tire gauge digital vs dial

[goodwrench]

anbody have any thoughts on digital tire gauges and digital inflator gauges? i really like the looks of the astro 3018? and I really like the accu-gage dial gauges? so anybody have any thoughts? I believe the astro would even work on my atv tires? seems like the digital would cover a wider range of tire pressures? I really want something durable that I could use for say 5# atv tires to 35# car tires to 50-60# trailer tires. May have to get like the astro for high pressure and a 0-15 dial gauge for the atv... so anybody have any thoughts?

later!! Chris

 

[JJThrasher]

Analog is generally cheaper and just as accurate. We do have a master gauge at work we use for calibration purposes, its digital, but I wouldn't be using it on tires. I've been using a 0-100 psi dial gauge, before that I used a Blue Point 10-120 psi pencil gauge. If you really want precision at low pressures you're probably best off with an ATV or drag racing gauge.

 

[Backpack Hunter]

I have a digital one by Tire Minder I believe. Seems to work fine, but I never had a problem with any other one either.

 

[MrGiggles]

All I really use is a Tekton digital gauge. It's a lot handier and accurate than pencil and round gauges, and most cheap gauges won't go past 50 psi.

 

[cheechi]

my digital checker is close enough after comparing it with a dial that I trust. I like an inflator with an analog gage, be it dial or stick. I don't think digital in the inflator saves you any effort.

 

[Thezapper]

The Astro gauge is nice, really nice..... I paid about 120 cdn for it. Best money I ever spent. I was tired of buying cheaper needle type gauges for 30-50 dollar range. Owned it for about a month now and all is copacetic....

 

[Fedwrench]

Digital is the only way to go especially if servicing TPMS equipped vehicles
The updated Astro unit that uses penlight batteries is nice as are the pricier Pcl, branick, and Ateq, models.

 

[CobraRed]

They make a lower psi range analog inflator now that has a more accurate pressure sensor:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B015NC4DXY/?tag=atomicindus08-20

http://www.autotoolworld.com/Astro-...0apVj81LTx5Wxa3hV--qZsL44K0oL5BsPYaAkCy8P8HAQ

 

[Hondarancher4435]

Low pressure atv gauges work well. I had a nice digital gauge don't make the same mistake I did I bought a tractor and didn't know the tires were calcium filled I checked the pressure with the stem at the bottom and it filled the gauge with calcium instantly killing it

 

[Jbullfrog]

I have an Astro digital and it is 5-7lbs higher then any of my dial or stick gauges. It is a pain to change the battery every 3 months, as you have to take screws out of plastic threaded stems to remove the face for battery access.

 

[Vvmvbb]

Analog is easier to use. Filling to a line is just mentally less taxing than filling to a number. With digital you are kind of calculating differences and proportions in your head, analog you're just looking at it. This applies to lots of interactive measuring activities.

 

[Indexmill]

For most home shop folks, it seems that a digital tire pressure gauge is a solution looking for a problem.

 

[gte718p]

I like digital, but finding one that is calibrated at a reasonable price has been difficult. People assume digital means accurate, but that is not the case. The last one I had the precision was good. It alway read the same pressure, but the accuracy was way off by ~5 PSI. That is a fairly big deal.

 

[Thezapper]

The Astro comes with a certification

 

[jn50308401]

I've got a Joe's Racing gauge with 1 PSI increments i got off of Amazon. It's dead nuts to the TPMS on my 14 Silverado, the Mrs 2012 Equinox, which is fine by me.

I had a Blue Point inflator for years but it finally started leaking so badly I couldn't use it any more. The Joe's gauge and an air chuck do the job for me.

Good luck and Merry Christmas!

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

 

[Here2Learn]

Not sure how serious you are on ATV's, but I race MX. Tire pressure is set before each ride to suit track conditions. With an ATV tire being even lower pressure, a 10% swing either way would be a big difference. I have an analog for MX use and also have a digital. It only goes by 0.5 psi. I don't like that. It is OK for the bike hauler (aka truck)

 

[bpankratz]

I have a digital one by Tire Minder I believe. Seems to work fine, but I never had a problem with any other one either.

Watch out on thise. We used to sell them and pulled them all off the shelf due to quality issues.

 

[Backpack Hunter]

Watch out on thise. We used to sell them and pulled them all off the shelf due to quality issues.

I'll keep an eye out. Thank you.

 

[BQuicksilver]

I too have the Astro. It's a great tool and has matched my Longacre analog enough that I need to eBay the longacre. My batteries last over a year at least, but I agree changing them on the sealed design is a PITA.

 

[scissorman]

I own this gauge and am very happy with it. http://www.powertank.com/products/sfID1/14/productID/189

 

[jerseykat1]

The Astro comes with a certification

Thats what we use at work. When the battery fails we leave it up to the new guy to change them..Royal Pain in the *** to change. But the gauge works great.

