+1
I have checked my TPMS vs my dial-type pressure gauge, a friend’s digital pressure gauge, and the gauge on my tire inflator. They are all w/in a 1 psi range.
I’m still trying to figure out why Chris told us in a different one of his many threads on this topic that he owns 12 tire pressure gauges. When I asked him to explain the need for that many, he told me that I was “rude”, and did not answer the question.
However, I am still intrigued by his “need” for that many essentially identical implements.
I dunno, I’ve probably got half a dozen of the pencil types. If th3 airport screeners takes one, you need a replacement. I know a couple I got free. Then I’ve got a dial type and lately I bought a fancy one that reads while putting air in. About $20. Haven’t used it yet. I did throw my old dial one away after finding out it was a couple psi off. My drawer with tire stuff is about full though so that’s it.
Just stay away from overpriced “professional” tools like milton. I paid $250 for one, and it died on me within a couple of years and maybe - MAYBE - a couple of dozens of uses.
How would you verify a tire pressure gauge is accurate ? You can verify it reads the same number on multiple tests, meaning it is consistent, but I know of no way to verify that number is actually correct.
Last summer, I called about a dozen car repair facilities, including several chain and independent garages and dealer service departments, inquiring about the presence of such master air gauge.
Only one or two respondents even remotely knew what I was talking about, and none of them actually had an example of such a device bolted to a bench in their service bays.
Why?
My theory: Consumer and pro tire gauges and filler heads have slowly evolved to becoming far more accurate and repeatable since the 1950s.
Still, without such a reference point as what I illustrated, your question remains a valid one. Oh by the way, that Haltec example is currently unavailable. Sad!
Generally, the more expensive the tire gauge, the higher the degree of accuracy, consistent pressure readings, and less likely to malfunction or break prematurely.
But for me, equally important is technique - how much time one spends, per tire - making sure that gauge reads exactly the pressure desired.
A tire pressure gauge can be compared to the pressure displayed in the vehicle or on a scan tool. Many late model vehicles provide tire pressure values on the information display, it shouldn’t take long to verify a gauge.
Outside of the gauge mfgs own factory? Not many, since Nixon or Carter!
And without such reference points just a five minute drive down the street at a local garage, it’s a challenge to verify even a current $60 Longacre or $150 Intercomp model, in analog sweep or digital format.
But the probability, at least, of those makes to be within 1psi of that bench test station, is likely much higher than for a $5 Slime tire gauge!
I find it troubling that you have been deflating tires belonging to other people because you feel they are overinflated, but you don’t know how to confirm you own gauge.
Compare your tire pressure gauge to the pressure displayed in the vehicle, on your diagnostic scan tool or TPMS diagnostic tool.
Common sense(if anyone else has such in this century!) should suggest that a manufacturer of measuring devices would have some sort of master device to check their product against, during the calibration process.
The 1-star reviews for this Accu-Gauge gauge are not pretty.
I’ve used a digital gauge the past twenty years, one I assumed was accurate. Now am not so sure. Need to find a certified calibrated gauge to measure it against, but where would that be.
What I like most about a digital scale is that the readout can’t be read wrong. 32 or 32.5 or 33, no doubting what it’s reading.
50 years ago there was no such thing as a digital pressure gauge. So you only had the pencil type gauges or a dial type gauge. And back then Accu-Gage was the top of the line.
Ha, if only I could say I wasn’t, then I’d still be a youngster today.
Tester, I wasn’t impugning your experience, just relating that a significant number of people have reported bad experiences with the Accu-Gauge tester. I remember owning one or two myself. Today, though, it’s digital for me.
Tester should have chosen “Testy” as a screen name. A bit thin-skinned. But obviously knowledgeable.
On the subject of the pressure gauges… I’ve been perplexed by this myself. I once had something like 5 gauges in various “styles” (a couple of pencils / a couple of dials - none digital) and no two read alike.
For a while I had an Accugauge dial that was a “bourdon tube” kind. I had read that the bourdon tube style is best. So I trusted it and used it to check any other gauges I had. But at some age it became apparent that mine had lost it’s sh**.
I went to a Fisher Auto parts store (independently owned franchises usually with knowledgeable people) - told them them my “dilemma” of multiple gauges that don’t read the same. They sold me a stick gauge - not a little pencil gauge you buy for $2 off the counter. More the large sticks used at a lot of tire shops. It was like $35.
I “think” it’s right, but IDK and IDK how to find out. I just use multiple gauges and basically “triangulate” - as it’s called in measurement circles.
The short answer to this VERY OLD thread is that there is no answer unless you can find a reliable testing mechanism as was posted above (e.g. by texesas)
But informative, and good and lively conversation.
I would rather contribute to an existing thread than start another one, clogging up a forum’s, or newsgroup’s, servers. Older threads benefit from hindsight, and can benefit from the contribution of new perspectives.
