check the acuracy of your tire gauges

garyo4 · 06-22-2011, 02:58 PM

Today I was going through the different entries here regarding tire pressures etc (I am getting ready to order my dark side tire). That led to a thread on air pressures and that led to me to checking the air pressure in my m/c tires. This is something I normally do every week or two.
Today, however, I decided to use a dial-type gauge that I bought when visiting Elvis (Memphis) last year. It recorded about 12 psi lower than the stick-type pressure gauge I had been using (the type normally sold at most automotive stores). I decided to use 2 more gauges I had in the garage (one stick, one digital) to see which of the first two I used was wrong. Turns out the stick-type gauge I had normally used was off, the other two as well as the dial gauge all recorded the same pressure. Lesson learned, get into the habit of double checking your air pressure gauge, you could be unknowingly running with the pressure in your tires too low or too high.

**mc88** · 06-22-2011, 04:01 PM

Good tip. 12psi is quite a bit of pressure to be off by every time

AlabamaNomadRider · 06-22-2011, 07:39 PM

Good tip, I usually use a digital and then check with the stick type. The ones I use are both together.

recumbentbob · 06-22-2011, 08:01 PM

We have a calibration lab at work and I had 4 of my gauges checked last year only one was right on. The others were 2, 3 & 5 psi low.

I threw 2 of them away. I checked them at 30, 40, 50 and 60 psi.

**ringadingh** · 06-22-2011, 08:47 PM

I have about four gauges here and a couple don't seem to be accurate, my oldest one is the best and the one I seem to rely on all the time.

ndbigfish · 06-22-2011, 09:04 PM

I had this happen right before the National rally, as I was checking air in all the tires that were going to the rally. I found the end of the seal in my digital gauge was damaged/worn and was giving pressures lower than the stick and dial type gauges I have. This caused me to over inflate the tires. I checked all the gauges against each other and I deposited a couple of the gauges in the trash after that.

Yellow Jacket · 06-23-2011, 04:04 PM

The problem is that unless you have access to a calibration lab you can't really tell which is right by comparing the readings of several gauges.

You could compare 10 gauges and have 9 read nearly the same and one be off from them by several pounds. That single one could be the most accurate. Can't tell for sure just by comparing.

ponch · 06-23-2011, 04:17 PM

BMWMOA ON magazine did an article on this. I'll have to scan it and post.

06-22-2011, 02:58 PM	#1
garyo4 Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Newfoundland, Canada Posts: 275	check the acuracy of your tire gauges Today I was going through the different entries here regarding tire pressures etc (I am getting ready to order my dark side tire). That led to a thread on air pressures and that led to me to checking the air pressure in my m/c tires. This is something I normally do every week or two. Today, however, I decided to use a dial-type gauge that I bought when visiting Elvis (Memphis) last year. It recorded about 12 psi lower than the stick-type pressure gauge I had been using (the type normally sold at most automotive stores). I decided to use 2 more gauges I had in the garage (one stick, one digital) to see which of the first two I used was wrong. Turns out the stick-type gauge I had normally used was off, the other two as well as the dial gauge all recorded the same pressure. Lesson learned, get into the habit of double checking your air pressure gauge, you could be unknowingly running with the pressure in your tires too low or too high. Login or Register to Remove Ads
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06-22-2011, 04:01 PM	#2
mc88 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Sioux Center, IA Posts: 228	check the acuracy of your tire gauges Good tip. 12psi is quite a bit of pressure to be off by every time __________________ Mick Argo - NW Iowa 2006 Vulcan Nomad 2005 Honda Shadow Aero 2007 Kawasaki 650R 2001 Kawasaki ZR-7
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06-22-2011, 07:39 PM	#3
AlabamaNomadRider Sr. Contributor Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Boaz, Alabama Posts: 13,742	check the acuracy of your tire gauges Good tip, I usually use a digital and then check with the stick type. The ones I use are both together. __________________ Gene Cross, Jr. Boaz, Alabama KawaNOW/VBA #1181
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06-22-2011, 08:01 PM	#4
recumbentbob Sr. Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Newburgh IN Posts: 3,404	check the acuracy of your tire gauges We have a calibration lab at work and I had 4 of my gauges checked last year only one was right on. The others were 2, 3 & 5 psi low. I threw 2 of them away. I checked them at 30, 40, 50 and 60 psi. __________________ VBA #01084 "A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."
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06-22-2011, 08:47 PM	#5
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	check the acuracy of your tire gauges I have about four gauges here and a couple don't seem to be accurate, my oldest one is the best and the one I seem to rely on all the time. __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951 Login or Register to Remove Ads
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06-22-2011, 09:04 PM	#6
ndbigfish Sr. Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Braunfels, Texas Posts: 1,162	check the acuracy of your tire gauges I had this happen right before the National rally, as I was checking air in all the tires that were going to the rally. I found the end of the seal in my digital gauge was damaged/worn and was giving pressures lower than the stick and dial type gauges I have. This caused me to over inflate the tires. I checked all the gauges against each other and I deposited a couple of the gauges in the trash after that. __________________ Brik VBA #1047 07 Electra Glide Ultra (43,300 & counting) 03 Nomad - 37,972 (traded 5/6/13) 99 Nomad - Only a memory since 4/27/13
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06-23-2011, 04:04 PM	#7
Yellow Jacket Top Contributor Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Fayetteville, Georgia Posts: 5,792	check the acuracy of your tire gauges The problem is that unless you have access to a calibration lab you can't really tell which is right by comparing the readings of several gauges. You could compare 10 gauges and have 9 read nearly the same and one be off from them by several pounds. That single one could be the most accurate. Can't tell for sure just by comparing. __________________ Bob KawaNOW/VBA 210 Green/Silver 2006 Patriot Guard Riders 2009
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06-23-2011, 04:17 PM	#8
ponch Sr. Contributor Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Way East Valley Posts: 12,017	check the acuracy of your tire gauges BMWMOA ON magazine did an article on this. I'll have to scan it and post. __________________ Ponch VBA 0019 VROC 8109-R BMWMOA 162849 BMWRA 41335 BMW: When you care enough to ride the very best. My Motorrad Blog My Motorrad YouTube 2009 BMW R1200RT Previous bikes:2007 Nomad \| 2001 Vulcan 800 Classic \| 1984 GPz750 \| 1978 KZ1000A2 Rallies: Custer '09\|Prairie Du Chien '10\|Crescent City '11
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