Maintaining proper tire pressure, therefore, becomes very important if you want to extract the best performance from your car. Don’t worry; doing so is very straightforward and something anybody without any experience in dealing with cars can do easily.

First, get a tire pressure gauge. Also called tire gauges, these are devices that measure the air pressure inside your car tires. These can be either analog or digital in nature. Ideally, you should invest in a digital tire gauge as these tend to be much more accurate than their analog counterparts.

Next, connect your tire gauge to your car tire’s air valve. You should hear a hissing sound and the LCD screen (or needle, if you’re using an analog gauge) will display the air pressure in the tire.

Consult your car’s manual to find out the recommended air pressure for your car’s tires. Compare this with the reading you just took. In most cases, the air pressure is lower than the recommended setting. However, sometimes, the tires might even be over inflated and the reading will be higher than the recommended setting. In case of the former, attach a air pump to the air valve of the tire to get the pressure to the recommended value. In case of the latter, pull the air valve until you hear a hissing sound of air coming out of the tire and the air pressure reducing to the ideal level.

Measure the air pressure in the tires once again using your tire gauge. If it matches the settings recommended by your car manufacturer, then congrats, you’ve successfully set the correct tire pressure in your car tires! If not, increase or decrease air pressure accordingly.

A couple of tips when setting the air pressure:

1. Air pressure is measured in PSI – Pounds per Square Inch. The standard air pressure for most car tires is 32 PSI. It may, of course, differ based on your car’s make or model.

2. If you are using one of those electric air pumps commonly found at gas stations, you should know that they pump out air at the rate of 1 PSI/second. This means that if you want to increase your tire’s pressure by 5 PSI, you’ll need to keep the pump attached to the tire for a total of 5 seconds.

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Your car’s tires serve as the medium between the car and the road. Under or overinflated tires tend to not grip the road as well, and will give you a nasty, bumpy ride. They will also wear down much more quickly than tires maintained at the correct air temperature.

If you ask any automobile expert, he’ll tell you that the right air pressure inside your car can have a substantial effect on your car’s fuel efficiency and performance. This is the reason why you see drivers and teams in motor sports fussing over their tires so much. When your tires are under, or over inflated, it can increase the friction between the tire and the road, leading to excessive power consumption. With the current prices of fuel, this extra power/fuel consumption can come to a significant amount of money.

When measuring the air pressure using a tire pressure gauge, make sure that you do so when the tires are cool. When the tires are warm, the air inside them expands, giving a faulty reading of the air pressure. Place the tire pressure gauge over the valve stem and press it down. You’ll hear a slight hissing sound of escaping air if you’ve placed the gauge properly over the stem.

If you’re using a analog pressure gauge, the needle will move to show you the air pressure, and if you’re using a digital tire gauge, the readings will show up right on the LCD screen. Always remember to replace the valve cap when you’re done taking the pressure readings!

You should look up your car tire pressure from time to time so that it matches the levels prescribed by your car manufacturer. Doing so will save you a ton in fuel and tire costs, while improving your car’s performance.

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When you’re out shopping for your digital tire gauge, make sure that the model you buy has a fairly large, high quality LCD screen. This will make taking readings a whole lot easier. Also, make sure that it is backlit so that you can use it in the dark.

The single purpose of a programmable digital tire gauge is to set the tire pressure at your car manufacturer’s recommended settings. If your car company recommends a tire pressure that is not in whole numbers (example: 18.5, instead of 19 or 18), make sure that your chosen gauge model has increments small enough to adjust such a non-whole number pressure. The device itself must be easy to use, not overtly complicated so as to make regular readings a herculean task.

Tire pressure gauges these days come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Make sure to get one that can fit ergonomically into your hands. Sometimes, you may have to use the gauge in harsh weather conditions. A large, unwieldly pressure gauge can be a nuisance in such a situation.

Last but not the least, check the manufacturer’s warranty. Programmable tire pressure gauges can be expensive, so always pick one that has sufficient warranty cover.

