Tire pressure gauge: Analog vs Digital

May 17th, 2019 1:28 pm

#1

Enforcer22 [OP]: Member; Aug 22, 2012; 244 posts; 222 upvotes

May 17th, 2019 1:28 pm

Hey guys,

Getting mixed opinions on accurate tire pressure gauges for car tires

Accutire digital: https://www.amazon.ca/Measurement-Limit ... 31&sr=8-15

Joe's racing analog: https://www.amazon.ca/Joes-Racing-32307 ... way&sr=8-1

My tires are 32PSI and the cheapo stick gauge from CT was off by 10PSI according to my dealership, so I need something better to check occasionally. I'd wait for a sale on the Joe's one if that's the way to go

Share:

May 17th, 2019 1:35 pm

#2

vkizzle: Deal Expert; Aug 22, 2011; 35263 posts; 21251 upvotes; Center of Universe

May 17th, 2019 1:35 pm

I use the cheap analog ones and they are only off be 2psi.
Between the individual TPMS readings, tire guage pen and the inflator readout, I don't know which to trust...LOL

May 17th, 2019 1:42 pm

#3

AlicW93740: Sr. Member; Sep 25, 2018; 661 posts; 1210 upvotes

May 17th, 2019 1:42 pm

I got a 1 dollar tire gauge pen from ebay and it was as accurate as mechanic's gauge.

+1

May 17th, 2019 1:50 pm

#4

test9251: Deal Fanatic; Aug 27, 2012; 5677 posts; 899 upvotes; Toronto

May 17th, 2019 1:50 pm

Bought this,.works fine, but don't know how accurate it is.

https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/cert ... p.html#srp

May 17th, 2019 2:09 pm

#5

Viperoni: Deal Addict; Mar 30, 2010; 2861 posts; 1167 upvotes; GTA

May 17th, 2019 2:09 pm

I would definitely expect the Joes Racing one to be more accurate.

I have a 15 year old Autometer unit that still works well.

+1

May 17th, 2019 2:20 pm

#6

billford: Deal Addict; Feb 6, 2011; 1676 posts; 1386 upvotes

May 17th, 2019 2:20 pm

I can confirm this is accurate. Always matches the cars tpms readings

https://www.amazon.ca/Oasser-Inflator-P ... 3-fkmrnull

+1

May 17th, 2019 2:47 pm

#7

tebore: Deal Guru; Feb 9, 2006; 12160 posts; 6702 upvotes; Brampton

May 17th, 2019 2:47 pm

I usually use digital because it's just easier to read.
Either way between the freeones I get from tire shops (keychains) and the $20 ones I get from stores they're all within 0.5 PSI of each of each other. Which Is good enough. They're usually accurate to 10 kPa.

+2

May 17th, 2019 2:49 pm

#8

denti72: Sr. Member; Apr 8, 2010; 779 posts; 430 upvotes; toronto

May 17th, 2019 2:49 pm

billford wrote: ↑ I can confirm this is accurate. Always matches the cars tpms readings

https://www.amazon.ca/Oasser-Inflator-P ... 3-fkmrnull

holy jumpin'!!! $40 for a tire gauge!!!

I'm in the camp of el cheapo from crappy tire would suffice... i'm not racing so close enough will do.

+2

May 17th, 2019 3:54 pm

#9

billford: Deal Addict; Feb 6, 2011; 1676 posts; 1386 upvotes

May 17th, 2019 3:54 pm

denti72 wrote: ↑ holy jumpin'!!! $40 for a tire gauge!!!

I'm in the camp of el cheapo from crappy tire would suffice... i'm not racing so close enough will do.

Same price range as the ops 2nd link.

Of course you can by a $2 dollar store gauge which is enough for most people. But the Op wants something accurate.

+1

May 17th, 2019 4:17 pm

#10

CanadianLurker: Deal Addict; Sep 9, 2012; 4189 posts; 3475 upvotes; Oakville, ON

May 17th, 2019 4:17 pm

Enforcer22 wrote: ↑ Hey guys,

Getting mixed opinions on accurate tire pressure gauges for car tires

Accutire digital: https://www.amazon.ca/Measurement-Limit ... 31&sr=8-15

Joe's racing analog: https://www.amazon.ca/Joes-Racing-32307 ... way&sr=8-1

My tires are 32PSI and the cheapo stick gauge from CT was off by 10PSI according to my dealership, so I need something better to check occasionally. I'd wait for a sale on the Joe's one if that's the way to go

I don’t think analog vs digital makes a difference other than digital is easier to read.

A good digital one will be better than a poor analog one.

And a good analog one will be better than a poor digital one.

Therefore, take into consideration things like reviews, warranty, research, recommendations, etc. Ive been relying on the cheapie pen/stick ones and you have me worried now...so I’m going to stay tuned here to see what gets recommended here at a reasonable price to upgrade mine for some peace of mind!

