking their TPMS.  Take your gauge by a dealer and ask if they have a calibrated gauge you can check yours against.

[maxtog]

After all the various threads on tires, and what pressure is best for this and that tire, I went out to buy a new digital gauge. The Slime gauge was recommended by a friend who has one, and we used it to check my 2 new PR3's after mounting.

Now the new gauge reads my pressure @ 48 psi, my older digital gauge reads it @ 41 psi, and a old pencil gauge reads it @ 40 psi.

So, either we have been riding on very high psi for the last few years....or the new gauge is way off? How can you check a gauge for accuracy? Is there any adjustment? When 3 or more gauges gather together, does that constitute a 'gang' of gauges?   I'm leaving for Vermont soon, and really want to know what pressure is correct.

I have never been a fan of digital gauges.  Seems like every single one of them were inaccurate, required constant calibration (there is a button), were slow to use, or were in need of a battery.  Give me a quality analog dial!  (Granted, it has been many, many years since I was comparing gauges).

Anyway, there is no way I know of to test if it is accurate except to compare it to other gauges and come up with a "consensus".

[ZG]

Ya!! Rob finally has an avatar pic, about time bro!! 

[C1xRider]

Ya!! Rob finally has an avatar pic, about time bro!! 

Ya, that was just so Jim can remember me.   


As for the gauge questions, I've always used the 'gang of gauges' consensus method too, but was hoping someone had a better solution.  I also carry a mechanical dial type gauge.  The pencil type can be accurate enough, but they can also stick or leak internally and become suddenly inaccurate.  I haven't acquired a digital one yet.  With most battery operated devices, I find the battery is dead when I need it most, so I'm not in a hurry to "upgrade".

[Eric119]

So, either we have been riding on very high psi for the last few years....or the new gauge is way off? How can you check a gauge for accuracy? Is there any adjustment? When 3 or more gauges gather together, does that constitute a 'gang' of gauges?

Slime gauges suck. I bought digital gauge for road trips. I notices it reading was way off from my shop gauge. then checked it with other dial gauges, the slime gauge was way off compared to the other three. 

[Conrad]

When 3 or more gauges gather together, does that constitute a 'gang' of gauges?

I think that would be a gaggle of guages.

[Hornblower]

My experience with the Slime digital air gauges was also not good. In fact, I returned the first one and tried a second. Both were off by several psi. At that point, I gave up on the Slime brand altogether. I have several digital gauges that do work pretty well including AccuTire, Kobalt, Victor, and Griot Garage. The trick with digital gauges is finding one that will work with the straight valve stems on the C14. The Kobalt that I bought most recently does fit but just barely. --Ken B.

[katata1100]

My standard is a Accugauge dial gauge, purchased from Summit
Racing for $30.
I was looking at gauges at Harbor Freight and noticed small print
 that said "Accurate +/- 2lbs" That is a huge tolerance.

[VirginiaJim]

Interestingly enough, I did some searching on the Accugage RA60x which is in the Accugage family.  Could not find one sentence on how 'accurate' it was.  No tolerances given, even on the manufacturer's site.  So I'm not sure how 'accurate' it is.  There were some posts in a Ducati forum that it was basically a piece of junk.  I hate to hear that as I'm using one of them....sigh.

[stevewfl]

My  3 dolluh Advanced Auto parts store gauge I tote on the HONDA specs perfectly with my other ones, including the very high dolluh calibrated gauge a truck driver gave me

If one holds KiPass next to the tire gauge, they all get accurate

[fmwhit]

Having several vehicles, each one with a tire gauge, I was suprised when one day while checking the vehicles that one indicated low pressure in all tires.  Thats when I decided to check the tire gauges and sure enough the one that was in that vehicle was more than 5 PSI off from the others.  I immediately threw it away and replaced it it.  The gauges that I use now are made by Accutire and are suppose to be fairly accurate and read out in 1/2 lb increments.  They do all agree with each other.

Fred

[VirginiaJim]

Yet another one that says (their website) that they are accurate yet post no percentages on how accurate they really are.  What's up with this?

Ok, I found a test from MCN that tested various gauges.  It's from November 2005 so take it for what it's worth and possibly take into account that things may have changed since then....I know I have.  I feel better finding this and listening to the Cowsills (Hair).  I wish I still had mine.  I was in love with Susan when that song came out.

But I digress.....and wax nostalgic.

http://www.mcnews.com/mcn/technical/200511gauges.pdf

If anyone can come up with other tests that would be great.

[Rhino]

I've been wondering about this subject lately as well. I have an analog dial gauge and put 42 lbs in both front and rear but the TPS says 41 front and 38 rear. Since both tires have the same pressure but the TPS does not agree between them, I assume the TPS is off. But my gauge is 5 years old and has been bounced around in side cases all that time. Wonder how to check the accuracy. 

[fmwhit]

Accutire is suppose to be accurate with in .5 lbs according to the mfg website.

http://www.accutiregauge.com/digital-tire-pressure-gauge/accutire-ms-4021b-standard-digital-tire-gauge/

[VirginiaJim]

The TPS readout per the manual in Japlish....

Do not refer to the value of the tire air pressure displayed in this meter for measuring the tire air pressure.  Because this value may not show the value of the actual air pressure.  This value should be referred only while riding.

In other words, use your gauge to check actual pressure.  That meter is more for warning you if you're losing pressure due to a puncture.

[VirginiaJim]

Accutire is suppose to be accurate with in .5 lbs according to the mfg website.

http://www.accutiregauge.com/digital-tire-pressure-gauge/accutire-ms-4021b-standard-digital-tire-gauge/

That's for that particular gauge, but thanks for pointing that out.

The gauge I was looking at was the MS 5510B racing gauge.  It doesn't list an accuracy.  One would think they would for that particular application.  It's listed at .01 increments but that doesn't help if it's not accurate.  I've sent them a note asking about that.

http://www.accutiregauge.com/racing-gauge/accutire-ms-5510b-racing-tire-pressure-gauge/