# Why these stupid hand-held tire pressure gauges? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** gauges\ **Created:** [August 12, 2008, 10:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/why-these-stupid-hand-held-tire-pressure-gauges/18087 "2008-08-12T22:59:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![curtiss](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@curtiss](https://community.cartalk.com/u/curtiss)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 3:01am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/why-these-stupid-hand-held-tire-pressure-gauges/18087/21 "2008-08-14T03:01:13Z")
It is very sad that that at most gas stations air is no longer free. Maybe Obama will promise mandatory free air soon. However, I have 35 psi in my left side tires and 33 psi on the right side. My vehicles always lean to the right that way. ---
**Author:** ![Wha-Who](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9f8e36/32.png) [@Wha-Who](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Wha-Who)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 5:18am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/why-these-stupid-hand-held-tire-pressure-gauges/18087/22 "2008-08-14T05:18:14Z")
As was mentioned, pressure setting tire inflators have come and gone. I recall using one in the early 1960s. This would be a major convenience for all, myself included. There is no technical reason why this could not be done again and with likely better accuracy. I will guess that tire pressure setting inflators have been either vandalized or lawyered out of existence. It would be a simple matter now to look at the door edge or door jamb to determine front and rear tire pressure. The cold vs hot question is a problem whether you use your own gauge or someone elses. Adding 4 psi to compensate for a warm tire would be close enough. Tire pressure sensors as on our new car are somewhat inaccurate and also inconsistent. Ours needs to be reset when the tires are rotated so the tire locations are correct. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 10:27am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/why-these-stupid-hand-held-tire-pressure-gauges/18087/23 "2008-08-14T10:27:28Z")
Since we have not heard from the OP again, I assume that he is looking for someone to type his next post, thereby saving him from the effort. ---
**Author:** ![common-sense-answer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/common-sense-answer/32/716_2.png) [@common-sense-answer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/common-sense-answer)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 11:00am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/why-these-stupid-hand-held-tire-pressure-gauges/18087/24 "2008-08-14T11:00:33Z")
Leaning Right Even with even tire pressure all the way around, our vehicles lean to the right, too. Come to think of it, so do those of us driving them. Maybe there’s a connection. You mean that free air promise hasn’t been made yet? Are you sure? We should be capturing all that “hot air.” ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 2:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/why-these-stupid-hand-held-tire-pressure-gauges/18087/25 "2008-08-14T14:20:06Z")
> It is very sad that that at most gas stations air is no longer free. That was when gas stations were service stations. They actually fixed cars. Every one of them had a compressor to run their air-tools and lift. so just running a line out for the customers to use on their tires was no big deal. Now those lifts and air-tools have gone away so there’s no need to own one of those big compressors. In order to offer air they have to put in a unit that has a built in pump and uses electricity every time it’s in use. ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 2:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/why-these-stupid-hand-held-tire-pressure-gauges/18087/26 "2008-08-14T14:21:34Z")
> Even with even tire pressure all the way around, our vehicles lean to the right, too. Remove you’re 400lb mother-in-law from the front passenger seat. That’s what I did. ---
**Author:** ![common-sense-answer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/common-sense-answer/32/716_2.png) [@common-sense-answer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/common-sense-answer)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 2:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/why-these-stupid-hand-held-tire-pressure-gauges/18087/27 "2008-08-14T14:49:52Z")
Maybe claudevan is on to something. Forget about those hand held guages. Living in this “technologically sophisticated America of the 21st century,” engineers should have by now figured out a way to get the tires up higher on the sides of vehicles. I think it is ridiculous that I have to bend down to check pressure. I always wind up with a dirty knee. It isn’t fair. I’ve seen people in “even so-called third world countries” and they don’t have this problem. I’ve seen the photographs… Their knees are already dirty to begin with so it doesn’t matter. There should be a law! ---
**Author:** ![common-sense-answer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/common-sense-answer/32/716_2.png) [@common-sense-answer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/common-sense-answer)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 2:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/why-these-stupid-hand-held-tire-pressure-gauges/18087/28 "2008-08-14T14:59:28Z")
my stupid answer, (Remove you’re 400lb mother-in-law from the front passenger seat. That’s what I did.) That’s exactly what I did, too! The only problem was that she was replaced by 2 kids with, soccer equipment, hockey equipment, basketball stuff, golf clubs, scuba pieces, science fair projects, fund-raiser candy bars, pop bottles, folding chairs to watch sports from, friends of kids, rock collections in arm rests… and on and on… ---
**Author:** ![otterhere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecc23a/32.png) [@otterhere](https://community.cartalk.com/u/otterhere)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 3:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/why-these-stupid-hand-held-tire-pressure-gauges/18087/29 "2008-08-14T15:40:52Z")
Thanks for the rant; I totally agree… I never use them simply because I end up letting out at least as much air as I end up putting in (so why bother?), and it gets my hands all dirty and greasy; who needs it? I eyeball it and hope for the best, LOL. ---
**Author:** ![otterhere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecc23a/32.png) [@otterhere](https://community.cartalk.com/u/otterhere)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 3:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/why-these-stupid-hand-held-tire-pressure-gauges/18087/30 "2008-08-14T15:49:30Z")
Obama certainly has a lot of hot air; perhaps he will make the equitable distribution one of his priorites. ---
**Author:** ![JorgeT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JorgeT](https://community.cartalk.com/u/JorgeT)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 4:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/why-these-stupid-hand-held-tire-pressure-gauges/18087/31 "2008-08-14T16:35:10Z")
what you mean by not longer free? O\_o as far as i know the air is free worldwide ---
