Tire Pressure Gauge - Which One is Accurate?

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NotGumby

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Hi Friends,

I’m looking for a recommendation for a accurate tire pressure gauge. I have three (TuffTek, ViAir, and “no-name”. Between the three there is a 7 psi difference. It’s driving me “crazy”.

Any recommendations? TÜV approved brands?

Thanks, Rick
 
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El-Dracho

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Hi Rick,

Uh, 7 psi or 0.5 bar is significant difference.

I use a tire inflator/measuring device of a type which are also used in professional workshops. It is alread several years old, made in France, cannot read the brand anymore as it is heavily used. It is sufficiently accurate for my purposes. If you want it to be very precise, I would use a calibrated device from a brand manufacturer in the workshop sector, e.g. Hazet. Or you can look here in Germany at the motorsports specialist Sandtler for a proper tire presure gauge.

Cheers, Björn
 
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LostInThought

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Pick one and use only it. The absolute pressure isn't as important as being consistent.

I use Longacre stuff for setting the tire pressure on my race cars. They have always been accurate, but they are also fairly expensive.
I second Longacre. it is both consistent and accurate.
 

MazeVX

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So in Germany there's always a way out if you are searching for accurate measurements, buy something that is "geeicht"
By the way, those unprecise stuff drives me crazy as well, also the gauges doing triple of the necessary pressure making it impossible to read out the 1/10

I post you a link:


This is a calibrated version so the pressure is certified correct.
 

NotGumby

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Hi Rick,

Uh, 7 psi or 0.5 bar is significant difference.

I use a tire inflator/measuring device of a type which are also used in professional workshops. It is alread several years old, made in France, cannot read the brand anymore as it is heavily used. It is sufficiently accurate for my purposes. If you want it to be very precise, I would use a calibrated device from a brand manufacturer in the workshop sector, e.g. Hazet. Or you can look here in Germany at the motorsports specialist Sandtler for a proper tire presure gauge.

Cheers, Björn
Thanks for the two tips Björn I will check them out.

Rick
 
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NotGumby

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Watching thread. Somehow the air gauge on my Viair seems way off compared to my built in tire pressure monitor and other inflator tools I have.
Mine as well. It’s a 5+ variance to my other gauges.
 
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NotGumby

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I’ll check out Longacre. Picking one and sticking with it is good advice.
 
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NotGumby

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So in Germany there's always a way out if you are searching for accurate measurements, buy something that is "geeicht"
By the way, those unprecise stuff drives me crazy as well, also the gauges doing triple of the necessary pressure making it impossible to read out the 1/10

I post you a link:


This is a calibrated version so the pressure is certified correct.
Thanks for the link Mathias. I’m checking it out now. My ViAir is the same with no 1/10 markings.
 
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NotGumby

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Pick one and use only it. The absolute pressure isn't as important as being consistent.

I use Longacre stuff for setting the tire pressure on my race cars. They have always been accurate, but they are also fairly expensive.
That’s a good point. The problem is the # of gauges. I’m willing to pay for accuracy, reliability, and durability.
 
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slomatt

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I ran into a similar problem a while ago where all of my gauges read different values, which led to a bit of a rabbit hole learning about ASME gauge grading.

The tl;dr version is that there are two main grades:
- Grade 1A is +/- 1% across the scale
- Grade B is ±3-2-3% depending on if you are reading a side or middle of the scale

More info here

Grade 1A gauges are quite expensive, so I went with a Grade B gauge where my normal street pressure (~30psi) is right in the middle of the scale at the most accurate point. I've been happy with this, and it reads very close to a commercial digital pressure gauge I have for another project.

The above gauge is on my DIY tire inflater setup. I also have a "quick read" style gauge in both cars for fast pressure checks. These again are rated Grade B with my normal pressure in the middle of the range.
 

NotGumby

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I ran into a similar problem a while ago where all of my gauges read different values, which led to a bit of a rabbit hole learning about ASME gauge grading.

The tl;dr version is that there are two main grades:
- Grade 1A is +/- 1% across the scale
- Grade B is ±3-2-3% depending on if you are reading a side or middle of the scale

More info here

Grade 1A gauges are quite expensive, so I went with a Grade B gauge where my normal street pressure (~30psi) is right in the middle of the scale at the most accurate point. I've been happy with this, and it reads very close to a commercial digital pressure gauge I have for another project.

The above gauge is on my DIY tire inflater setup. I also have a "quick read" style gauge in both cars for fast pressure checks. These again are rated Grade B with my normal pressure in the middle of the range.

Thanks for the link and suggestions!
 

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Well, actually I know for sure that there is always a difference between them.
So, what I do is I have a compressor with gauge at home.
Will check with that one and then with the one I have in the car.
I notice the difference and when I am airing up at a gaststation or such, I can check with that one.
Always the one method that suits me.
 
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My T4R has TPMS readouts and I assume Toyota wants me to set the recommended pressures to read correctly on their system. My tire pressure gauge is 2 pounds out, so I adjust accordingly.
 

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Hi Friends,

I’m looking for a recommendation for a accurate tire pressure gauge. I have three (TuffTek, ViAir, and “no-name”. Between the three there is a 7 psi difference. It’s driving me “crazy”.

Any recommendations? TÜV approved brands?

Thanks, Rick
So, which one did you end up buying?
 
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NotGumby

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Hi Friends,

I’m looking for a recommendation for a accurate tire pressure gauge. I have three (TuffTek, ViAir, and “no-name”. Between the three there is a 7 psi difference. It’s driving me “crazy”.

Any recommendations? TÜV approved brands?

Thanks, Rick
So, which one did you end up buying?
I didn’t want to spend the money on yet another gauge, so I’m following the advice pick ONE and use it. Staying with the TuffTek. The rest were banned to the garage.
 
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Get Out GO

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If you do get to a stage where you want to change, I can highly recommend IndeFlate as an In/Deflator and guage;
 
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