Different Tyre pressure readings at different garages

[Ecco]

Having your own one doesn't mean it will be accurate but at least the gauge is a consistent factor.

And it could be consistently wrong too

 

[GhostSixFour]

Some garages now has the pressure monitor built into a unit on the wall, and only the pipe lying on the floor. Found these to be a lot better.

 

[silver6933]

Tire pressure gauges are mostly wrong. Buy your own handheld unit. The fancy electronic ones can be more out that the regular dial type.

The gauges on cheap compressors are next to useless.

 

[supersunbird]

You believe what the guys told you? What if they were doing it incorrectly? Do it yourself!

What you are posting here is just hearsay...

 

[Paul_S]

You can get away with using cheap tyre pressure gauges.
Pressure gauges have to be calibrated during manufacture and will start to display larger errors over time so a cheap unit could be as accurate as an expensive unit when they leave the factory.
Purchasing an expensive tyre pressure gauge doesn't necessarily mean you'll obtain more accurate readings because all it takes is a hard bump or two and the gauge will need to be recalibrated.
Mechanical air pressure gauges and even electronic pressure transducers need to be re-calibrated every so often to maintain accuracy.
Aircraft instruments (airspeed & altimeter) have to regularly be re-calibrated by an authorized facility as well.

1. Buy two cheap tyre pressure gauges and every so often compare their pressure readings on a tyre.
2. When a difference in pressure readings starts to occur purchase a third gauge and compare all three.
3. Toss the one which displays the most error and continue using the remaining two.

Repeat 2 and 3 indefinitely and you should always have fairly accurate tyre pressure readings.

 

[DanH]

Some garages now has the pressure monitor built into a unit on the wall, and only the pipe lying on the floor. Found these to be a lot better.

I don't trust these. They are measuring at the other end of the pipe, multiple leaky fittings away from the tyre.

The best method is to get your own gauge with a protective case from a 4 x4 shop and keep it in the glove box.

I see on a few modern cars they measure and monitor tyre pressure at each wheel electronically down to 0.05bar and you can see the pressure real time on the in car screen as it's filled.

 

[Ockie]

Would it be better to take the car to a tyre shop then and have them check the pressure once a month or so?

 

[Ecco]

Would it be better to take the car to a tyre shop then and have them check the pressure once a month or so?

Might be worthwhile - in fact get them to fill up your tyres with nitrogen

 

[Ockie]

Might be worthwhile - in fact get them to fill up your tyres with nitrogen

I read somewhere on mybb that nitrogen in tyres is a foeffie?

 

[GhostSixFour]

I read somewhere on mybb that nitrogen in tyres is a foeffie?

And they charge for that.. R10 per shot IIRC..

 

[ngwe23]

My car has a compressor instead of a spare wheel, it has the gauge built in

You can probably get one from any midas/autozone

My car also comes with a compressor by I have never really though about using it to check tire pressure. Have been using the garages as well. Great tip.