What's your favorite tire pressure gauge, and why?

[Paul Merolla]

[QUOTE=nhramnl;609176]

Originally Posted by curtis reed

I use a Longacre digital 0-60lb gauge. I recommend digital to people because you can check the front and back tire pressure with one gauge.

Some years ago, Gary Stinnett helped me learn about the benefits of a 0-60 gauges, too. As Curtis says, it's really handy to be able to do all four tires, just by moving around the car. I actually don't care very much what the gauge reads, as long as it doesn't vary and I use the same gauge all the time. If the "real", tire pressure, verified by the Intergalactic Bureau of Weights and Measures master gauge is 20#, but my gauge reads 21#, who cares? Kinda like Density Altitude; if your computer says 2300 feet and mine says 2450, I just use 2450 as my baseline DA for the day and don't worry about it. There is no truly "right" value, there is only an accurate, consistent value provided by YOUR equipment.

I agree completely on both counts...I bought the current one because the range is high enough to read the fronts, but the increments are too close together to be accurate to the 1/2 psi. The digital would solve that.
To your other point about being ok as long as you use the same gauge all the time, that's true except when that gauge is off by 2 psi or when that gauge gives inconsistent readings. (Which mine does)

[Lenny5160]

Originally Posted by Paul Merolla

To your other point about being ok as long as you use the same gauge all the time, that's true except when that gauge is off by 2 psi or when that gauge gives inconsistent readings. (Which mine does)

You definitely don't want inconsistent readings, but what difference does it make if the gauge is consistently off by 2 psi? In any case, you need to use the PSI that works best for your car so if you are finding that PSI on your gauge, the accuracy of the number is somewhat irrelevant.

I might feel differently if I raced Top Sportsman, but I think the importance of crazy precise tire pressures is very much overblown. I do use a large-face 0-15 PSI gauge for my dragster, but it's the cheapest one I could find.

[Paul Merolla]

Originally Posted by Lenny5160

I might feel differently if I raced Top Sportsman, but I think the importance of crazy precise tire pressures is very much overblown. I do use a large-face 0-15 PSI gauge for my dragster, but it's the cheapest one I could find.

You also might feel differently if you raced a stick car on 9" tires!

[Doug Walker]

Intercomp makes one with a range of 0 - 100 psi. Carry it in my pickup truck. Best one I could find for truck and trailer tires.

[Lenny5160]

Originally Posted by Paul Merolla

You also might feel differently if you raced a stick car on 9" tires!

I realize that a stick is a very different animal, but my #1 car uses a transbrake on 9" tires and I usually only check the tires before the first and second pass of the day. I've never seen it to matter that much on any of my stuff.

[nhramnl]

Originally Posted by Lenny5160

I realize that a stick is a very different animal, but my #1 car uses a transbrake on 9" tires and I usually only check the tires before the first and second pass of the day. I've never seen it to matter that much on any of my stuff.

I think you guys might be talking past each other, here. What Lenny is saying (and I agree with him) is that the NUMBER your gauge gives you is pretty meaningless. Only two things matter: 1) the number displayed on your gauge is the number at which the car reliably hooks, 60-foots well, and is safe at the other end; and 2) the gauge which produces the number does not vary at all in its measurement and display of said number. It is completely reliable.

If my gauge tells me that my tire pressure is 27 psi, and 9 other gauges read within a quarter of a pound of 22 pounds, what do I care what my gauge reads, as long as my 27 pounds always corresponds to the 22 pounds seen on all the other gauges? If, every time I check my tire pressure, I see 27 pounds, I know I'm right where I need to be.

The only legitimate concern is that I might worry because I don't know the ACTUAL tire pressure, but the whole point of this discussion is that I really NEVER know the perfect pressure, because there is always variation in gauges. Kinda like the outdoor thermometers on bank signs...

[brian schuetta]

My Moroso 0-60 dial gauge is six pounds off other gauges both my slide one and the local tire shops. Moroso will read 34 and everyone else is at 40. Can the Moroso gauge be recalibrated? I can see a pound off but not six.

[ImBack]

I have a Moroso lighted gauge I've had for years that works pretty good,.I've had a couple digital Jegs gauges that were real finicky and you had to reset them, because they show .10 instead of 0.

[Larry Hill]

5", 0-30 psi, 270* sweep, +/- 1/4%, with adjustable zero, that I purchased at an army surplus store 30 years ago. It repeats very well.