Tyre Gauge

Author
Discussion

sam919

Original Poster:

1,078 posts

197 months

Wednesday 19th March 2008
quotequote all
Hi,

Anyone know of a good and accurate tyre gauge with .1 psi or lower increments. I have bought a couple from Ebay, new, one eats batteries like there going out of fashion, the other is extremely inaccurate.

Any Ideas???

Jubal

930 posts

230 months

Wednesday 19th March 2008
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I have a halfords jobbie which has lasted ages:

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

I can't vouch for absolute accuracy but as long as it's in the ball park then relative accuracy will be fine for me as I tweak pressures.

hugh_

3,550 posts

242 months

Thursday 20th March 2008
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I've got a £10 digital one from Machine Mart. Theoretically its accurate to 0.5psi, but I don't believe it because back to back testing on the same tyre gave pressures varying (up and down) inconsistently.

Steve_D

13,753 posts

259 months

Friday 21st March 2008
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I use the Halfords £4.99 jobbie so can't help with anything more specific but have to ask, Why do you need 0.1 accuracy?

Even something like this http://www.tyresonline.net/shop_details.asp?produc... only offers +/-1% accuracy. And nothing offered by Burtons of Merlin who supply for the racing fraternity appears to be any better.

Steve

hugh_

3,550 posts

242 months

Friday 21st March 2008
quotequote all
Just had a look around the site that Steve linked to and found this which is accurate to 0.1psi

X-man

248 posts

217 months

Friday 21st March 2008
quotequote all
sam919 said:
Hi,

Anyone know of a good and accurate tyre gauge with .1 psi or lower increments. I have bought a couple from Ebay, new, one eats batteries like there going out of fashion, the other is extremely inaccurate.

Any Ideas???
When i was karting i spent £80 on a gauge 0-30psi in 0.5 increments, i also tried a cycle pump to inflate the tyres which also had a gauge on it and was just as accurate as the £80 version(gutted)so i think with cheaper ones it's pot luck.

Steve_D

13,753 posts

259 months

Friday 21st March 2008
quotequote all
hugh_ said:
Just had a look around the site that Steve linked to and found this which is accurate to 0.1psi
The description says it is accurate and it displays in 0.1 increments but does not actually define its accuracy.
So back to my earlier question. Why does it need to be that accurate?

Steve

sam919

Original Poster:

1,078 posts

197 months

Friday 21st March 2008
quotequote all
A calibrated one would be good, i have just bought a longacres one from GPR, analogue so no batteries. 0-30 psi so will do most applications.

0.1 increments, the more accurate you can be the better, if it doesnt go up in 0.1 psi increments then it is more time out of ten going to be .5 increments. The question then is when does it go up to the next .5? eg. 15.0 -15.5 - 16.0, does it go to 16.0 when its at 15.75 and does it go to 15.5 when its at 15.25, if this is the case then the difference is 15.75-15.25 = 0.5 psi, which will make a difference, thats why i asked about the .1 increments.


John Cox

4 posts

219 months

Saturday 22nd March 2008
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I have 2 Accutire analogue guages 0-30 and 0-60 and can recommend them. I had them both checked with the Weights and Measures department of the local council at each 10psi increment. A full report for free! They were only 'out' by 2% at 20psi and 40psi respectively. Very good value, try this company: http://www.international-tool.co.uk/

dilbert

7,741 posts

232 months

Saturday 22nd March 2008
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TBH, those digital gauges may tell you that you're getting 0.1PSI accuracy, but they won't in reality. The only way to get the sort of precision you're after is with something like this;

http://www.budenberg.co.uk/fileupload/media/mediaD...

Even if the digital one can do a reasonably accurate instantaneous delta of 0.1, over time, it's going to be all over the place.

Edited by dilbert on Saturday 22 March 09:57

Steve_D

13,753 posts

259 months

Saturday 22nd March 2008
quotequote all
Can I be really boring and ask for the third time why you feel you need 0.1psi accuracy?

As many replies have indicated having a display in 1, 2 or 10 decimal places does not imply that the gauge is accurate to those levels.

I am not a motorsport expert but would not have thought tyre pressures would be controlled down to that level. In order to do so you would also need to know the tyre/air temperature and perhaps even barometric pressure. You would also need to be running nitrogen rich air to keep the pressure more stable under temperature change conditions.

If you want to know what is happening when out on the road or track day I would recommend the tyre monitoring system I have on my Ultima. Smartire has a sensor in each wheel and a display on the dash. I won't go into all the details but would say that its claimed accuracy is 1.5psi. It will also display the air temperature in the tyre and you can set various alerts for pressure and temperature.

Steve

sam919

Original Poster:

1,078 posts

197 months

Saturday 22nd March 2008
quotequote all
0.1 increments, the more accurate you can be the better, if it doesnt go up in 0.1 psi increments then it is more time out of ten going to be .5 increments. The question then is when does it go up to the next .5? eg. 15.0 -15.5 - 16.0, does it go to 16.0 when its at 15.75 and does it go to 15.5 when its at 15.25, if this is the case then the difference is 15.75-15.25 = 0.5 psi, which will make a difference, thats why i asked about the .1 increments.

0.5 psi can make a difference.

X-man

248 posts

217 months

Saturday 22nd March 2008
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In karting you would notice .5psi with a 5 or 6 inch rim, however in a car tyre you will not notice such a small variation in pressure.

sam919

Original Poster:

1,078 posts

197 months

Sunday 23rd March 2008
quotequote all
0.5 psi in car well set-up will make a difference, and has done in the past, accurate data logging can confirm this