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As a rule of the thumb, a digital tire gauge trumps the analog pressure gauge when it comes to accuracy. The analog pressure gauges, in fact, are quite worthless when it comes to properly calibrating your tire pressure, with the indicating needle flying all over the place. If its accuracy you are looking for, a digital pressure gauge is the way to go.

However, one must keep in mind that the actual air pressure inside a tire can vary wildly depending on the time and weather conditions. Remember that air expands when it warms up. Therefore, in hot weather conditions, or when the car has been in use for some time, the tire heats up. This causes the air inside it to expand, increasing the tire pressure. Consequently, this can lead to varying readings.

The air pressure that car companies recommend to you is the “cold” air pressure. This is the pressure when the tire is cool, and the air inside settled. Therefore, whenever you decide to measure your tire pressure, make sure you do so in cool weather when the car has been sitting idle for some time. Mornings, before the sun comes out, would be an ideal time to do so.

Along with the time and weather conditions, faulty equipment can be another reason for inaccurate pressure readings. Analog pressure gauges can be off by as much as 5-10 psi, not to mention how difficult it is to actually see the readings on them. Digital tire gauges, on the other hand, have an error range of just +-0.05 psi over 5-150 psi. Therefore, these are a whole lot more accurate and a must investment if you are interested in keeping your car’s tire pressure at an optimum range to increase fuel efficiency, performance, and your tires lifespan.

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Types of Air Pressure Gauge Available

There is a lot of choice when it comes to buying an air pressure gauge. Prices for these devices can range anywhere from $5 to $100, so you must do your research before setting off to buy one.

The most inexpensive air pressure gauge is the pencil-type tire pressure gauge. These are very easy to use and consist of a stick core that is printed like a ruler, giving away the psi (pounds per square inch) measurement when it is attached to the valve of the tire. These, however, tend to be fairly inaccurate and are not recommended unless you are really short of money.

The most common air pressure gauge is the dial-type pressure gauge. These incorporate a round dial with a needle. When placed against a tire valve, the needle moves to indicate the psi level. This, like the above device, work on analog principles and thus, are fairly inaccurate.

For the best quality, go for a digital tire pressure gauge. As the name suggests, these type of air gauges work on digital principles and thus, are very accurate, with the error range in some models being as low as +-0.05 psi over a range of 5-150 psi. When the device is placed against the tire valve, the correct psi reading is displayed on an LCD screen. For true professionals, or those who care about their vehicles or tires, these digital air gauges are the way to go.

If you want to go for even more convenience, choose a gauge that will read the pressure even as you adjust it. Such a gauge can be connected to the air compressor valve and the tire valve simultaneously and will help you save a ton of time. Highly recommended for professionals or auto enthusiasts.

An air pressure gauge is an essential device in a vehicle owner’s tool box. These fairly cheap tools can help you improve your vehicle’s performance and fuel efficiency, while saving you money by increasing your tire’s life span.

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A digital tire pressure gauge is a device used to measure the air pressure inside a tire. It has a digital interface (LCD screen) to display the air pressure and provides far greater accuracy than a traditional analog tire pressure gauge.

How is a Digital Tire Gauge Used?

A digital tire pressure gauge is used in the same way as a traditional gauge. The device is placed over the valve stem of the car tire and gentle pressure is applied to it. When it is fully seated over the valve stem, it shows the air pressure inside the tire.

How Does it Measure Tire Pressure?

When the device is pushed against the valve stem, the air inside the tire exerts pressure on it. This creates force that is measured by the device and translated into numeric reading that is displayed on the LCD screen.

How Is It Powered?

It can be powered by anything from batteries to solar power to direct electricity. For the purpose of portability and convenience, a battery powered device is much more useful. You can keep it in your car trunk and use it in case of an emergency (always keep spare batteries!). Nowadays, you can even find solar powered pressure gauges, although they tend to be rare and are of not much use in cold weather conditions.

How Does it Differ From Traditional Pressure Gauges?

A traditional pressure gauge is analog in nature. Unlike the digital tire gauge, which measures the force exerted by the air inside the tire on it and converts it into a numerical value, a analog (traditional) pressure gauge has a numeric gauge built into it that is pushed out by the air inside the tire, causing the needle to move and indicate the air pressure.

