Tire Pressure gauge - Should I get Digital or Analog?

[szh]

Hi, all.

My very nice digital tire pressure gauge is acting a bit strange (maybe the "lifetime battery" is dying) and I plan to replace it.

Do people here think that a good digital gauge (e.g. the Accutire models) is worse/asgoodas/better than a good analog gauge (e.g. the Brookstone brass encased units)?

What do you use and recommend?

ZWhat kind of tire pressure gauge should I buy?

[SmithSR]

Interesting. I suggest a decent analog unit. For the better part of ten years, I've used regular analog tire pressure gauges. I couldn't recommend how long to use one, or have any idea when one actually becomes faulty. We usually replace every two weeks. I check my gauge against my crew's gauges almost daily, and see little-to-no change/inaccurate readings within the two week service life of the gauge.

[Exar-Kun]

get a gauge with a pressure relive valve, and some kind of decent casing, preferable shock-resistant(I have one thats brass/glass with a rubber coating around the outside and a teflon hose with a little brass relief fitting)

digital ones are pretty....but arent any more reliable.-chet

[Checkered-Member]

I use a good analog gauge very accurate, durable, no complaints here

[96_240sxSE]

been using an analog and don't see any reason to switch. unless of course my sister gets tired of actually checking her tire pressure and gives me her dig gauge, which is like chet says..."pretty"! LOL

[Q45tech]

How often do you check the tire gauge calibration.......they change with temperature and age............but then again few are interested in 1.0 psi accuracy with is almost 3% potential error.

I sure wouldn't want a mouth thermometer that was only 97% accurate +-3F.

NASCAR racers say they can feel a 1.0 psi change in tire presure [because their cars are so finely tuned].........most drivers can't tell/feel if a tire is 10 psi low.

Hopefully everyone checks their tire pressure at every week in the cold morning!

[Grant@tirerack]

It's also important to remember as we head into Winter that your pressure will change as the temps drop outside. For every 10 degrees the ambient temp drops outside, you are going to loose about 1 psi in your tires. That's why it's important to check your pressures before you drive on the tires like Q45tech stated. Most folks get into the bad habit of checking the pressure at the gas station after they have driven a few blocks. By that time the tires have warmed up and you will get a false higher reading. It's also important to take the temp change into account if you park in a heated garage in the Winter. If there is a 20-30 degree difference in the garage and the outside temp, you are looking at an automatic 2-3 psi drop when you take the vehicle outside.

[szh]

[quote=" Q45tech How often do you check the tire gauge calibration.......they change with temperature and age...[/quote] Is this true of the digital ones too? How does one go about getting a gauge calibrated somewhere (whether analog or digital)?Quote » Hopefully everyone checks their tire pressure at every week in the cold morning![/quote]

I definitely try to do it once a week, but occasionally go a bit longer (like ten days)!

I used to have a very nice Brookstone analog gauge (brass, very clear reading, with release valve and all). Dropped it on hard concrete once (argh!), so decided to go digital with an Accutire model. But that "lifetime" battery has finally given up the ghost, hence the reason for my poll!

BTW, Consumer Reports seems to favor the digital models - finding them more accurate than analog ones - so that is why I bought my digital one before.

Z

[vancouverbc]

I use a cheap digital. it just seems easier to read. the analog does seem to be as accurate. gas station gauges seem to be inaccurate ;due to abuse, i guess.