You read a lot on the DP and other sites about what air pressures to run in your tires for certain applications (towing/hauling/beaches, etc.). Personally I tow heavy with my truck so I run the tires at 80psi often, at least I thought I was?:o

I'm kind of obsessive about tire pressures and quite often find myself telling folks their tires are low on air, etc. Go figure? ):h To this end I have numerous tire air pressure gauges in my repertoir(?), one in each vehicle and one by the air compressor. This week I needed to air up the tires to haul the 5ver, which on this trip likely grossed out at about 16k lbs, so the rig was going to be slightly above GCWR. I decided to see how consistent my wide variety of tire pressure gauges were? BOY WAS I SHOCKED! :eek:

The heavy duty tire gauge I purchased at a truck stop showed 62psi in the left front tire, Wally World heavy duty showed 65, digital showed 57 psi. Checking the other tires provided similar results. The kicker here is I just had the oil changed and they put the tires at 70psi per my instructions, I even watched them air up the tires using one of those inline air pressure gauges. :confused:

Since tire pressure affects multiple aspects of our trucks, e.g. handling, towing capacity, ride, noise, etc., it is very important to have accurate readings. I've always erred on the side of keeping the tires up in the air pressure range, while some lower them to soften the ride. Too soft can deteriorate tires quickly, and if towing can cause sidewall failure. This can be risky! :o Too firm can beat the living wajeebees out of you! :(

Personally I trust the digital gauges, should I? The old fashioned kind where the post shoots out from the middle are susceptible to dirt/grime which could affect their accuracy. What are others using? JJ :)

I currently use a heavy duty post style guage. I am looking for a good dial guage to use for tires and the air bag system I just ordered.

cdhd2001, sounds like I have that same type gauge but not certain it is that accurate. This is why I posted to see which type air gauges are the most accurate and where to get them. Dial gauge? JJ

I screwed a 2" face 0-100# gauge w/ 1/4" npt btm connection into a heavy air chuck. It's about 7" long, cheap, and pretty accurate ( I think ). I trust it as long as it always goes back to zero.

Ithe way I understand it, the digitals and the post gages are not very good. Use a dial gage.

Dial gauges (like most other gauges) are most accurate between the areas of 20% & 80% of the gauges total measuring capability.
So a 100lb gauge would be at it's outer limits of accuracy when measuring 80lbs & over or 20lbs & under.
Just a fact I thought some might be interested in.

If you buy a quality gauge the design won't matter, however, dial type gauges are easiest to read (more so than digitals because our brains have an easier time accepting as accurate a process that we can more completely visualize-ie-watching the needle move)

"dial type gauges are easiest to read (more so than digitals because our brains have an easier time accepting as accurate a process that we can more completely visualize-ie-watching the needle move)"

Why am I salivating? Pavlov's theory! ):h Loki, but are they more accurate than digital gauges? Dangit, looks like I'm going to have to buy a dial type gauge and test it with the others for accuracy. Then again, I do love tire gauges! :rolleyes: JJ <!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

Best way to check accuracy, check the tire pressure then roll the truck forward about 1/2 tire revolution and check it again. If your guage is working properly, it should read the same

I just aired my tires up yesterday...A buddy pointed out to me that they looked alittle low earlier in the week, but i told them i had the dealer set them down a bit...Well yesterday they didnt really look right so i checked the pressure...32 in the front and 35-36 in the rear....WOW, i couldnt believe it...Bumped the front up to 50, and rears up to 45.
As for my gauge, ive got post style. Have got a dial around, but cant find it...

The inconsistency in air pressure using different gauges is what caused me to start this thread. I tow very heavy and have always used the heavy duty stick gauge. With the digital gauges now on the market I bought one of them. When I compared them they don't post the same pressure on the same tire. :(

I'll do some research on the internet and see what I can find. JJ :)

You should also check them when the tires are cold.

Always! JJ

Cold tires, yes. Also make sure one side isn't in the sun and the other in the shade. Racers often use nitrogen, instead of compressed air. Its more stable, and doesn't vary as much with heating.

Also, using the same gauge repeatedly is probably better than changing gauges. Or, take an average of all your gauges, and use the one that is closest.

Been searching on the internet and to my surprise all of the gauges are 100% accurate! ):h You think they are trying to sell me something? :confused:

My quest is to find the most accurate tire gauge possible, within reason before some NASA type post a $$$$ million dollar sensor):h , to use on these trucks. Those of us that tow very heavy need accurate readings for safety and performance. Heck, everyone needs an accurate gauge! But which one?

Still looking! JJ :)

I personally run helium in my tires, it gives me .00000000000000002 better mpg :D

DmaxTim, plus you can drive like Mr. Magoo! ):h Now Censored help me find the best tire gauge! ):h JJ :)

Here's one of the best. Now get out that credit card.):h
http://www.trackhaus.com/product-exec/product_id/338

Notice it only goes to 60 psi, so if you run higher:eek: don't get this one.

I just use the liquid filled gauges on my regulator and set the pressure then lock the inflator onto the valve stem.
This is good on calcium filled tires too.

DmaxTim, unless helium is readily available at most truck stops we're pissing up the wrong tree bro! ):h Did you like the Mr. Magoo comparison? ):h

Solly, yeah I looked at those but I run 80psi. Sweet though! :ro)

Yea, it was ):h

Need a laugh every once in a while.



BTW it's Sollly, tri an spell it rite nex time :D

JJ,
Have you considered any of the remote monitoring systems? Here is an article about them, both OEM and aftermarket.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/general/tirepressuremoni.jsp

They offer an aftermarket product supposedly accurate to 1.5 psi with a pretty neat display option. (NO AFFILIATION! )

http://www.pitstopusa.com/detail.aspx?ID=2997

http://www.pitstopusa.com/detail.aspx?ID=2775

I really like this one. Has a bleed screw. Little pricey
http://www.pitstopusa.com/detail.aspx?ID=11102

Glow in the dark:
http://www.pitstopusa.com/detail.aspx?ID=11094

Oh Censored . What am I doing? Just go to pitstopusa:D

Solly, I like that one to, just need a co-signer to buy one. :D Minisub, I looked at these before, while they are convenient for monitoring PSI, I'm really looking for an accurate gauge since I change the PSI when I tow versus for normal driving. JJ

I've always been lead to believe that the dial type are the most accurate, the stick type seem to work OK, but the numbers wear off, and if it's in my pocket, it usually gets dropped- not good for the accuracy.
I do have a Radio Shack digital in the truck, which is kept clean and dry, but I read awhile back that they are actually the LEAST accurate. I would still trust it more than the "filling station" on-the-air-hose type, so that's what I use when on the road. (it has a clibration check feature, for what it's worth...)

My next one for my tool box will be a dial type with a flex hose and air release valve like the drag racers use. As for brands.... you're on your own there. Good luck!

Edit: (OK, I R-E-E-E-E-E-A-L-L-Y like the Pit Stop site!!!)

I have had a lot of gauges over the years. This is another tool that you get what you pay for. I have two dial and one digital. All three read within two psi. I also have a 40 year old military compression gauge. I took it to our metrology lab at work for calibration. It is with in two psi full scale. It and my tire gauges are very close. I like the digital because it is very repeatable to the .5 psi. It is hard to see in bright light though. My local Big O actually check their gauges against each other for accuracy. They always ask me what I want in my tires when they rotate them. I have checked them a couple times when I got home. They were very close. What ever you buy treat it like a precision tool. I keep mine in a leather glove tucked in the door storage compartment. Like mentioned, if you drop it once you probably broke it. Later! Frank