 

[zoomzoomjeff]

They make a lower psi range analog inflator now that has a more accurate pressure sensor:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B015NC4DXY/?tag=atomicindus08-20

http://www.autotoolworld.com/Astro-...0apVj81LTx5Wxa3hV--qZsL44K0oL5BsPYaAkCy8P8HAQ

Thanks for the link. Been looking for these style gauges and wasn't happy with a 165 psi gauge and the tiny small tick marks.

 

[gte718p]

The Astro comes with a certification

Not a bad tool, but my old fashion dial gauge is accurate to .25 psi and cost half of the Astro one.

 

[CobraRed]

I have an Astro digital and it is 5-7lbs higher then any of my dial or stick gauges. It is a pain to change the battery every 3 months, as you have to take screws out of plastic threaded stems to remove the face for battery access.

I too have the Astro. It's a great tool and has matched my Longacre analog enough that I need to eBay the longacre. My batteries last over a year at least, but I agree changing them on the sealed design is a PITA.

The new 3018's don't require special batteries or taking the back off. They state using AAA batteries last 4x longer too.

 

[Cruzomatic]

I have a digital and a dial. I use the dial a lot more. Like it better for some reason.

 

[CobraRed]

Not a bad tool, but my old fashion dial gauge is accurate to .25 psi and cost half of the Astro one.

No old fashion dial gauges are certified accurate to +/- .25psi. Resolution and experience is different than being certified at a certain level.

I've used the 3018 for years and its dead nuts accurate and has a resolution of 0.1psi, the certification card just means it meets ANSI.

 

[gte718p]

No old fashion dial gauges are certified accurate to +/- .25psi. Resolution and experience is different than being certified at a certain level.

I've used the 3018 for years and its dead nuts accurate and has a resolution of 0.1psi, the certification card just means it meets ANSI.

Actually there are plenty of them. You can get them much more accurate then that if you so desire. I worked in a research lab in college. We had mechanical pressure gauges certified to .0001 Psi. Of course research labs have little to no connection with reality.

Here is one:

This one is one is accurate to .5% of the range, or .30 psi
http://www.jegs.com/i/Moroso/710/89562/10002/-1?parentProductId=748767

calibrated to .0075 psi and marked .1 psi.
http://www.jegs.com/i/Moroso/710/89552/10002/-1?parentProductId=748767

Most of your professional racers will have a gauge calibrated to .5 psi or better and most will be certified every six months. I admit it is completely not necessary for a normal car.

 

[engineer2]

±0.25% mechanical gauges are generally not meant to be dragged around the pits.

Most professional race teams (NASCAR, Indy) have high-end digital gauges that can take a beating and stay accurate to about ±0.3 psig. They get the calibration checked annually.

For passenger cars ±2 psig is probably good enough. Most industrial mechanical gauges fall into this accuracy spec if you stay in the middle of the range.
For low profile performance tires ±1 psig would be better if you are picky.

 

[themiller]

Digital. I bought auto-12v inflators this year for the relatives where you just set the PSI and plug it in - it shuts off at the correct PSI. Used one myself (for QC...) and will probably pick one up. Quicker/easier than turning on the compressor and dealing with a big hose.

 

[pacemade]

I like digital, but finding one that is calibrated at a reasonable price has been difficult. People assume digital means accurate, but that is not the case. The last one I had the precision was good. It alway read the same pressure, but the accuracy was way off by ~5 PSI. That is a fairly big deal.

pressure gauge readings usually vary especially after several uses. I prefer the pen style, and pick them up used when I find them. When you work in a tire shop you get fix flat in them, they fall in the gutters, fall out your pocket, get smashed, the seals wear out, misplace them. It would be worth investing in a few pen styles. I have seen the digital ones accurate to the hundredths, but the batteries don't last long and break easy when dropped a few times. The dials don't last long either, they get moisture or dropped a few times and loose their accuracy.

 

[TXBDan]

On the race car I use a longacre dial gauge. I'd recommend a large sized dial gauge with a good pressure relief button.

 

[SantaAna12]

Good to have a couple to compare against a (hopefully) known quantity. I have an analog pencil Milton that is surprisingly accurate. I have other gauges from work on an expanded lower scale, but I am looking for a higher scaled one like the 3018. Its good to know its track record (thanks Cobra Red), as I do not look normally to Astro for things like this.
I added it to my Amazon list.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I'm old school. Dial mechanical gauge, swivel head and bleed/relief valve. Lifetime warranty and I have used it (pay for shipping both ways).

A "decent" (?) pencil gauge (Amazon - $4.76) is amazingly accurate ! Typically +/- 1 psi in its mid-band.