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Digital tire pressure gauge that doesn't s@&k?

VolvoRyan

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I feel like this should be a dumb question. Just looking for a simple digital tire pressure gauge that doesn't leak like a sieve when you put it on the valve stem.

Should be an easy thing to find, but the market is just flooded with crummy ones.... that let 1-2psi out of the tire before I get a reading. There's got to be something that works.

I have a classic-style Milton that I love, but that's gotta be on a pressurized air hose to work. Sometimes I just want to do a quick check and not have to deal with the compressor.

What's out there?

Thanks!

-Ryan
 
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Hohn

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Komet

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I have an Accutire digital gauge and it's good for a quick read, never had any problems with it.

These days I find myself just hooking up the M18 Inflator to every tire for the effortless mechanical consistency but there have been times when I just wanted to know the pressure.
 

M6erfan

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Ooooh. Added to cart. I wanted digital, but this achieves the same functionality with the pressure release button.

Thanks!

-Ryan

I had a couple of these over the years, one 30psi and one 60psi. Total **** IMO. Each stopped working in short order, threw them in the garbage.

OTOH, I've had my Longacre gauges (analog) for many years with no issues.
 
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VolvoRyan

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These days I find myself just hooking up the M18 Inflator to every tire for the effortless mechanical consistency but there have been times when I just wanted to know the pressure.

Yep. I need to get an inflator. Gotta invest in something bigger than the M12 platform first. ;) I often just want a gauge to check up on things. In the spring, I often am letting air *out* of tires as the temps rise. We had a 30F cold snap come through in the last day or two, now I'm adding air to everything.


OTOH, I've had my Longacre gauges (analog) for many years with no issues.

Thanks for that. I'll check into it.

-Ryan
 

Sumboodie

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Yep. I need to get an inflator. Gotta invest in something bigger than the M12 platform first. ;) I often just want a gauge to check up on things. In the spring, I often am letting air *out* of tires as the temps rise. We had a 30F cold snap come through in the last day or two, now I'm adding air to everything.




Thanks for that. I'll check into it.

-Ryan
Why did your tires go flat at 30*? I've seen them go a couple psi low when it's -40*, but never have added air.
 

dcoleman88

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I second Genral Geoff's suggestion, love my 3018. Astro has some other options as well.
 

aka Larry

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Astro Pneumatic 3018. Accept no substitutes.

71sF16wgPkL._AC_SL1500_.jpg


It's an inflator, BUT you can use it as a standalone pressure gauge as well without letting air out of the tire you're checking.

Not sure if there is a newer version of the above, but on my Astro one the battery life is VERY short due to the backlight, and the battery is a b*tch to change. Do people really check pressure in the dark?

I went back to an analog gauge and haven't regretted it.
 

General Geoff

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Not sure if there is a newer version of the above, but on my Astro one the battery life is VERY short due to the backlight, and the battery is a b*tch to change. Do people really check pressure in the dark?
Got mine 3 years ago and it's still on my first set of batteries. The version I have does not turn on the back light without an extra button press.

I dont recall the batteries being difficult at all to put in. Peel back the rubber cover and there's a little door that holds two AAA batteries.

Screenshot_20231101-101051_Amazon Shopping.jpg
 

aka Larry

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Got mine 3 years ago and it's still on my first set of batteries. The version I have does not turn on the back light without an extra button press.

I dont recall the batteries being difficult at all to put in.

Mine is about 6 years old or so and the backlight came on every time it was used. No button press required. The entire rubber cover had to be removed the replace the battery. IIRC, it lasted less than six months. I actually still have it, but it's not in use.
 

Jeff

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I got this Kobalt digital gauge years ago, on sale for $5 I think. It's not fancy, kind of cheap plastic, but it works. Batteries only changed once. It's never failed.

64011781.jpg
 
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toddmorr

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Mine is about 6 years old or so and the backlight came on every time it was used. No button press required. The entire rubber cover had to be removed the replace the battery. IIRC, it lasted less than six months. I actually still have it, but it's not in use.
Got the matco equivalent to the ASTRO and same problem, battery lasts a couple weeks, really annoying
 
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VolvoRyan

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I got this Kobalt digital gauge years ago, on sale for $5 I think. It's not fancy, kind of cheap plastic, but it works. Batteries only changed once. It's never failed.

64011781.jpg

I feel like there was a time that this "style" was really good across the board. Good tight fit onto the valve stems, and super precise reading to one decimal place.

