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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: Budrick320 on September 06, 2005, 04:15:01 PM

Title: Digital or Analog Tire Gauge? Whats your choice?
Post by: Budrick320 on September 06, 2005, 04:15:01 PM
I have only an analog gauge and was checking the pressure today. The front read something like 22psi. I know it is supposed to be at 33psi. I don't see how it could lose that much so soon. So I compared it to another analog and it read 34psi. That more like it. But now I don't know which one is right. I have been using the former for 2 years but I am trusting the latter. I am looking into to get a digital one.

Don't know how to post pics but here is the link of a pic comparing the gauges.
http://tinypic.com/dfk9lc.jpg
The top one is from a mini compressor that hooks into the power outlet of a car. It is at an angle but it reads 35psi.

What kind of tire gauges do yall use? And if anyone has a digital one, how satisfied are you with it?
Title: Digital or Analog Tire Gauge? Whats your choice?
Post by: RVertigo on September 06, 2005, 04:24:10 PM
I've been using an "stick" analog one 'cause it was like $2...  :dunno:

If you can get a nice one that's accurate, I don't think it actually matters if it's analog or digital...  But, even a crappy one is gonna be better than the gas pump ones.
Title: Digital or Analog Tire Gauge? Whats your choice?
Post by: scratch on September 06, 2005, 04:40:41 PM
Dial guage, 50psi max with 1psi increments.
Title: Digital or Analog Tire Gauge? Whats your choice?
Post by: RVertigo on September 06, 2005, 04:42:31 PM
How much was it?
Title: Digital or Analog Tire Gauge? Whats your choice?
Post by: scratch on September 06, 2005, 04:46:40 PM
$50, back in the day. I've had this one since before '95, dropped it once, but it has the rubber covering the whole guage. You can get these Accuguages for about $20, nowadays.

Do digitals allow you to read .5psi increments like an analog can?
Title: Digital or Analog Tire Gauge? Whats your choice?
Post by: natedawg120 on September 06, 2005, 05:10:27 PM
I have a digital, got it free when I worked at the parts store.  I am sure there are pricy digital ones that will to incremental PSI readings but mine only does it by whole digits.  I think the one I have was $15 but the supplier gave us all a freebie so we could show people.

If all the ones I like the digital the best, it is smallest and dang easy to read.  I have a couple stick ones somewhere and a dial one I carry in my Jeep.  thats my $.02 :cheers:
Title: Digital or Analog Tire Gauge? Whats your choice?
Post by: Budrick320 on September 06, 2005, 05:10:56 PM
Are Accugauges supposed to be the best or something?
Title: Digital or Analog Tire Gauge? Whats your choice?
Post by: JetSwing on September 06, 2005, 06:09:56 PM
Quote from: Budrick320Are Accugauges supposed to be the best or something?
yup.

if you see your mechanic using one of those "stick" ones, take your bike and run!
Title: Digital or Analog Tire Gauge? Whats your choice?
Post by: stingray on September 06, 2005, 06:29:27 PM
as long as it's accurate.  i test mine against the dunlop guage tester @ the club races.

my accuguage tested 2psi off.  my stick/pen guages were spot on.

YMMV
Title: Digital or Analog Tire Gauge? Whats your choice?
Post by: drooler on September 06, 2005, 08:10:19 PM
Though I don't remember the brand name (I THINK it was a "Camel" brand, which has nothing to do with the cancerettes), I recall buying analog stick gauges at auto parts stores that sold for about five bucks, and were guaranteed accurate within plus-or-minus one PSI. They had been tested by various consumer groups, and were found to be accurate.

A few years ago, I read a review in Motorcycle Consumer News about the Roadgear Hi-Tec Digital Tire Pressure Gauge, which was praised as being an excellent tire gauge. I bought one, and though I still have a few of my old analog "stick" gauges, I've been very happy with the Roadgear gauge, and I think you would be too.

Here's a review from the Motorcycle Cruiser website:

http://motorcyclecruiser.com/accessoriesandgear/roadgeargauge/

As you'll see, their results were outstanding, and for about $20, I consider the Roadgear gauge an investment in peace-of-mind.

You can buy it directly from www.roadgear.com or call around to see which retailers carry it in your area.
Title: Digital or Analog Tire Gauge? Whats your choice?
Post by: weaselnoze on September 06, 2005, 08:45:25 PM
dial!  i have like 4 different stick ones and they all read different.  they suck
Title: Digital or Analog Tire Gauge? Whats your choice?
Post by: Alphamazing on September 06, 2005, 11:02:32 PM
Maybe I'm just old skool, but I prefer analog on most things.
Title: Digital or Analog Tire Gauge? Whats your choice?
Post by: Cal Price on September 07, 2005, 03:33:14 AM
I use these things as a rough guide, seeing as I usually forget to check them. They serve as a good reminder. :o

http://www.mandp.co.uk/list.aspx?tier1=Tyres&tier2=Tyre+accessories&tier3=Airchecker

I carry a stick type in my toolkit and rely on the pump gauge, I am sure the digitals are more accurate but to be spot on you would need to do the maths taking into account your weight, your kit etc, how accurate do you need to be! :dunno:
Title: Digital or Analog Tire Gauge? Whats your choice?
Post by: dgyver on September 07, 2005, 07:46:03 AM
I have a couple of digital gauges and several Accugauge analog gauges. After using both, I prefer the analog gauge. It displays a more precise infinite reading, where the digital is limited to 0.5psi increaments. I usually carry the digital ones with me since they are small. I use the analog ones for track days and regular matainence.

Remember that everyones gauges will read differently. Handle them with care. It does not take much to knock them out of calibration.
Title: Digital or Analog Tire Gauge? Whats your choice?
Post by: RC on September 07, 2005, 08:23:59 AM
I don't think it matters b/t analog and digital.  Look for a gauge built to a certain standard

I had a Sears digital gauge and it was 10%+ off.

I bought a dial gauge built to DIN standards and it reads the same as another dial guage built to some ANSI standard. I paid around $40 for my dial gauge but wouldn't trade it for anything.