I've been using one of the pen-type gauges and I've come to realize that it's at least 5psi off consistently. It's costing me far too much in tire wear. So, I need a new gauge that can fit in my glovebox without taking up much space and is accurate to 1psi (or around there). I'd prefer to spend no more than $20-$25. Any ideas?

 

I have a 99 cents pressure gauge !!!
Are gas station gauges accurate?? I REALLY want to know if I did a good investment

 

Generally, pressure gauges that are on the hose at the gas station are atrociously inaccurate or inconsistent. Pencil-type gauges, I've heard, are ok but digital gauges are where it's at. Tire Rack sells several models, all for $25 or less. Make sure you get one that reads beyond 60 psi, so you can check your donut.

 

Weasel, hey. I have a really high-quality pressure gauge (from the looks of it on the outside). I bought it at Price Costco for about $15, and it's chrome with a rubber handle. It's kinda L-shaped. It even comes in a custom brushed aluminum case, hehehe.

But my advice, just go to a PepBoys/AutoZone and look for the gauges that are circles, with needle measurments. In my expereince they seem the most accurate and very reliable.

Anyway, you might find something like I did...if you do, get it! I have red numbers that light up to tell me the pressure of my tires, AND, they go in .5 increments, heheh. So it's pretty accurate.

Hope that helps.

 

The Tire Rack has a perfect one, thanks. If I ever stop getting "System Errors" on their server I'll order one.

 

get a quality digital tire gauge though. I've seen so-called "digital ones", but the display is some cheap kind, similar to the car clocks that you see at a local wal-mart or pepboys.

here's 2 pics of mine:

 

another

 

This is no evidence of accuracy.

Measuring instruments have characteristics called accuracy and precision, and they are not the same. Precision refers to the finest graduation of detectable difference. Accuracy refers to the difference between the observed reading and that given by some accepted standard of truth.

It is possible for an instrument to be accurate but not precise. It is possible for an instrument to be precise but not accurate.

The fact that your tire gauge reads in 0.5 psi increments is not evidence of either precision or accuracy.

 

turd,

sorry this one is waay off topic, is that screenshot of counter-strike? which map are you playing, because i do not recognize it...


dfwmax

 

Sears has the 14.99 digital tire gauge on sale for 8.99 in my area... i plan on buying one tomorrow..

 

I've got a digital gauge, dial gauge and the 99c pencil gauge. I can measure a tire with all of them and come up with exaclty the same PSI reading. So I think I like my glovebox pencil gauge, small, accurate and easy to use.

 

Harborfreight has some good ones -
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...temnumber=1322

It's pretty accurate and it has convienience bleed valve.
I checked it against $30 gauge and got the same reading.

 

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions, I ended up ordering the one on the Tire Rack for $24.99. It'll get here just in time for my new Potenza RE950s.

 

Looks like the back door of cs_assault.

 

LOL, yeah, my sister took a few pictures of me playing CS, and being on maxima.org, heh heh.

DBM, sorry for the incorrect terminology. I understand what you're saying, and all I can say is that I'm lucky I learned the "real" difference between accuracy and precision. Sorry, I wasn't thinking in those terms. (I learned that stuff from Chem and Physics)

 

I think I am getting one too just to check because I am getting new tires soon so might as well. Also where I fill up my tires most of the gauges are beeing help on with electrical taope and dont sound so good.

SuDZ

 

I went through two tire pressure gauges before finding one that was accurate consistently. I used other autocrossers at the track & their gauges to compare with the ones I had.

The first one I bought was from PepBoys, $20. It was big & beefy glass gauge style and was warrantied to be accurate. It would read 3-4 psi BELOW the actual tire pressure.

I then found one in my toolbox. This one was also 3-4 psi BELOW the actual tire pressure.

I ordered a pencil style from SnapOn for $8. Bamm.. right on the money. I hope I don't lose this sucker

 

I'm going to have this new one checked against my friend's compressor + psi gauge. He's a drag racer, and I'm assuming it's top dollar equipment. I'll also ask the guys at the tire shop to check it against their stuff while I'm there.

 

I had a great gauge from Brookstone, I guess I used it too much, it crapped out.
Now I have a $13 Radio Shack digital. So far so good.

 

I got mine at Costco. $12 and it's only off by + or - by 1 lb.

 

The digital ones are more likely to be inaccurate, or at least that is what the other racers have told me. I've never used one so I can't speak for myself but I take these guys' word for it.

 

I have three tire guages. Two are circular guages, the other is digital. My favorite, which I purchased at Kragens, is the $15 Popular Mechanics Pressure Guage. It is a circular guage, made out of metal with a carrying case. Very accurate, and easy to read.

I also have a digital one which I received as a gift. It works fine, but I prefer the popular mechanics guage.

I also keep a smaller sissy pink circular guage in my center console. It's used for emergency purposes only, for obvious reasons.