-Ryan
 

engineer2

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Do the math on the specs. +/-0.5% is typical for the 2 button Chinese digital gauge many of these use.
The real spec is +/-0.5% of Full Scale +1LSD, so on a 100.0 psi gauge is will be within 0.6 psi at room temperature.
If they claim the same with a 100.00 readout, the end digit is meaningless.
The Chinese gauges aren't for liquids and will be less accurate as you get away from room temperature.
The Astro looks to be about +/-0.7%FS, OK, but not that great. Fortunately for cars +/-2 psi is adequate.
Cecomp supplies the gauges for most racing teams, but they don't offer hoses/fill/bleed apparatus.
 

dnschmidt

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Not sure if there is a newer version of the above, but on my Astro one the battery life is VERY short due to the backlight, and the battery is a b*tch to change. Do people really check pressure in the dark?

I went back to an analog gauge and haven't regretted it.
All true about the previous model. The current version uses normal batteries and they are much simpler to change out. I pitched this ***** to ASTRO years ago and unlike most companies ASTRO actually listens and made the change.
 

toddmorr

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I vaguely remember reading something you could do to improve the battery life, short of removing the batteries each time you use it
 
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VolvoRyan

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Thanks for the help, all!

For $20, I couldn't justify not trying out the Jaco first. A Longacre seems to be the runner up. I'll try that next. I went analog instead of digital.

-Ryan
 

speed88

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Thanks for the help, all!

For $20, I couldn't justify not trying out the Jaco first. A Longacre seems to be the runner up. I'll try that next. I went analog instead of digital.

-Ryan
Sorry to bring an old thread back but how are you liking the tire gauge? Project farm just did a video on tire gauges and the digital one rated really high. I’m just curious how it is holding up for you.
 

seber

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Heavy duty stick gauge has never let me down. I have two. One has been in use for over 50 years. Not the cheap ones like Milton. The type used for class 10 trucks.
 
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VolvoRyan

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Sorry to bring an old thread back but how are you liking the tire gauge? Project farm just did a video on tire gauges and the digital one rated really high. I’m just curious how it is holding up for you.

Works great! Perfect in the Spring when I'm letting air out of tires. Most importantly, it seals well on all the valve stems here. I didn't think I'd like an analog gauge as mush as I do.

-Ryan
 

thool

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I'd love to see a gauge that fits fully over the stem without letting any air out. Then the user squeezes a grip that first clamps the threads with an airtight cuff, and then pushes in the valve. There should be absolutely no air leakage.

Make it with a lithium ion battery, chargeable via USB-C, large high contrast backlit display that works in direct sunlight.

Extra credit if you can bluetooth it to your phone and it does a voice recognition: "Rear passenger tire on truck" and it puts in the pressure and a timestamp.

Lifetime warranty except battery, and price it for $100. I'd buy one.
 
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VolvoRyan

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I'd love to see a gauge that fits fully over the stem without letting any air out. Then the user squeezes a grip that first clamps the threads with an airtight cuff, and then pushes in the valve. There should be absolutely no air leakage.

Make it with a lithium ion battery, chargeable via USB-C, large high contrast backlit display that works in direct sunlight.

Extra credit if you can bluetooth it to your phone and it does a voice recognition: "Rear passenger tire on truck" and it puts in the pressure and a timestamp.

Lifetime warranty except battery, and price it for $100. I'd buy one.

Measures your blood pressure while you use it, too?

-Ryan
 

username2

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This is of no value whatsoever since it's got nothing to do with the original post.

The only gauge that I've ever really liked is those Moroso analog ones. Works a charm with no leaking.

Now, if I could just find an inflator that works as well. Every one I've tried, including the name brand ones, was garbage.
 
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scooby074

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I'd love to see a gauge that fits fully over the stem without letting any air out. Then the user squeezes a grip that first clamps the threads with an airtight cuff, and then pushes in the valve. There should be absolutely no air leakage.

Make it with a lithium ion battery, chargeable via USB-C, large high contrast backlit display that works in direct sunlight.

Extra credit if you can bluetooth it to your phone and it does a voice recognition: "Rear passenger tire on truck" and it puts in the pressure and a timestamp.

Lifetime warranty except battery, and price it for $100. I'd buy one.

The coupler at least sounds pretty close to the coupler used on the LockAndLube air chuck. I got one and the dammed thing is just about the best for inflating tires! I use it several times a week. Expensive, but worth it IMHO. https://www.garagejournal.com/forum...ir-chucks-for-inflators.508410/#post-10291108

capture66-jpg.1945010
 

bobg03

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Air pressure was important for motorcycles, I have a Cruz Tools analog (hose w/quick release) that is about 12 years old and a newer one that's about 5 years old. They both test to dead nuts with no issues. The older one got used regularly at the dragstrip.
 
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