Tire pressure gauge

[MarkSAE]

So I'm in the market for a decent tire pressure gauge but don't really know what to look for, what to get, and where to get it. I have a cheapie $1 gauge that I've been using at the track and I'm tired of it. I want something that can bleed air at least.

I'm looking at this website and nothing on it really screams out as being "cool" to me.. haha.. I guess I'm looking for a gauge that looks good, isn't too expensive, is easy to use, is durable, and has good functionality.

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

[vtluu]

AccuGage FTL
Longacre FTW: http://www.longacreracing.com/catalog/catlist.asp?catid=8
QuickCar FTW: http://www.quickcar.net/tire_mgmt/tire.html

Longacre has a much wider product range. There's a variety of features to choose from: dial size, hose length, chuck type, measurement range. Some have glow-in-the-dark faces. Some are liquid-filled. Some will hold the pressure reading after you take the chuck off the tire.

I have gauges from both companies. What I like about the QuickCar is that it comes with a better chuck (angle chuck as opposed to ball chuck)--it slides easily onto the valve stem and there's no need to wiggle it around to get it to line up, it doesn't slip out of position and doesn't leak air. It goes on (and comes off) very quickly so you lose very little air in the process. But you can also buy the same angle chuck from Longacre and replace the ball chuck on the Longacre gauge: http://www.longacreracing.com/catalog/item.asp?id=1133&catid=8

Spend a few more dollars on a decent tire gauge, I guarantee you'll be glad you did. You can buy Longacre from most online race shops (SafeRacer, SpectorRacing, SoloPerformance, RacerWholesale, etc.), QuickCar is easy to find as well. Locally, the racing equipment shop at Infineon carries Longacre products, as does I/O Port Racing, etc.

[vtluu]

Okay I'm done editing now. Sorry about that. :lol:

[Matz]

I actually like my $9 cheapie Kragen pressure gauge, and it bleeds nicely. :)

[KareBearPowa]

I actually like my $9 cheapie Kragen pressure gauge, and it bleeds nicely. :)


I think I have the same one.

[MarkSAE]

Hmm.. interesting. Thanks for the info everybody.

The Quickcar gauge looks just like the Accugage one. The Longacre one looks good too but is a bit more pricey. I'll most likely get the Accugage w/ the swivel fitting.

BTW, where does the air bleed when you press the switch on the gauge? I'm tired of burning my hand when I bleed air out of my tires after a session on the track!

[vtluu]

I can hear the air bleed out but can't feel it; presumably it bleeds out the valve that I press on. Never felt my hand even get warm from it though. Also, the air immediately expands as it's bled out, cooling it.

My hand does get warm from being close to the wheels/rotors/calipers, which can be very hot and radiate a lot of heat. The bleed button is near the gauge (as far away from the wheel as possible) partly for that reason. Sometimes I'll put on mechanic's gloves or just leave my driving gloves on when adjusting tire pressure after coming off the track.

[MarkSAE]

Okay, that's good. I was thinking the air may bleed out near the bleed button. But since it doesn't, this is what I'm looking for.

[vtluu]

The Quickcar gauge looks just like the Accugage one.

Which one? I don't see any Accugage unit that even vaguely resembles it. The Accugage doesn't have the rubber padding around it. The Quickcar and Longacre do and will last years longer. Spend the extra $20 now and save yourself time and hassle (and money) later.


I was thinking the air may bleed out near the bleed button.

It does, but I've never got hot from the air. Any heat from the air that bleeds out is inconsequential compared to the radiated heat from the rotors, anyway.

[MarkSAE]

I was looking at the Quickcar economy gauge w/ the swivel fitting on it.
http://www.quickcar.net/tire_mgmt/econo_tire_ga.html

The Accugage sells the rubber sleeve around the gauge for an extra $3.

[vtluu]

This is the one I have: http://www.quickcar.net/tire_mgmt/dry_tire_ga.html

I have the 60 psi one since when I started autocrossing 3 years ago I needed to run over 40 psi in my street tires. It's worked perfectly at countless auto-x, rally-x and track days.

[redvolution]

I bought this http://www.longacreracing.com/catalog/item.asp?id=840&catid=8
because it allows you to fill and measure at the same time and/or you can bleed air very quickly.

That and the display is big and easy to read.

[vtluu]

Yeah, I have a Harbor Freight inflator that I fitted with a Longacre angle chuck.

Needless to say, the accuracy of the Harbor Freight gauge is absolute crap, but I inflate tires a lot less often than I adjust tire pressures (let air out) so it's not too big a deal. If I had to get one now, I'd probably go for the QuickCar inflator (http://www.quickcar.net/tire_mgmt/tire_inf.html) which is a teeny bit cheaper than the Longacre, but more importantly, comes with the angle chuck.

I'd still want a separate tire gauge, because hauling around an air tank just to adjust tire pressures kinda sucks. (Granted you could put a quick-disconnect air tool fitting on the inflator like I have, and use the inflator as a standalone gauge with a really fast bleed valve.)

[srmtuning]

we stock the longacre gauges, they are around 44.00, which is really not that much $$.* Especially if you are investing the time and money to do track events.* It has an anti-shock rubber cover, swivel chuck and bleed.* Here is a link to this product.
http://www.longacreracing.com/catalog/item.asp?id=222&catid=8

regards,

Beau
SRM Tuning

[ace33joe]

I have an Autometer tire pressure gauge.

http://www.autometer.com/cat_accessorieslist.aspx?pid=31

It does not have a bleeding valve, but it holds the reading after removed from the valve. It has a big dial for easy reading, and it has a small bump on the back of the input for opening a valve for bleeding.

[Kamikaze]

I use $2 Walmart gauge and it's working okay so far...

[MarkSAE]

Okay, I got my Accugauge today and it works great. It has the swivel fitting, allows me to bleed by pushing the button, and it has peak hold. I'm pretty happy w/ my purchase!

[wzcx]

HAHA! Beau finally posts! I knew you couldn't hold out forever. 'We don't do forums.' :) :) Sorry about the off-topic comment.
In other news, I bought exactly that gauge from SRM just a month or two ago. It's nice. Go get one!