Readings from a traditional pressure gauge vary a lot with a high error range. A digital tire gauge, on the other hand, has an error range of +-0.05 psi only, making it high accurate.

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The earliest tire pressure gauges consisted of a stick valve with calibrated pressure markings in psi. When this gauge was pressed against the tire valve, the air inside would push the stick valve, giving a reading of the tire pressure. These were quite inaccurate and the quality of the devices used to measure air pressure has improved drastically ever since.

The Need for a High Quality Tire Pressure Gauge

As with a ton of other advancements in automobile technology, the invention and implementation of high quality tire pressure gauges was first started in motorsports. Most motorsports require accurate readings to calibrate the tire pressure in order to maximize fuel efficiency, performance, and to improve the life span of highly expensive performance tires. To meet the demands of motorsports, the digital pressure gauge was invented.

As the name suggests, the digital pressure gauge is a digital device used to measure the air pressure inside a tire. Unlike analog models that work on mechanical principles, the digital pressure gauge measures tire pressure by converting the force exerted by air inside a tire into numerical readings, which are then displayed on a LCD screen. These devices tend to be highly accurate and are used extensively in most professional settings.

The size and complexity of a digital pressure gauge can vary a lot. Portable pressure gauges that run on batteries are small enough to be tossed into the glove compartment. Larger, more complex devices used in motorsports, manufacturing plants, and at your mechanic’s place often require their own safety storage box.

When it comes to choosing a gauge, you must take into account your needs and how you plan to use your car. For personal, day-to-day city driving, a small portable gauge that can be kept in the glove compartment is more than enough to check your tire pressure once a month. For more performance oriented driving, you might want to invest in a high quality dial air pressure gauge, especially one that will help you measure the air pressure inside two tires simultaneously, thereby making sure that your tires have the exact same air pressure.

What you buy will depend a lot on how you plan to use your car. For the average guy, however, a small battery powered digital pressure gauge is more than enough to keep his tires in top running condition.

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Why it’s important to check your tire pressure regularly.

We’ve all been guilty of ignoring our tire condition or air pressure at some point of time or the other. Most of us just assume that everything is fine when it comes to the tires until its too late and we end up with a flat, or worse, an accident.

Your tires are the primary medium that connects your car to the road. For obvious reasons, worn out tires, or tires with low air pressure will impact the performance and safety of your car, not to mention fuel efficiency. As the AAA says, you must check both the condition, as well as air pressure in your tires every month, and before each long drive.

A worn out tire has limited grip and can impact your car’s handling. A damaged tire might give way while you’re driving, which can result in a terrible accident. Therefore, it’s important to inspect all your tires regularly for any damage or wear. You can either get a mechanic to do so, or do it yourself. Just place your palm on the tire and run it all over the surface. If you notice any irregularities in its roundness, smoothness and tread, it’s generally an indication that the time has come to change the tires. Usual signs of wear include cupping, irregular wear, cracks, deep wear.

A neat little trick you can use to measure the tread quality of a tire is to use an ordinary penny and push it into a tire’s tread. If Lincoln’s head disappears completely inside the tread, it means that you’re good to go and need not worry about your tires.

Next, we come to tire pressure. Most people tend to overlook this, but low or excess pressure in the tires can create a plethora of driving issues, from reduced fuel efficiency and performance, to reduced road grip and comfort resulting in a bumpy ride.

It’s usually very difficult to get an idea if your tire is under or over inflated by just looking at it. This is where a tire pressure gauge comes into the picture. These are devices that are placed over the tire valve to measure the air pressure inside the tire. Every car manufacturer has different recommended settings for the tire pressure. With a tire pressure gauge, you can measure and adjust the air pressure to keep your tires in top condition and your car delivering maximum performance.

A digital tire pressure gauge is invariably better than the traditional analog gauge. A digital gauge can set you back by anything from $20 to $200 depending on the quality and features. The main things to look for in a digital gauge is accuracy, weight, size and shape, readability of the LCD screen, and a few other features such as backlight display, etc. Digital gauges can be powered by batteries, or by an electrical unit. For the sake of portability, battery powered digital gauges are preferred over electrically powered gauges. You can toss one in the trunk or your glove compartment and use it whenever necessary.

