Good Tire Gauge?

[Neil Powell]

This may go in more directions than a discussion about the best oil, but here goes. Do y'all have some recommendations for a tire gauge that is good, easy-to-use, durable, and preferably reasonably priced?

I am especially interested in easy to use. With many gauges, I find it difficult to properly engage the valve stem to get the full, accurate pressure. All too often, I fail to properly seal the gauge to the stem, resulting in lower-than-accurate readings and air blowing out of the interface between the gauge and the stem. That really frustrates me. On the other hand, I really like some of the new compressor tips that lock onto the valve stem. Those make the process so much easier.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts!

Neil

 

[Mule Meat]

Blue Point makes the best higher end gauges. Just need to pick one that fits your budget. Snap On carries them.

Astro 3018 around $70. Good digital gauge that comes with the quick connect that you are referring to.

 

[504]

I have used Milton gauges forever. The problem is with the modern sensors the pressure needs to be perfect between the tires. I have a Harbor Freight digital that works great. But it wouldn’t last a day in a tire shop, for me at the home shop it’s working fine

 

[caterpillar guy]

I use those long ones for checking pressure in semi tires with the one side straight with the gauge and the other has a bit of angle to it so you can get on them with a dual tire . The one just pushes on straight so should be pretty easy to use. they are not made for using on loaded tractor tires. Those are a special gauge with a rubber bladder inside to keep them from rusting when used on tires with chloride in them.

 

[B. White]

A tire gauge is one thing I'll go cheap on, since I'm not working in a shop every day relying on it. I've still got several old ones, but bought this one about 5-6 years ago and it is the only one I use now. Easy to see with a backlight for a senior citizen. I will usually push it on twice to make sure, but rarely get a bad reading. Not a lot to risk for $7.99. I think I did change the battery once. I know a lot of folks would turn up their nose, but it leaves me more $$ to buy used old US made stuff when it matters.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01J8DLGU2?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_3&th=1

 

[MarkB_MI]

Pretty much all my tire gauges are Milton.

The absolute worst gauges I've found were the Slime brand.

 

[npowell]

Thanks, guys. That's excellent info. The Asin does look easy to use. And I will look into some Miltons as possibilities. The Blue Point Astro 3018 looks outstanding! Might put that on my Christmas list and grab one of the others in the interim

Neil

 

[Eman85]

Blue Point doesn't make anything but a sticker to put on the gauge. Milton is a brand that works, especially the higher end truck gauge and they will stand behind it. People have had good luck with the Slime gauges they sell at WM. SKS and Jaco have been good for many. I have 2 digitals that I bought just the head on Amazon and put hoses on, read down to .1 lbs for racing.

 

[Ellis Kinney]

I have a Milton in the barn, the one with the gauge built into the lever so you get a reading as you pump air. Ellis

 

[Janicholson]

This may go in more directions than a discussion about the best oil, but here goes. Do y'all have some recommendations for a tire gauge that is good, easy-to-use, durable, and preferably reasonably priced?

I am especially interested in easy to use. With many gauges, I find it difficult to properly engage the valve stem to get the full, accurate pressure. All too often, I fail to properly seal the gauge to the stem, resulting in lower-than-accurate readings and air blowing out of the interface between the gauge and the stem. That really frustrates me. On the other hand, I really like some of the new compressor tips that lock onto the valve stem. Those make the process so much easier.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts!

Neil

Milton car/truck gauge
I have this one. Milton has been around for a very long time. mine, like this one, Jim

 

[will-max dairy]

I feel stupid and careless; because I have no clue what brand any of the ... probably five... tire gauges are at the farm. But what I have noticed is that valve stems on tubes are getting cheaper and cheaper and waaaaaaay more inconsistent. Some of the ones on the farm don't even have a long enough threaded section to engage and seal and lock the tire chuck on my compressor (which, I would imagine would give you the same problem if your gauge has the same quick connect), or they wave around like a limp noodle, and you have to hold the valve with one hand and the chuck with the other...

using a gauge on them is an adventure sometimes as well... no matter how hard you try to get it to seal, they sit there and hiss... which fairly disabuses me of the measurement accuracy...

product skimpflation meets tire inflation

Some of your problem may be chintzy modern valve stems.

 

[drsportster]

Milton dial gauge

 

[Geo-TH,In]

I like to have a dial gauge built in to the air chuck.
I'm not a fan of the pressure gauge built in

to the second pic.


The third pic is a Milton .

 

[DoubleR]

I have a drawful of gages and inflators.that are inaccurate and don't work very good. I brought a jaco inflator and Itre gauge a few years back And I am real happy with them they both seem to be accurate and work good.

 

[Mike(NEOhio)]

Bought one from O'R's recently bc my older ones were going bad. Annoying, it doesn't hold the reading when I pull it off the stem, snaps back in.

 

[caterpillar guy]

What is the big deal about a dial gauge for them. I read an article several years back that said you should get a new tire gauge every so often as they become in accurate over time. So they recommended replacing about every year or so. I have to ask how does one know if a tire gauge is accurate other than if it does not read close to what you think it has. Another words the tire is flat by gauge and it sounds pretty hard if you thump it with a hammer. Just a way off in accuracy for the example. I mean if I take a dozen different gauges and put on the same tire I bet a get at least 8-10 different readings. Probably all within a few pounds of each other and so is it all that improtant if they are off a few pounds? Just asking since it appears we have some who think one is more accurate than the next by brand style or what have you. I was using 2 of the same style gauges the other day to compare and they wer about 3-5 pounds different on the same tire checking with one then the other. I figured that was close enough.

 

[Janicholson]

I rigged up a Shrader valve with a liquid filled gauge and a line fitting to my compressor. Mu Milton is very close to the indicated pressure on the accurate gauge. Good enough to keep the tires very close. Jim

 

[Non-farmer]

which fairly disabuses me of the measurement accuracy...

product skimpflation meets tire inflation

Some of your problem may be chintzy modern valve stems.

Sounds like someone is disgustipated

 

[Phill Tibbetts]

I have a Ryobi 18 volt pump with a built in digital gauge. just set the psi you want and it shuts off when it reaches that pressure, also shows the tire pressure when you lock it onto the valve stem. link follows, don't know why it says robot or human

Ryobi One+ 18V High Pressure Digital Tire Inflator - Walmart.com

Buy Ryobi One+ 18V High Pressure Digital Tire Inflator at Walmart.com

www.walmart.com

 

[Hobo,NC]

This may go in more directions than a discussion about the best oil, but here goes. Do y'all have some recommendations for a tire gauge that is good, easy-to-use, durable, and preferably reasonably priced?

I am especially interested in easy to use. With many gauges, I find it difficult to properly engage the valve stem to get the full, accurate pressure. All too often, I fail to properly seal the gauge to the stem, resulting in lower-than-accurate readings and air blowing out of the interface between the gauge and the stem. That really frustrates me. On the other hand, I really like some of the new compressor tips that lock onto the valve stem. Those make the process so much easier.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts!

Neil

Its hard to beat a Milton S-506 style I easily use mine several hundred times a year I doubt I will every ware it out. My guess its at least 35 are more years old. You can calibrate them yourself, add a LOCKNFLATE Locking air chuck life will be good. My locknflate will leak on some stems I twist it for a good seat till it stops leaking. I would never trust the reading on a cold TPMS sensor to determine my air gauge was out of calibration I have seen a many cold TPMS sensor that read incorrectly. I use the inflation gauge on my Coats tire machine as my gold standard

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