DirtRider . Net MX, SX, Arena Cross, Off-Road Community

This is the text version of DirtRider.Net
Click Here for the Full Version

Pages: 1

What’s a good low pressure tire gauge?
(Click here to view the original thread with full colors/images)

Posted by: BRush---------------------

Who makes a good dial type or digital tire air pressure gauge for low pressure applications in the 0-20 psi range? Something with good accuracy and repeatability.

Posted by: splatt---------------------

Check these out

http://jegs.com/

http://summitracing.com/ 

 Look under the tire section both have gauges in the 0-20 psi range.

Steve

Posted by: J.B.426---------------------

I've been using this one for about 3 years and it's worked fine. It's not 0-20 psi but you can still get to within a half pound.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=1322

Posted by: Jaybird---------------------

I got one from Radio Shack. It is digital and reads to 1/2 lb. consistantly.
I think it was ten bucks and they claim the battery is good for ten years. You cannot change the battery out in this model.

Posted by: BRush---------------------

Thanks for the suggestions. I have something similar to the radio shack digital that I use for my van, but while display accuracy is good, it is a 0-150 gauge so actual measurement accuracy is no better than about +/- 3psi - a lot when you are trying for 12psi.

I ended up ordering the 0-30 psi Accu-Gage “H” series with the right angle motorcycle chuck from these guys:

http://www.getagauge.com/index.cfm

Posted by: Senior KX Rider---------------------

FWIW.....I have a 0-30 like you ordered and also a 0-99 digital that I got at autozone for $9.99 and they always measure alike

Posted by: Jaybird---------------------

Just a quickie here about low air pressures...

My wife heard a woman telling of her auto mechanic explaining to her about the differeneces between "summer and winter" air in her car tires. When she repeated the story to her husband he laughed in an all-knowing way and described to his wife how the guy must have been trying to scam her for an air change job. My wife too thought it was quite comical how the guy was making up some comckamaimee story about air so he could scam the lady.
Well...I explained to my wife that the station attendent probably knew more about air than any of them would ever. He knew there can be a big differnce in the air that is placed in your tires depending on the temp and humidity and how well a particular compressor was set up to handle air.

Where am I going with this? Well, if you are picky about air psi then you must be aware that if you fill with wet air, which 99.999% of folks do, then you will definately change pressures on a consistant basis with a simple outside temp change. You MUST have dry air (or nitrogen for that matter) to accomplish a fill that will remain consistant.

Posted by: Gary B.---------------------

Quote:

Where am I going with this? Well, if you are picky about air psi then you must be aware that if you fill with wet air, which 99.999% of folks do, then you will definately change pressures on a consistant basis with a simple outside temp change. You MUST have dry air (or nitrogen for that matter) to accomplish a fill that will remain consistant

Or... you can just check your tires a little more often!

Posted by: BRush---------------------

Changes in ambient temps are only going to be a problem if you go weeks without checking air pressure. You ought to do it before each ride. The variation in outdoor temps over the course of a four hour ride is not likely to have a significant effect. A larger factor than ambient temperature, is the kinetic heating of the air in the tire caused by riding (or driving), which will raise the tire pressure. All you can do is strive for consistency. That’s why I check my tire pressures when cold and then don’t worry about it for the rest of the day.

If you are interested in the effect of temperatures and altitudes on tire pressure, here’s an interesting link:

http://www.trucktires.com/library/p...2v7iss1/ra8.htm

Posted by: RM_guy---------------------

Ben,
I think what Jay was talking about is that moist air has a different rate of expansion with temperature changes than dry air. An inert gas like nitrogen, argon, or helium is the best because it won't expand or contract with temperature.

Posted by: Jaybird---------------------

Exactly, RM_guy. And this change in pressure will not take long at all. We are talking only seconds to change pressure with a temp change, by any means.
Dry air will not do this and remains relatively consistant with a change of temp.
You tire pressure will indeed change throughout any ride- it will change drastically more with wet air.

Text Version Home

This is the text version of DirtRider.Net Click Here for the Full Version

What’s a good low pressure tire gauge?

This is the text version of DirtRider.Net
Click Here for the Full Version