rbrides

What accurate, high quality air gauge do you experts recommend?

The gauge on my Bontrager floor pump and my handheld Planet Bike gauge are always about 4 LBS apart. I thought I'd buy myself a high quality gauge for Christmas!

Bill Kapaun

You really don't need an accurate gauge as much as a gauge that gives consistent readings.
Pump your tires to what works/feels best to you.
Use that number for a reference, whatever it is.

aggiegrads

Meiser is pretty standard. https://www.universalcycles.com/shop...ls.php?id=8768

Also beware - digital does not mean accurate. Just because there are 4 digits doesn't mean that they are correct.

Bill Kapaun

Absolutely correct!
A digital display has an inherent inaccuracy of a certain % +/- 1 digit.
Add the circuitry that "feeds" the display. Power supply (fresh or not battery), piezo-electric transducer, A/D converter.....
They aren't "perfect" either. Add them all together....
Even the temperature of the device MIGHT have an effect. Think of a "stick" gauge that uses an air bladder inside to move the scale. A cold vs warm bladder will likely "stretch" differently
.
What accuracy do you get with several consecutive measurements with the same gauge?

2_i 

Beto pressure gauge presumably continues to be the best in the market. It is sold under different brand names that includes Oxford and Panasonic. I managed to buy a few of them for $9 each or so, when a store was depleting their merchandise. Meiser relies on fragile mechanics subject to deterioration, due to dust, humidity and corrosion. At some point its reading begin to be off and you do not when and by how much. Even when new it will not work at low pressures that may be needed in winter. I have Meiser gauges - just do not use them . Besides validity of the reading, the issues concerning gauges include: amount of air released during the measurement, ability to access the vent, ability to use the gauge in the dark, secondary functions such as bleeding air. People may also want to use the gauge with different vent types and switch units. How long the battery lasts with digital gauges? In Beto it seems to last forever and it generally tops the field no matter what criteria you consider.

tyrion

+1 for Meiser gauges. Good and cheap, no batteries needed. Bleeder valve so you can bleed off pressure while watching the gauge.

They come is a variety of pressure ranges, and I think greatest accuracy is achieved when measuring around 75% into that range - e.g. if desired tire pressure is 45 PSI get a 0-60 PSI gauge.

If money no object then maybe a Silca pump.

Bill Kapaun

The middle 1/3rd of the gauge is considered to be the more accurate portion. Avoid the extreme ends of the range, with any kind of "pointer" type gauge.

dsbrantjr

Many pumps use standard pipe-threaded gauges which can be easily replaced with arbitrarily-accurate/expensive ones. I agree with Bill Kapaun and Tyrion's comments regarding repeatability and accuracy.
I find that having a chuck which comes off of the valve cleanly helps achieve consistent pressure, too.

Koyote

A man with one watch always knows the time. A man with two watches never knows.

drlogik 

I'm with a previous poster (Bill Kapaun). Pump up the tire and see if you like the ride. Get the pressure where you like the ride and then measure the pressure with whatever gauge you have. If it's within the tire's Hi/Low limits, bingo. You're there. Just remember the pressure you pumped the tire to for the next time.

As far as gauges...

I prefer Milton "pencil-type" tire gauges (i.e. the old fashioned kind). They are what car most garages use and they come in a number of different pressure scales. They are inexpensive, high quality and work for a long time. Some go all the way to 160 lbs. One of mine goes 20 to 120 lbs, is 30 years old and still works fine.

canklecat

My Nashbar Earl Grey pump and Nashbar standalone gauge are 10 psi apart -- the standalone gauge always reading 10 psi lower. But they're consistent. I split the difference and ride by feel. As I've lost weight I've reduced pressure for comfort on our increasingly roughly chipsealed roads. So far, so good, after 5 years of doing that.

GamblerGORD53

+1 For the simple pen ones. Go to a car parts place and get the DOUBLE head one. The rubber seal will not fall out, as with the single head ones. They seem to be made cheaper anyway. Mine shows the same pressure every time. I've never used mine over 80 lbs tho. $7. Both sides of the head are still schrader.

Geepig

Well, I squeeze the sidewalls of the tire. I don't have that many bikes, so I judge whether the pressure is ok by riding. Back when I used to race I would check the pressures meticulously, and adjust up or down to suit the weather conditions.

While I was at college, one of our engineering lecturers would apply coloured chalk to the tread of his tire, then ride the bike over a sheet of newspaper. By measuring the width of the imprint he could assess the tire pressure independently of his weight and that of the bike - both of which could change.

alo

I bought one of those pencil type gauges. It was so cheap, that if it got lost or stolen, it would not be a big loss.

blacknbluebikes 

I used to use a gauge. Found that extra precision wasn't that useful. I do look at the gauge on my pump, and I go to "a little over 80" on that gauge. Is it correct? Dunno, don't care. It's about right, that's what I need to know.

Mad Honk 

In the auto shop I frequently use they have switched over to digital gauges that are on the air line. But they don't read higher than 120psi accurately. I am still using the Milton blower air tool. It has been adapted to have a pressure gauge in line and a Silca head for the presta tubes. When I get back to my computer I will add pics. Smiles, MH

mdarnton

I just bought a Zefal TwinGraph (black plastic, $10, looks a bit like a dial on the butt of a hammerhead shark) as a second to the one I bought 15-20 years ago that I like so much, because I like having seconds of things I really like, against the day they aren't available anymore. Checked, and the new gauge reads EXACTLY the same as the old one at 63#. I was impressed. Love that tool.