Tire Pressure Gauge

[Boriqua]

What are you fellas using for a tire pressure gauge? I have probably 4 of those cheap stick jobs that are always sitting on the counter at the auto parts store. They work well enough on my car tires but I wanted to check the pressure on my bike tires which have a tube and I cant seem to get it seated well enough to get a good reading. When I do it says I have 15 lbs but the tires are hard as a damn rock.

So I thought I might go up on price over the $1 ones I have but dont know what to get and dont want to waste money hunting and peeking.
Thanks for any advice! I am so glad to be on to worrying about tires and not how to get my bike going!!!!
Alex

 

[Gorminrider]

weirdly, I use this, since I'm checking tires, I might as well pump them up at the same time if they need it..... I have it calibrated as to accuracy versus a decent gauge, so I know what the gauge means versus what it says
About 3$ at a dollar store. The device that clamps to valve is better than trying to centre many cheapo gauges.

Yes, the hose will get funky but after having it for 7 years, sticking a better bit of hose on when it fails has been worth it. Some of the weirdest things turn out to be good uns

 

[Brendan W]

I use a footpump as well. Old one died finally after ten years at least.
I also have an elbow to screw onto the valve.
It makes it much easier to present pressure guages and air lines generally found in filling stations.
Something like this http://www.ebay.com/itm/Tyre-Valve-...e-Stem-Extender-90-Degree-Angle-/162651851052

 

[cowboyup3371]

I just use a standard tire gauge for checking them and the one on my Slime portable compressor to refill the tire

 

[robertbarr]

I have a few, and they're all digital now. I use a right angled gauge to get to the valve stem with the brake rotor so close by on the V-Strom; I need a relatively straight unit to get back into the Goldwing's valve stem (and I'm lying on the ground doing it...). I hate having to bend the valve stem, even slightly, to align with a gauge or chuck.

Then there's the bicycles & the Civic... and I use a matching assortment of air chucks to get them all happily inflated.

 

[Hinermad]

I use a footpump as well. Old one died finally after ten years at least.
I also have an elbow to screw onto the valve.

Do you leave the elbow on all the time, or do you only put it on to check & air the tire?

 

[Brendan W]

Do you leave the elbow on all the time, or do you only put it on to check & air the tire?

Sometimes I forget or don't bother to take it off. This was especially true of a 16" rear with chain and disk.
I've never noticed any vibration with it on, at least not at my speeds.

 

[alke46]

My favorite one is a "Slime" brand. I take it to a dealership oil change place and they check it for accuracy for me. It was the most accurate one I had in my collection.

 

[eil]

My favorite one is a "Slime" brand. I take it to a dealership oil change place and they check it for accuracy for me. It was the most accurate one I had in my collection.

I have a little "Slime" brand cheapy that matches up perfectly, PSI-wise, to a much more expensive analog gauge.

 

[Boriqua]

I landed up buying the slime gauge at the local auto place. It was about $11 and I like the little hose and I like the partial Lb measurements. Much more dead on accurate than the cheapy pencil ones I have.

Turns out .. My pressure was crazy low and nothing was wrong with the pencil gauge .. it was the air pressure!. I had about 8 pbs in the back and 13 in the front. I forgot how rigid MC tires are so the tires felt hard as a rock so I didnt sweat the pressure. DUMB!!

Been 85 on the highway with no air in the tires!!

I was a little disappointed in the bike because my recollection of it was that it was pretty nimble and would turn easily and this one was lazy and dipping into turns was a lot more work than I had remembered ... well since putting air in the tires its everything I remember.
Alex

 

[Gorminrider]

Been 85 on the highway with no air in the tires!!

Oboy! Livin dangerous! better have a close look at sidewalls for cracks! probably ok but ....

 

[Steve]

Oboy! Livin dangerous! better have a close look at sidewalls for cracks! probably ok but ....

Take a good look at the sidewalls to look for the date code.

Tires that hard are likely rather old, too, so get ready to get some new rubber on there for next season. :encouragement:

.

 

[Guest]

I get these at the dollar store.



Analog, accurate, no batteries required
head swivels, easy to use

 

[Gorminrider]

Oboy! Livin dangerous! better have a close look at sidewalls for cracks! probably ok but ....

Take a good look at the sidewalls to look for the date code.

Tires that hard are likely rather old, too, so get ready to get some new rubber on there for next season. :encouragement:

.

excepting Avon"'riders" where "age" is irrelevant to cracking....at least in a year or so of production run.... I wont be buying these again....

(they lose air at bead now and unless very closely watched as to inflation, too soon I am flapping along at high speed... Yes, definitely going to turf them! )

 

[eil]

Random anecdote: when I bought my GS750E, I rode it the 30 minutes home. When I got it home, I started going over it. When to check the tire pressures and it turns out the rear tire was about 20 psi and the front was well over 60!

 

[robertbarr]

it turns out the rear tire was about 20 psi and the front was well over 60!

Wow! Possibly some PO needed to walk the bike around the shop when it was bitter cold -- like minus 20 or so -- and inflated it to 32. Once it warms to riding temperature, the pressure will be considerably higher. I don't know about 60, though!