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Last post on Jan 08, 2012 at 10:30 AM
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Tires
#58 of 77 Accutire Gauges
by gly
Nov 10, 2005 (6:17 pm)
Accutire gauges are distributed by Measurement Specialties in Hampton, VA. Most are imported from China.
My favorite gages are Accu_Gage tire gages, made, not imported, by G. H. Meiser & Co. in the U.S. since 1906. I particularly like the RH60X series dial gage with hose. (R = Rubber case, H = Hose, 60 = max psi, X = straight end, not swivel, not 90º) Has pressure bleed valve and holds reading.
If you compare two similar gages by Accutire and Accu-Gage side-by-side, you will see the difference in quality.
Unless you are running nitrogen, it is pointless to measure to 0.1 psi, as the pressure fluctuations with air (because of its moisture content) swamps that precision.
Anyone who spends $100 or more for a tire gage has more money than brains, IMHO.
Finally, you can calibrate your gage at any truck stop. It's a service most truck stops provide to truckers.
#60 of 77 Remarks on lifetime warranty.
by joecarnut
May 07, 2006 (3:54 pm)
The accutire gauge is warrantied for 5 years. The battery(s) are warrantied for life.
You would have to send it in to have the battery replaced postage paid and they recommend insured.
So probably just as well to buy your own battery instead.
Good thing about lithiums, they have an excellent shelf life. So it really should last quite a while.
#61 of 77 Re: Brookstone tire guage is 25 years old [morin2]
by pooie
May 21, 2006 (6:06 am)
I just lost my trusted tire gauge from Brookstone and I am looking to replace it. Not sure if it is the same one. The one I used was around 25 years old with a circular dial around 2 " and had about 6" of tubing.Can you let me know if this sounds familiar, if not does any one where I can but this. It seems Brookstone doesn't carry this old model any more. Pooie
#62 of 77 Re: Accurate Digital Tire Pressure Gauge needed [georgepaul]
by wai
May 24, 2006 (10:46 am)
Thanks Paul for your tip, I got one for $148 including shipping. This gauge is very good and accurate, I used to have problem in measure the tire pressure for some of the tires valve stem. This is perfectly fit for those problem tire stem and the digital reading is very large and easy to read at when you place your guauge meter at the floor. For 50 lbs it is enougth for passenger cars. Also it will auto shut the power and backlight.
#63 of 77 So what about calibrating the gauges you already have?
by joel53
Jun 07, 2006 (2:55 pm)
I have several tire gauges: some analog (circular movement), a few pen-type and an Accutire digital. Some were a little pricey ($50) and some were cheap ($5). The digital was at Target for $10 and I wasn't sure I could trust it (at that price). But when I heard Car Guys (on the radio) say most digitals were very accurate, I thought I'd try one.
When I compared it to my others and found up to a 5 lb. difference, it dawned on me, which one do I trust and how do I calibrate the others?
I talked to my local tire shop to see how they have theirs calibrated and was shocked to find they not only didn't calibrate theirs but recommenced a cheap $5 pen-type to use. And the tire manufacturers are the ones that stress keeping your tires filled to the proper pressure level and that even one or two lbs. can make a difference in tire performance, wear and safety!
Does anyone out there know of a place that will calibrate tire gauges? The research that dhcopp started Jun-27-01 and completed Jul-14-2001 was excellent (thanks dhcopp!), but I'd like to locate a place where I can see how accurate the ones I already own are.
Maybe a type of business that most of have in or near our towns, like an industrial or commercial place that deals with pressurized tanks or other pressure equipment that must be pressure tested and certified.
Any ideas? Thanks everyone for your input!
#64 of 77 Digital are getting cheap!
by pathstar1
Jul 06, 2006 (9:40 am)
Just purchased a tiny digital gauge from Canadian Tire for $6 or so. It's called a "Tire Minder". I compared it to my Accugauge and they both indicate the same pressure. It fits on valve stems much easier than the Accugauge. A large gauge body can make use difficult. The "Tire Minder" is nice and small. It may not last very long as it is rather cheaply made, but at this price you can afford one for every glove box, bicycle, and lawnmower!
#65 of 77 Re: Digital are getting cheap! [pathstar1]
by wai
Jul 08, 2006 (3:19 am)
How do you sure that this Tire Minder is accurate? You need to compare with a more sophisticated one.(Your Accuguage might not be accurate)
#66 of 77 Re: Digital are getting cheap! [wai]
by pathstar1
Jul 08, 2006 (8:11 am)
My accugauge appears to be accurate. I'm comparing to all other gauges I see, and the accugauge is supposed to be a sophisticated and accurate gauge. It got good reviews by those who test gauges (and posted in this forum). People need to chill out on this accuracy thing. If the gauge is out 10% (5% would be what I would expect with an electronic gauge) that is 3 PSI in 30 PSI. My tire pressure varies that much just from the heat of the sun. The electronic gauges could be out about 5% - I say this as this is "standard engineering accuracy". That would be 1.5 PSI in 30. That's pretty accurate. The rod type mechanical gauges can be out a lot more that that, because even a speck of dirt on the slider can stop it short of the true reading. I had one that got bent in my pocket! Imagine how inaccurate it was. Also the electronic gauges are more likely to be out the same over the full scale of pressures - for example 1 PSI high or low at any reasonable pressure it is designed to measure. The same cannot be said of mechanical gauges. The fact that the accugauge reads the same as the Tire Minder kind of gives confidence they are both close. That is, the chance they are both out the same amount is lower than the chance they are both accurate.
As long as you use the same gauge on the same vehicle and monitor the tire performance, you can adjust for gauge accuracy. eg - if you see the outside of the tread wearing faster than the centre (even on each side), then you are probably underinflating.
And my final word - What makes you think the vehicle/tire manufacturers pressure recommendations are the best for your use? We've already seen one case where there are questions to be raised!
#67 of 77 Re: Brookstone tire guage is 25 years old [pooie]
by tosh
Jul 22, 2006 (9:23 am)
I have the same Brookstone tire gauge, and it is almost as old. I am 99-44/100% sure that it is a rebranded G.H. Meiser Accu-Gage H60X (with the rubber guard). See link title
Brookstone still carries a similar model, also almost certainly a Meiser Accu-Gage: link title That one lacks the hose, but partially makes up for it by having a swivel chuck instead of the straight chuck of our model.