**Author:** ![ken\_green](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/ken_green/32/816_2.png) [@ken\_green](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ken_green)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 5:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/why-these-stupid-hand-held-tire-pressure-gauges/18087/32 "2008-08-14T17:30:52Z")
What’s stupid about YOU being an active participant in your car’s proper maintainance and function ??? One MAJOR benefit of those “stupid handheld tire pressure guages” is that while performing the pressure adjustment on each tire…YOU are actually SEEING the physical condition of each sidewall and tread and no computer or automatic machine is going to be able to BABY-SIT you for this invaluable information. ---
**Author:** ![otterhere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecc23a/32.png) [@otterhere](https://community.cartalk.com/u/otterhere)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 5:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/why-these-stupid-hand-held-tire-pressure-gauges/18087/33 "2008-08-14T17:47:12Z")
Air: 75 cents most places ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Boomer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Captain\_Boomer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Captain_Boomer)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 5:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/why-these-stupid-hand-held-tire-pressure-gauges/18087/34 "2008-08-14T17:53:06Z")
To be fair to the OP, I really doubt he’s the only one who hates messing with pressure gauges and hoses. I detest it myself but I accept it as a necessary chore if I want the utility and options that come with car ownership. To make it easier by my way of thinking I use a portable air tank with a trigger valve, an inline pressure gauge and a hose nozzle that clamps onto the tire stem. Just attach the nozzle, tap the trigger until the gauge reads where I want it and pop off the nozzle. It takes less time to fill the tires than it takes to fill the fuel tank. What valid reason could I possibly have to not do it? ---
**Author:** ![ken\_green](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/ken_green/32/816_2.png) [@ken\_green](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ken_green)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 6:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/why-these-stupid-hand-held-tire-pressure-gauges/18087/35 "2008-08-14T18:24:58Z")
For which we ALL pay more to cover the buisiness overhead cost to BABY-SIT claudevan cuz he cant take the precious time out of his day to properly care for his vehicle. Don’t you dare raise the price to me for your laziness, I have a nice pressure guage in every glove box and in two tool baoxes thank you very much. ---
**Author:** ![\_Deleted\_User111](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/a9adbd/32.png) [@\_Deleted\_User111](https://community.cartalk.com/u/_Deleted_User111)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 9:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/why-these-stupid-hand-held-tire-pressure-gauges/18087/36 "2008-08-14T21:44:26Z")
I have a minor concern about those “stupid hand held guages.” I bought, from Snap-On no less, three rather pricey dial type guages that all read differently. Just because you buy the hottest, most expensive one is no guarantee of accuracy. I took them to a tire store that had an industrial type, adjustable, large pressure guage. I had them test each guage and wrote on the face what it should read for the spec for my tires. I have a real problem with hi-tech pressure monitoring systems on board the vehicle. I have observed that the smarter the cars get, the stupider the drivers get. We need this stuff precicely because we have gotten so damn lazy. My mother knew how to check her own tires, and I think she could check and change her own oil, though I never saw her do it. Child of the depression. Our lives have become lives spent looking for somebody to holde our hands and tell us it’s allright. If we don’t get what we want we sue. Get a good guage and learn how to use it. ---
**Author:** ![ken\_green](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/ken_green/32/816_2.png) [@ken\_green](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ken_green)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 9:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/why-these-stupid-hand-held-tire-pressure-gauges/18087/37 "2008-08-14T21:58:35Z")
So buy a HUM-VEE , the full size military version can have driver actuated deflatable and re-inflatable tires for those sand dunes in the desert. ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2008, 2:00am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/why-these-stupid-hand-held-tire-pressure-gauges/18087/38 "2008-08-15T02:00:12Z")
> what you mean by not longer free? > O\_o as far as i know the air is free worldwide The air is free…but you have to pay for the electricity and use of their pump to put the air into the tires. ---
**Author:** ![MrPhil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecccb3/32.png) [@MrPhil](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MrPhil)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2008, 11:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/why-these-stupid-hand-held-tire-pressure-gauges/18087/39 "2008-08-17T23:26:48Z")
it would eventually do what all machines do-malfunction. Who bears the responsibility if this machine malfunctions and overinflates the tire and it bursts in your face, or if bursts on the highway and you crash into a tree? Many years ago, I was filling a low tire on a VW Bug at a gas station. I set the pressure cutoff to 28psi (or whatever the tire was supposed to take… it had a very slow leak). I pumped… and pumped… and pumped… with no shutoff. I thought that odd, and removed the nozzle and put my pencil gauge on the tire: 65psi! I’m lucky the tire hadn’t burst and killed me. Now I have a high quality round gauge with a fitting that lets me monitor the pressure as I fill it. Is anyone else not amused that J Mc is ridiculing 'bama for suggesting we keep our tires properly inflated? If I had a nickel for every obviously underinflated tire I’ve seen at a traffic light, I’d be a rich man. Maybe it won’t save as much gas as claimed, but it certainly will help. I don’t know if I’ll vote for O.B., but I’m sure as hell not going to vote for someone as stupid as J.M. ---
**Author:** ![jkd80401](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/73ab20/32.png) [@jkd80401](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jkd80401)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 8:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/why-these-stupid-hand-held-tire-pressure-gauges/18087/40 "2008-08-18T20:03:52Z")
The good hosts of this site, Click and Clack, sell a nice pressure gauge which is pleasure to use. I liked mine so much I bought them for my adult children for Christmas. A delight to use, although finding compressed air is getting harder month by month. jkd [Previous page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/why-these-stupid-hand-held-tire-pressure-gauges/18087.md?page=1) [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/why-these-stupid-hand-held-tire-pressure-gauges/18087.md?page=3)