Best tyre gauge?

[Jukie]

Not looking for anything fancy or expensive, just an accurate pressure gauge I can keep with the car or in a drawer at home.

I have a small compressor that has a gauge integrated in the air line but I'm not wholly convinced about its accuracy.

An suggestions?

TIA, David.

 

[Midland45]

How about this one SYKES PICKAVANT / HALFORDS TYRE PRESSURE GAUGE 0-50 LB on eBay (end time 13-Mar-10 05:50:29 GMT)

Its a excellent manufacturer, I've had one for 30 years so they do last.

 

[Shude]

I got a branded MB one a few years ago, found it listed in the 163 ML brochure.

Some pics of it on this thread:
http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/wheels-tyres/12945-checking-tyre-pressures-home.html

 

[lynall]

At work for years i have used the pcl range of tyre gauges, trigger pumps good and tough as old boots.

Just bought another gauge from e bay last week under half normal price for £20.

I will see if i can post link.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PCL-UNIVERSAL...G57-H03-CLEARANCE_W0QQitemZ180377128892QQcmdZ

Good quality british and repeatable readings time after time.

There was a cheaper one for 16.99 but i cant find the link again on e bay same make etc




Lynall

 

[Frank O' Phile]

How about this one SYKES PICKAVANT / HALFORDS TYRE PRESSURE GAUGE 0-50 LB on eBay (end time 13-Mar-10 05:50:29 GMT)

Its a excellent manufacturer, I've had one for 30 years so they do last.

I was going to suggest a digital gauge I got from Lidl (or Aldi?), But that one is even cheaper.

It doesn't really matter about accuracy, if you know it reads 2psi over or 5psi under or whatever so long as the readings are repeatably consistent.

 

[Jukie]

I was going to suggest a digital gauge I got from Lidl (or Aldi?), But that one is even cheaper.

It doesn't really matter about accuracy, if you know it reads 2psi over or 5psi under or whatever so long as the readings are repeatably consistent.

Indeed, but I'd like to know if a gauge is either 100% accurate or to what extent it is inaccurate before I start using it!!

The gauge in my compressor my be spot on. It may be out and if it is, I don't know by how much or if it's over or under!

 

[lynall]

Accuracy is important!

If yours is inaccurate what are you comparing it to? same conditions hot/cold to know how inaccurate yours is.



Lynall

 

[Number_Cruncher]

I second Lynall's recommendation - PCL make very good tyre inflators and gauges.

 

[vijilants]

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/products/products/225690/tyre_gauges_test.html

 

[whitenemesis]

I had a freebie gauge when I joined the AA 30yrs ago. A sliding piston pen style. Used it ever since. I have never used a garage air system. When I check the tyres it's always in the morning and never if I have driven that day.

I have never had any problems with abnormal tyre wear

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

I had some Halfords vouchers I needed to spend in a hurry - forgot about them and they'd expired - and so tried my luck with them. Bought the nicest digital gauge they had on the basis that I'd never have paid that much for them, and I'd effectively be getting it for nothing if the assistant accepted the expired vouchers.

It's a wonderful thing to hold. Chrome, heavy, and shaped like a digital thermometer that doctors stick into patients ears. £20 but lovely. For a tyre pressure gauge.

I'll get my coat.

Edit: Mine looks a lot like this, but mine is metal/chrome and has a lined metal case to keep it in. I bet the gubbins inside are the same though.



http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_566871_langId_-1_categoryId_165648

 

[Frank O' Phile]

Indeed, but I'd like to know if a gauge is either 100% accurate or to what extent it is inaccurate before I start using it!!

The gauge in my compressor my be spot on. It may be out and if it is, I don't know by how much or if it's over or under!

Accuracy is important!

If yours is inaccurate what are you comparing it to? same conditions hot/cold to know how inaccurate yours is.

Lynall

Of course accuracy is important, my point was, if you knew your gauge was consistently inaccurate by minus 2 psi, for example, then it would work just as well as an accurate gauge. Much like using a clock that was always 10 minutes fast, if you knew it was always 10 minutes fast, you would always know what time it was.

So, if your new found pressure gauge gives a consistently different reading to the old foot pump gauge, which one is accurate?

As an aside, is there a tolerance for tyre pressures?

 

[Jukie]

Also, how confident can we be in the accuracy of a new gauge?

Blimey, this could go on for a wihle.....!!! lol

 

[renault12ts]

Are we talking about pressure at sea level?

 

[lynall]

Well ive got several gauges/inflators at work and one at home so when i remember to check the pressures either at work or home they always read the same, im a bit sad and like all my own kit.

Most of the other blokes use the works tyre kit and again its pcl and gets treated like cr#p and still does the job.

New one i had delivered the other day agrees with my main works one.

Ones at work are calibrated every now and then.

I check pressures at work with the pcl pencil gauge, then inflate them if need be with either of my two pcl tyre inflators.

As for tolerance on my car i want them right, on a truck more than 5/10psi down and i pump them up ie 110 if it should be 120.

Pcl equip really is good.



Lynall

 

[Sorry Pete]

Practical classics did a test on pocket tyre pressure gauges a while back. It included dial type, digital and everything in between. The humble PCL pencil-type gauge came out top in accuracy and consistency.