A key point to keep in mind, and one that many look over, is to always check the air pressure in your spare tire. Often, a tire goes bust and when you go to replace it, you find that the spare itself has very low air pressure, leaving you stranded.

By following the above tips, and investing in a digital tire pressure gauge, you can increase the lifespan of your tires, improve your car’s performance, and save money over the long run in fuel costs.

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A tire pressure gauge is a device that can measure the air pressure inside a tire. Damaged, old, or worn out tires tend to lose their air pressure fairly quickly. Therefore, investing in a tire pressure gauge is a great way to make sure that you always have the optimum air pressure in your tires.

Setting the correct tire pressure is virtually a science. While the recommended factory settings will work out great for normal day-to-day driving, in more competitive conditions, improper tire pressure can have wide ramifications. In most competitive motorsports, for example, a lot of attention is given to the air pressure in the tires at any point during a race as the tire pressure can have a significant impact on the vehicle’s performance and fuel efficiency.

A digital tire pressure gauge consists of a digital readout (i.e., LCD screen), at one end, and a valve that matches the tire valve at the other end. When it is placed over the tire valve, the air inside the tire exerts a force on the device. This force is converted into a numerical value and displayed on the screen.

Digital tire pressure gauges tend to be very accurate. The error range in some models is as low as +-0.05 psi over a range of 5-150 psi. While these can be fairly expensive, investing in one can save you a lot of money over the long run as your car’s performance and fuel efficiency, not to mention tire life span, will improve significantly if you maintain the optimum tire pressure as recommended by your car manufacturer.

Digital tire pressure gauges tend to come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Because of their digital nature, they can be molded into any shape. When you’re out shopping for one, make sure to get something that is ergonomically designed and is easy to handle and use. If you have poor eyesight, get something that has a large LCD screen with clearly visible readings. It is also wise to go for a model with a backlight, as you might have to use the device in the dark or in bad weather conditions.

A battery powered pressure gauge is recommended over one that is powered by an electrical unit as you can toss the battery powered device into your trunk and use it outside your garage. Always remember to keep an extra set of batteries handy.

A true auto-enthusiast might want to go for a model that will allow him to connect it to the air compressor valve and the tire valve simultaneously. This will let you adjust the tire pressure as you read it, saving you oodles of time and effort.

There is a wide variety of models when it comes to picking a digital tire pressure gauge. You shouldn’t go over the top and pick up a fancy $200 model. Just get something that is within your budget and is accurate enough for your needs.

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Range

This gauge can take measurements from 5-99 psi with 0.5 psi increments. While this range might be a bit low as compared to more professional models, it is more than what any average car owner would require.

Hardware

The LCD screen is quite large in size and is backlit, which makes for easy reading even in the dark. It is shaped ergonomically and is very easy to grip. The Accutire digital tire gauge weighs just 4.3 oz and measures 6x1x1 inches.

Besides, it also includes an LED light that can be activated at the switch of a button. Perfect for dim light conditions, as can be case when working underneath cars.

Features

The Accutire digital tire gauge is fully programmable. This means that it can be pre-loaded with settings recommended by your car manufacturer. This can help you save a lot of time and effort.

Warranty

Each device comes with a 5 year manufacturer’s warranty

In terms of features, the Accutire digital tire gauge provides plenty for the average car owner. While the psi measurement range could be a bit more so as to compete with more professional models, you’ll hardly exceed this range in normal day-to-day driving. It is small in size and very lightweight and can be tossed easily into the glove compartment. The large, backlit LCD screen can be a blessing in the dark or in bad weather conditions.

Last, but not the least, a 5 year manufacturer’s warranty gives you a large safety net should the device malfunction.

Another little feature of the Accutire digital tire gauge is that it doesn’t have to be pushed on or off. The reading is displayed automatically when you push it into the tire valve. Moreover, the device notifies you when a correct reading has been taken by beeping automatically, which makes working with cars just a tad bit easier.

To conclude, the Accutire is a highly accurate, high quality digital tire gauge and would be a perfect fit in any car owner’s tool box.

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