air gauges

[flathead]

i use a cheap old tire gauge that i carry on my bike to check my tire pressure.

wondering if theres much different in the cheap ones verses the expensive ones?

[trashz]

As far as a difference, I'd say get several gauges together and compare to each other on a car tire. Car tire has more volume capacity than your bike. But just the fact you do a daily/weekly check will help immensley.

[pogo seat]

If you test a bunch at the same time, how do you know which one is best or right?

There has to be a standard to measure against. What is it?

[Bigincher]

Pogo, I would say the 'standard' is the number that most of the guages read. Like a grouping when sighting in a new rifle. Frankly, you would be good to have a guage that says either "Good" or "Flat". The important thing is that you check the pressure frequently, and check on a cold tire. A few pounds either way won't hurt. Overinflation causes cupping and vibration, while underinflation causes overheating, extreme premature wear, and even catastrophic failure.
Of coure all this is nothing new to you, no doubt.
Oh--- myself, I use a 'dial' type guage for accuracy, rather than the 'pencil' style. It packs in the tool bag just fine.

[trashz]

Didn't look to see what part of the country you're in, but look around for a company that services flow meters and pressure gauges. What you'll have them do is rig a 0-60 psi air pressure gauge (you can get a fair 1 psi increment gauge for less than $40.00 ususally) to a air chuck. They calibrate the gauge, and you'd check a car tire with it. Then try your pencil type or whatever you prefer against it. My guess is if you're within 1-2 psi, you're good.

Just to qualify myself, I've worked in quality control/assurance for the last thirty years, with the last 12-13 years in gauge calibration. Everything from 6" veniers up to torque wrenches, dead weight testers,...you get the idea. Let us know what you find. Just for grins.

[1200c]

im a diesel mech by trade, the s.o.p in our shop is before a truck/trailer rolls out the door you gauge all the tires, i have found that the cheaper air gauges(pencil type) do infact wear out more quickly than the more expensive ones, also, when they start wearing out,they read LOW so you are actully overinflating a tire by going with your gauge, please bear in mind here i deal with anywhere between 1 and 15 trucks a night,so mine is in constant use, and i have gotten rid of my pencil type in favor of a gauge type

[dualcarb]

Originally Posted by 1200c

im a diesel mech by trade, the s.o.p in our shop is before a truck/trailer rolls out the door you gauge all the tires, i have found that the cheaper air gauges(pencil type) do infact wear out more quickly than the more expensive ones, also, when they start wearing out,they read LOW so you are actully overinflating a tire by going with your gauge, please bear in mind here i deal with anywhere between 1 and 15 trucks a night,so mine is in constant use, and i have gotten rid of my pencil type in favor of a gauge type

Can you share with us where we can buy the better gauges?

[1200c]

anything is better than the .99 cent jobbies you can buy at the local autoparts chain store at the checkout line, my dial gauge came from snap-on, however, N.A.P.A. does have a good quality gauge, and the brand "milton" is one of the better ones in a pencil type, i have had the most success using that brand, they usually run about $15 and i have seen them in several independant auto parts places... not the chain stores
1200c

[chiefj48]

i believe you get what you pay for! if your using it for your bike, you must remember you only have two wheels, and if one fails.... well you get the idea. my life is worth the extra money for a GOOD quality gauge

[pelee]

How about the small digital tire pressure gages......I just bought one for my daughter for Christmas for $10.00. Do they last?