+1

May 17th, 2019 4:39 pm

#11

macrossr: Member; May 24, 2008; 256 posts; 194 upvotes; Mississauga

May 17th, 2019 4:39 pm

I have the joes racing analog one and its very accurate. It also have the button to release air without releasing the valve which helps. I need it to be very accurate for tracking/autox purpose

+1

May 17th, 2019 6:21 pm

#12

jzmtl: Deal Addict; Jun 14, 2008; 3199 posts; 1971 upvotes; Montreal

May 17th, 2019 6:21 pm

Been using this one for a few years, very solid and accurate enough for me. Tried those big dial type, pain in the butt to use and store. Had a few digital ones and after battery dies you'd have to buy a new one.

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0002SQYTG/

May 17th, 2019 9:27 pm

#13

6mthatch: Deal Addict; Aug 10, 2013; 2737 posts; 1970 upvotes

May 17th, 2019 9:27 pm

I use a Joe's racing gauge in my garage however Longacre is another very well regarded brand.

Smash that like button!

May 17th, 2019 9:29 pm

#14

engineered: Deal Expert; Feb 11, 2007; 15696 posts; 16859 upvotes; Oakville

May 17th, 2019 9:29 pm

I have a few digital gauges I got from crappytire for about $10 on sale. They're all pretty accurate. I also have an analog racing gauge but rarely use it. The digital ones are actually more accurate.

Win a PS5 with RFD!

May 17th, 2019 9:48 pm

#15

l69norm: Deal Expert; Jun 12, 2007; 16038 posts; 4871 upvotes; London

May 17th, 2019 9:48 pm

Remember the old school analog gauges that were heavy duty and were all metal?

May 17th, 2019 11:25 pm

#16

billford: Deal Addict; Feb 6, 2011; 1676 posts; 1386 upvotes

May 17th, 2019 11:25 pm

l69norm wrote: ↑ Remember the old school analog gauges that were heavy duty and were all metal?

I still have mine, all metal, must be at least 50 years old. The small one even has a valve core tool. Small one made in England, large one made either in England, Toronto, or New York. Definitely not made in china...

May 17th, 2019 11:43 pm

#17

peteryorkuca: Deal Fanatic; Jul 26, 2007; 5294 posts; 2859 upvotes; Toronto

May 17th, 2019 11:43 pm

I have the same digital Accu tire gauge I got from ct 20 years back. Used it regularly on many cars through out the years. The latest car have TPMS and what shows on the gauge is same as what's shown on the car display.

Being a minimalist, buying something small, cheap instead of that bulking thing from Amazon. I remember buying something like the amazon one which was attached to my air compressor, but hardly use it.

+2

May 18th, 2019 1:09 am

#18

derass: Deal Addict; Sep 8, 2017; 4027 posts; 4158 upvotes; GTA

May 18th, 2019 1:09 am

Two things I like about digital over analog are:
1) easier / faster to read
2) backlit for use in low light

But one bad thing I noticed about digital tire gauges and inflators is that they all seem to have a huge range on them. Usually up to 250 psi. I think it's generally accepted that a measuring device is most accurate when you're measuring something in the middle of it's range. So I can't imagine that trying to measure 32 psi on a 250 psi sensor is very accurate.

You'll notice that those fancy pressure gauges from Joe's, Longacre etc. give you the option to select 0-30 psi, 0-60 psi, 0-100 psi etc. So for example, a dragster with very low tire pressures would want to use that first option, a passenger vehicle with the typical 32 psi would use the second, and 3/4 ton pickup with 50-60 psi would use the third.

May 18th, 2019 7:32 am

#19

ES_Revenge: Deal Expert; Mar 23, 2004; 28369 posts; 8816 upvotes

May 18th, 2019 7:32 am

Similar discussion was had here not long ago:
https://forums.redflagdeals.com/amazon- ... m-2268268/

I stand by what I said there--my Accutire has held up to the test of time (over 20 years, just like peteryourkuca) and has been better and more reliable than any mechanical gauge I've ever had. Mind you, I never had any expensive/premium mechanical gauges but pretty sure that first Accutire I bought was like $20 back then so not like it was expensive either.

May 18th, 2019 7:51 am

#20

unknownone: Deal Addict; Mar 31, 2009; 1176 posts; 781 upvotes

May 18th, 2019 7:51 am

Go for a good analog that will last forever, be accurate, and never need batteries to be replaced. Hassle free, one less battery replacement cycle to worry about in life.

These days people buy *way* too many random battery powered items that inevitably have dead batteries when you need them some day.

Obviously replacing a $1 battery isn't a huge deal, but if you have 30 random battery powered items in your house that all randomly need batteries, to me that's a little annoyance that I'd rather opt out of.