Accurate Tire Pressure Gauges

[latzke]

I recently realized just how inaccurate tire pressure gauges can be (like my $8 "inflation chuck with pressure gauge" from Harbor Freight, which reads 10lbs when hooked to nothing).

So, I started looking for a gauge that would be reliably accurate. I started at Pegasus Auto Racing Supplies and quickly became familiar with the brand "Intercomp." Went to site and they have 29 different tire pressure gauges (I didn't count the shock gauges and other items in the section).

The only gauges where accuracy is really identified are hundreds of dollars, which seems silly. Staying in the sub-$70 range there are still a lot of gauges. Some of the differences I'd expect (different effective ranges, different display face sizes), some seem trivial (glow in the dark or not), and then there are the "liquid-filled" gauges - with descriptions that don't explain why one would want such.

So, what tire pressure gauges are you all confident considering "accurate" and what are these "liquid-filled" contraptions all about?

I'm not looking to get talked into a more-expensive gauge (don't see myself spending $60 on a gauge), just curious...especially since I couldn't find info on this using the search.

 

[docjohn]

This won't answer some of your ?'s but it has some info.:wink: http://www.nsxprime.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16363&highlight=gauges+tire+pressure

 

[92 white 0650]

The SCCA club racers in our paddock use a $35 Longacre 0-30 psi gage that we buy from Roger Krause our Goodyear slick supplier. We start cold at 15-16 psi and using just air, our hot pressure is 20.5 psi. I don't see a model # on it but it's not liquid filled. It has a rubber donut cushion to soften any impact. He sells a similar 0-60 psi gage for about the same amount for the big cars. That's all I know.

 

[KazO]

The Longacre ones are pretty popular among the BMWCCA folks too. The ones on inflators and the cheap pencil ones are the worst. I've had like 4 or 5 of em and they're all off from each other. The digital Accutire ones are OK, but most are to 0.5psi, so they can be off by 1psi (+/- 0.5). I also have one sold by Griot's Garage with 0.1psi, which seem to track pretty much with the Longacre ones. What I've noticed with the digital ones in particular is they don't seem to be very accurate at low pressures. I'd say in general, like with torque wrenches, stay away from ones that have a very wide range.

I seem to recall reading that the liquid ones are supposed to be more durable, but that they're sensitive to temp and/or altitude (I forget which).

Unless you're tracking a lot and need very accurate and consistent readings from use to use (i.e. tuning performance in <1psi increments), an inexpensive digital one is probably a good bet. Cheaper mechanical ones are probably more likely to have unit-to-unit variances.

 

[nsx2tall]

I like this digital guage from McMaster-Carr. I use it for setting track tire temps, but it's not prohibitively expensive, pretty cheap actually. 3-300 psi reading at +/-1% of reading accuracy.

IMO, bleed valve is a requirement for any tire pressure gauge.

 

[4mulacar]

I recently realized just how inaccurate tire pressure gauges can be (like my $8 "inflation chuck with pressure gauge" from Harbor Freight, which reads 10lbs when hooked to nothing).

So, I started looking for a gauge that would be reliably accurate. I started at Pegasus Auto Racing Supplies and quickly became familiar with the brand "Intercomp." Went to site and they have 29 different tire pressure gauges (I didn't count the shock gauges and other items in the section).

The only gauges where accuracy is really identified are hundreds of dollars, which seems silly. Staying in the sub-$70 range there are still a lot of gauges. Some of the differences I'd expect (different effective ranges, different display face sizes), some seem trivial (glow in the dark or not), and then there are the "liquid-filled" gauges - with descriptions that don't explain why one would want such.

So, what tire pressure gauges are you all confident considering "accurate" and what are these "liquid-filled" contraptions all about?

I'm not looking to get talked into a more-expensive gauge (don't see myself spending $60 on a gauge), just curious...especially since I couldn't find info on this using the search.

Hello we have liquid filled guages on certain pieces of rotating equipment and the reasons are the following:

The liquid absorbs vibration and pressure spikes.

The dampening action of the liquid enables the operator to take reading during conditions of rapid dynamic loading and vibration.

The liquid lubricates all moving elements, dramatically reducing wear in the movement.

Because most liquid-filled gauges are filled with non-aqueous liquid and hermetically sealed, they perform in corrosive environments and are immune to moisture penetration and icing.

However the last one is not always true but 90% of the time it is. Our metrology people have to repair our guages and then properly vent the little buggers and this can be a pain!

To actually answer your question most racers do not need liquid filled guages unless you can afford them and your help abuses the living heck out of your stuff! I would just find new help!

I have never found the need for better than .1 pounds accuracy on a formula car and this is even subjective depending on if I'm looking at the guage perpindicular to the face or not, so in my own humble defense I do not believe I can read the guage to the level of accuracy I've just stated!

 

[docjohn]

If you are very curious about how acurate your gauge is just take it to a shop that tests mechanical devices.Most large urban centers have shops that routinely have to recalibrate machines/tools. They can deliver an exact pressure to the gauge.

 

[LJSB]

I have and use one of these.

 

[normalfellow]

i use the longacre for years all ready and even use it on the drag race car too which demands very narrow range of error. hoep that helps

 

[tosugrad]

So my $15 digital gauge from Sears / Radio Shack is NOT giving me a good reading??

 

[An2ny]

I remember reading people that tested different Tire Pressure Gauges and there was a range of difference of +/ – 8psi . if you can get one +/- 1 is great and it is not going to make a big difference for street driving/ Autocross or Track Days.
If you are really concern about the accuracy of the gauge just get one that you can recalibrate.

 

[4mulacar]

I just finshed running my avatar this weekend and has enormous troubles getting my tires up to temperature this weekend and in using my Longacre guages with a visual accuracy of .5 lbs. lowering my pressure 1 lb helped tremendously. I have never raced a car in anger with street tires so I cannot help you much there other than to say an accuracy of probably +- 1lb should be more than enough and I have to agree if you want excellent accuracy then you will need to search out calibraitable pressure guages.