Most accurate/reliable tire pressure gauge?

Longacre Analog Tire Pressure Gauges

Part 52000

 

new ones work a lot better than old ones, they lose accuracy over time due to internal aging?

Also, ones that have never been dropped work a lot better than those that have.

It should be very easy to determine which of your 20 psi delta gauges is off - toss it out immediately.

 

Consumer reports tests tire gauges every few years. I believe their standard is +- 1 psi to be recommended, and they found many cannot meet that accuracy standard. No type was more accurate than another...they found inexpensive pencil gauges that were fine, and dial ones that were far off. Some brands are fragile and either break or permanently lose accuracy after being dropped. Some digital ones become inaccurate at temperature extremes. I will try and find an article and post a few that are recommended....


Here you go (from 2013):
Latest test findings

Our most recent test of tire-pressure gauges looked at 14 models: eight digital, two stick-type, and four dial-type. Those gauges came from five brands: Accutire, Intercomp, Gorilla, Milton, and Slime. We tested them for accuracy, ease of use, and durability, and also checked to see how they were affected by ambient temperatures spanning a range from just above freezing to 113-118 degrees F. Here's what we found:
•Two digital Accutire gauges topped the Ratings, the MS-4400B ($10.99) and MS-4021B ($9.99). The heavy-duty dial-type Intercomp 360060 ($55.95) was also very good but is limited to 60 psi.
•Two of three samples of the Slime model 20074 ($8.99), a digital gauge, proved inaccurate at room temperatures.
•The Slime 20048 ($5.99), a dial type, was hard to read, inaccurate when cold, and lost accuracy permanently when dropped onto a concrete floor from a height of 30 inches.

 

The longacre stuff is very nice. I have the big one, older version, and the nice thing is that the bigger the gauge the easier it is to set your specific pressures evenly and quickly. I can see 1/4 of a psi with the big 4" dial. I would guess that the smaller ones are just as good but that it will take just a bit more concentration to set the tires even. The PSI relief valve is the key though and if the smaller versions all use the same component that is the magic sauce. You can tap it with your finger and let out 1/8 of a PSI (maybe less) at a time to "step-down-into" the number you want. Highly recommend.

 

+1 Longacre.

 

Yeah, what he said...

 

For daily drivers, I found the larger issue than gauge accuracy was my lack of diligence in keeping them full. That changed when I got the items below -- well worth it if you have a compressor. Once you make it really convenient, you will probably find that you check/fill the tires much more often. I found that the Griot's digital inflator gauge reading compared favorably with an Accutire digital, so it seems good enough for a non-track car.

Digital Tire Inflating Gun - Air Tools - Tools - Griot's Garage
Retractable Air Hose Reel, 50-Foot - Griot's Garage

 

To be fair, the Slime unit they tested was the "Tom Brady" signature model...


(Flame suit fully deployed)

His phone didn't survive the drop test either.

 

I bought a nice new one from a NAPA distribution store for about $50. They had a good selection.

 

Being able to read pressure numbers to a fraction of a PSI is only part of the issue.
You need a pyrometer to read tire temperatures across the tread surface to see if you're setting the *right* PSI numbers.

That will help distribute wear evenly across the tread, and will give you the best contact grip.

Until tires went to ridiculously low profiles, I could usually tell my tire pressures within one or two PSI just from a well calibrated seat of the pants.

 

now we are getting some where.

While the original question is how do I measure tire pressure accurately, the real
question is how do I know the car is set up correctly for me. This is where the probe
tipped pyrometer comes in. Not only can you use it to determine if the pressure
is correct, but also if the camber, caster, and toe are correct.

A simple device that you can get for $100 can save you $1000s over a decade.

 

FWIW:

Temperature at the race track

jerry

 

Regarding the need for an accurate tire pressure gauge.

I used a tire valve gauge fitting and industrial hose and then bought a high quality industrial liquid filled gauge to use as my tire pressure gauge. The gauge accuracy and construction is better than most general tire gauges and the set up costs less. May not be as "cool" as the big name gauges.

Most industrial gauges can be calibrated by a gauge repair company.

There are several videos on youtube regarding dead weight calibrating pressure gauges.

*Ultimately the accuracy is not as important as consistency or repeatability of the gauge.

The pressure reading on the gauge is merely a point of reference for tire performance and car handling.

If you use the same gauge and the readings are consistent, the important thing is to increase or decrease tire pressure based on tire performance, tire temperature, tire wear, and car handling under the circumstances of their use. In other words, street, track, rally, oval, road course, etc.

Best regards,
Jerry

 

Now that's funny!

Maybe his agent should approach Longacre - Could really have some fun there!

Cheers,
Ian

 

I'm not sure how one can have an opinion about the accuracy of a gauge without testing it against a calibrated reference or providing a known pressure based on first principles.

Anyway, for whatever it's worth, my Longacre gauge agrees all eight of my tire pressure senders (two sets of wheels). That's nine gauges that read within 1psi at sea level.