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Which to trust: the TPMS, or tire gauges?

Discussion in 'Prime Technical Discussion' started by Scott_R, Oct 15, 2024 at 2:57 PM.

  1. Scott_R

    Scott_R Member

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    Almost immediately after buying my 2024 Prime I noticed that the Toyota reported the tire PSI as 31 PSI. I went out and checked them with 2 tire gauges, and they reported ~2 PSI lower, not quite 29. I attached a tire inflator (i.e., a compressor made for tires and not a general purpose compressor) and its gauge reported the same.
    I inflated to the numbers given on the door sticker (35 front, 33 rear) and now the app reports 37 PSI front, 35 rear.

    I'm leaning to trusting the gauges, since at least 2 (plus the tire inflator) reported the same numbers, but should I instead believe the TPMS?

    tires1a.jpg tires3.jpg tires4.jpg
     
    douglasjre and bisco like this.
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    trust the gauges. most apps aren't good enough to be trustworthy
     
  3. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    I would suspect that they start with similar accuracies or tolerances. But the TPMS sensors should not be degrading from mechanical abuse in glove boxes and other places they are tossed.

    Consensus among multiple units (more than 2) would probably be a reasonable guide. If at least 3 TPMS sensors are reading the same, compared to an external gauge, I'd go with them.
     
  4. douglasjre

    douglasjre Senior Member

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    Where r the gauges made
     
  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    Either could be off a bit, due to manufacturing variation. I’ve got several gauges; most read about the same, while one is invariably about 3 PSI higher. The higher one happens to be my preferred (due to ease-of-use, easy-to-read), so I taped a bit of masking tape on it, with a note to remind me about the 3 PSI overshoot.
     
  6. Scott_R

    Scott_R Member

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    The problem is that I'm getting different readings from four separate TPMS sensors--none confirming the others--vs 3 outside gauges (one of them brand new) each backing the other up.

    First, there are the four TPMS sensors, though each is reading its own tire and not confirming any of the others. They read 31 psi, though that number had changed over the past week (due to outside temps?). Because that was below OEM specs, I checked them with my own gauges with the intent to top them off.

    I've had the digital gauge for some years. Because it's battery powered, I've inexplicably found its batteries dead when I took it out of the storage space (under trunk in a 2012 Prius)-- twice, despite being stored in its case so presumably not accidentally turning on. As a result this past week I ordered an Accu-Gage RRA60X because it was highly rated for accuracy--that's the analog dial gauge in the pics. When I checked the tire pressures both gauges gave the same reading: a hair over 28 psi.

    I then attached the tire inflator, which has its own built-in gauge; it confirmed the other two gauges readings. I inflated to OEM (35 front, 33 rear).

    The TPMS reports the tires as 37 front, 35 rear, so there's a consist 2 psi difference between my gauges and the Toyota TPMS.
     
  7. Kenny94945

    Kenny94945 Active Member

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    I would trust the tire gauges.

    However noting, some gauges have variances.
    Quality gauge is important.

    As for the TMPS sensor variance to the gauge... I don't know.
    FWIW a "rule of thumb" cold to hot psi should raise 10%.