Tire gages

Has anybody found an "accurate" tire gage. I have about five different types, angled, straight in, 90 degree, etc...and I can just about get a different reading with each one of them. I've almost given up and just use the one with the gage on the handled/trigger type that I use with my air compressor just so that I get a uniform reading but what if it is wrong as well? It seems like there would be some kind of "calibration" standard used to ensure they all measure air accurately.

Even if you have a good one that is expensive (darn there is that word again) I would like to know about it and see if others have the same experience with it as you do.

Any ideas on this would be appreciated.

Dennis

80 dtg Dubai
81 dtg Home

Dennis,
All gauges have a level of accuracy.(plus or minus some number) The more you pay the more accurate. But accuracy isnt your issue. Your issue is repeatability. Stick with one gauge that is repeatable. And use only that gauge. Unfortunately you will have to decide which gauge gives you the "feel" you want. By this I mean because of the accuracy issue, you really never know what the actual number is. So you will have to develop a "feel" for the correct number. If you have a quality gauge your numbers should be close enough. If you are in search of accuracy, there are plenty of instrument and gauge companies that you can buy from and thus eliminate the "feel" portion of this exercise.

Yes there are calibration standards for these things. The typical standard is to calibrate the gauge with another gauge that is 10X more accurate based on manufacturers specifications. So for most people like us it really doesnt matter unless your quest is to be ultra accurate and thats gonna cost you money.
Hope this helps!

mutt

The problem I am (well....was) running into is that any of these gages can be as much as 5 to 10 psi off from the next one. That is the reason for the post. If anyone has one of these "more accurate" air pressure gages I would like to know where to get it. I don't mind paying (up to a certain level anyway) good money for a good gage. Most of these gages in the up to $30 range (or so) say they are accurate...I just haven't felt that the inconsistencies between them are negligible...I want a pretty accurate gage (probably a couple of the same type).

Thanks,

Dennis

80 dtg Dubai
81 dtg Home

When I'm shooting for accuracy, I use the Motion Pro gauge that is about $90. You can get gauges up to about $400 if you want to spend that much. Another thing to remember is never let you gauge get dropped or shocked like dropping it. It will knock off the accuracy. A good quality gauge comes in a package that is meant to prevent any shocks during shipping. When we worked with the Nascar boys, they used the $300-$400 gauges and had them calibrated regularly by their in-house quality control geeks.

Kmutt said:

Dennis,\.. Your issue is repeatability. Stick with one gauge that is repeatable...Amen. Agreed.To begin with don't get a chepp $10 gage from Wally World. At best, if they get a consistent reading, use them only on your cager tires.

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CrazyTed said:

When I'm shooting for accuracy, I use the Motion Pro gauge that is about $90...

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That is the miimum you might pay for a REAL good gage if you want reliability. I appreciate the basic that pushes a measuring stick. Be sure to take several readings at a time...if it's not consistent then trash it.

Molinoman said:

...the inconsistencies between them are negligible...I want a pretty accurate gage (probably a couple of the same type)... Home

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I've had doubt of analog dial gages for years. I like basic stick types. A good unit would be finely graduated.

"Home" I do wish you'd settle on retirement. Quit proliferating an exaggeration.

Biden's recent exaggeration of his vs Bush's leadership has come into question...inasnuchas they are apparent advocates of USURY Capitalism, it makes little difference who spilled the beans.

Several communities and States have or will consider implementing their own currencies. Meanswhile, the IMF SDR is the beginnings of, "the mark of the beast". You will trade with this currency or you won't trade internationally, The New World Order won't let a great crisis go to waste; Henry Kissinger.

A sovereign monetary system defines the diffences in free societies. Usury defines servitude. No monetary system will exist on fraud. Unfortunately, the good faith of the U.S., which has itself lost it's own good faith, is supposedly the basis of the dollar. We as a Nation as so far in dept and bankruptcy looms with a New World Order to save the planet for us to endorse or suffer without.

If you rely on your local USA channel TV you don't have a clue. If you watch so called "national news" such as CNN or FOX you are barely intouch.

It you charish Freedom, wake the $%^& up!

Molinoman said:

Has anybody found an "accurate" tire gage....

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You first struck me as "retentive"

molino--what ted said about the nascar team gauges is true. when they are talking about pressures, a 1/2 lb. is important w/ this new car they are running.
have no idea what "brands" they are using now(longacre in past??)--but the gauge will come w/ a special molded, padded, shock-proof case to prevent any damage. the ones w/ a 1 ft. lead from analog gauge to stem w/ trigger and air release behind gauge always worked best for me.
hi $$ tho!
like others stated--"feel" and reliability on each reading is what you want --"regardless" of its complete accuracy.
should be some of those VERY hi $$ guvm't gauges floating around over there!!
hope you have a very safe stay and trip back home !!!
and Thank You for your service!!

Thanks guys to all who chipped in with advice and a couple of places to look.

I looked up the websites for Motion Pro and Longacre and I think that Longacre may have what I am looking for. I am looking at whether to get one for just taking the tire pressure and another one for filling the tire with the gage as part of the setup. The model numbers I ended up looking at (0-60 psi) were 50414, 50413 and 50408. I've got a couple of months yet to decide but a couple of weeks before I come home I'll be ordering.

Again, thanks for all the suggestions, got some good info on both sites concerning the subject matter.

The one on the Longacre site that was around $380 was one that was a tire gage, temperature compensator and pyrometer all in one, pretty decent unit but probably overkill for my use....if I was racing on a track...it might bear looking into.

Dennis

79 dtg Dubai
80 dtg Home

Molinoman has a valid issue. I resolved my various interpretive devices and settled for a Girots Garage battery gauge which measures in Lbs. and Bars. You can reset for differences in barometric pressure. You can set the alarm for max and min. I like the tenths pound to reflect loss from the tire check itself. All for about 20 bucks and the battery is still good after 2yrs.