Any recommendations for a great tire pressure gauge?

I asked this same Q somewhere when Gen 3 first came out and I can't find the thread. But some kind veteran here recommended the AccuGauge. I ordered one and I love it!. The gauge is a dial configuration that is large enough to read without The Squint. I ordered it with the hose attachment so it's very easy to use.

Google it - you'll find it - it works for me!

 

I too saw the reference to Accugage here on PriusChat. I ordered one through Tire gauges and I am very pleased with it. I also ordered the hose extension to attach to my spare so I can check its pressure without having to pull it out every month. --TK

 

Me too. I really like both. Easy access to check the spare, and a gauge that you attach to the tire valve, then fill or bleed as the readings indicate. And I got a super-fast turnaround from getagauge.com

 

Thanks Jay_man2 - That's it! Yup - getagauge.com - fast service and easy. I got a little pouch to store it and keep it in the glove box.

 

As long a its accurate and gives repeatable results, almost any one will do. I happen to have both an analog and digital one. Both read the same PSI, both are accurate, both were under 20 bucks. It's a user decision!!!

 

I've used Accu-Gage gauges for decades. Very high quality.

This is the one I have--I got the 60 PSI, swivel angle model, and have the rubber guard:
Tire gauges

 

+1

I've got that one too. It's good and priced right.

As a general matter:

(1) CORRECTION EDIT: for greater accuracy, get a gauge so the typical pressure you will be testing is in the middle of the gauge span -- for most people's car tires this will mean a 60 PSI gauge (note however the donut spare takes 60 PSI, but I'd prefer that the four regular tires' PSI determine what gauge I get);

(2) digital gauges have a tendency to give less accurate readings in cold weather; so for people living in areas that get cold or freezing temperatures, a dial gauge would be a better choice; and

(3) if you get a dial gauge, make sure it shows PSI in 1 or 2 PSI increments.

 

I have several gauges, though the one I use is a pretty standard metal one I received (as a gift) from a Toyota service guy. I have a cheap-o version of the same thing that isn't quite so accurate, but it works in a pinch.

I also have a digital gauge as part of my portable compressor. That one is very accurate (I've compared it to several different gauges, and it measures just the same as the nicer standard metal tube gauge I use more often).

I have a smaller digital gauge I bought at a car store a few years back. It is tempermental enough that I haven't even given it away!

 

Well, here's what a Blind Guy uses, and YES it naturally TALKS!

My gauge of choice is the ACCUTIRE Talking Tire Guage, and it's a digital guage with .5lb accuracy, it also can memorize BOTH the Front and Rear pressures of TWO cars. It also has a built in Flashlight.

With it's .5lb accuracy, and it's 2 Lithium batteries, it's VERY accurate and reliable (I've compared it with a competition racing guage that's accurate down to .1lb, and it was SPOT ON!

The nice thing about Talking Guages is they can be used in the dark, like on the side of the road with a flat, or anywhere the light's not good. PLUS you don't have to try and hold a light on your guage while you're trying to take a reading and then shine it on the display while your attempting to view the guage. You simply press the guage on the stem and listen for it to tell you the pressure!

If you have multiple cars and keep different pressures in their Front and Rear tires, this gauge memorizes ALL of them for you. In addition, if you need a little light, it's got a small Flashlight built in.

Don't remember exactly how much it was, but I think it was under $35. If you're interested, GOOGLE "ACCUTIRE Talking Tire Guage".

David (aka blind Guy)

 

The spare sidewall says inflate to 60 PSI. Mine was at 45 the first time I checked it--a month after I took delivery.

 

Thanks. You're right. 60 PSI for the donut spare.

 

Accugage is my gage of choice as well. They last forever. I had a problem with the rubber sealing gasket in one once, and the company replaced the offending part immediately through the mail. Great service.

I do also have some cheap digital gages that work great too. I only wish that Accuage made a nice gage for Presta valves. Still looking for a good gage for those!

 

Based on recommendations elsewhere, I just received the Accutire MS-4021B yesterday from Amazon. I tried it this morning and it seems to work very well.

It seems to agree with my previous gauge, it has good ergonomics, it's compact, and the LED display is readable without reading glasses (for me) in the shade. It will easily handle my worst-case scenario of checking the air at a gas station at night. (Live in a condo, so no pump in the garage.) I'll have to test it in bright sunlight to see if the display holds up under those conditions.

It was even on sale at Amazon for something like $10.

EDIT: Works just fine with the wheel covers in place, too.

 

Wow, I haven't had that problem with my 07 with either the OEM trim rings or the aftermarket wheel covers I put on my wheels. I use an Accu Gage with a swivel-angle chuck. Wonder which type of chuck is easier.

If you need them, here are the two main threads about removing the covers and putting on center caps:

http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii...modifications/61201-15-wheel-center-caps.html

http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii-2010-prius-main-forum/62096-15-alloy-wheels-w-center-caps.html

Bottom line on the center caps is that one place you can get them for a decent price is parts.com, which sells them for $10.48 each plus $12.99 total shipping and handling.

If you search parts.com or other parts sites for center caps, make sure you enter that you're looking for parts for either a 2004, 2005 or 2006 Prius (long story ... short of it is that Toyota's parts database is terribly managed ... sometimes you have to experiment with entering different model years to find the parts you want for your model year), and then you drill down through the wheels category until you get to center caps.

Good luck.

 

Sorry 'bout that Indyking - mine is a squeeze through the wheel cover, but I can get it attached with the covers on. Did we ever figure out what sort of hit the FE took from removing the covers?

 

Darell,

Is this Accu-Gage for Presta valves bad?

Bicycle Tire gauges - Presta - Schrader