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The gas stations around my town have really bad tire pressure gauges attached to their inflator machines. The gauges have very hard to read lines, and as the seal usually is not air-tight, so by the time I interpret the gauge reading, the tires loose 4-8 psi.

I am thinking about getting a digital easy to read tire pressure gauge. There are a plenty available on the internet, but I wanted to ask your recommendation about a specific one. I dont want to spend more than $15-20. I just want something thats accurate, digital, easy to read and interpret, doesnt loose air while checking the pressure and inexpensive. If it has some bells and whistle extra features, even better. Any recomendations??

Also, do you know of any inexpensive but reliable portable car tire compressor/inflator pump?

I have one of those compressors that you plug into your cars cigarette liter power port.
It’s great for Bicycles, but not for car. Those pumps are just to small, the time it takes to fill a car tire is ridiculous

I’m always keeping my eye out for better gauge. The digital ones look nice, but do you want a gauge that needs a battery?

One I have now has the bar that gets pushed out with pressure, works ok and was under $5.
I recommend looking for a mechanical one that still shows the pressure even after disconnected from the tire.

It’s great for Bicycles, but not for car.
The digital ones look nice, but do you want a gauge that needs a battery?

One I have now has the bar that gets pushed out with pressure, works ok and was under $5.


Battery is not a problem, but the reason I want a digital instead of a mechanical one is to make it easier to read tire pressure. The markings on the mechanical tire gauge are hard to see in dark.

I use one of the pen style ones. Only problem I have with it is that if you don't get it on the tire right it reads the wrong pressure. I just to 2-3 checks to make sure. I think it cost under $3.

I've got the EZ Air from the site below, but they sell digital versions as well. One of the big advantages of the one I have is that it is a pass-through gauge -- I fill the tires THROUGH it.

http://getagauge.com/

Yup ! What Sean said. For the money best value out there.

Go to a local HVAC parts store and buy a gauge with a maximum rating of 100PSI or so. (That's known as the "low side gauge" in HVAC.) Then go to a hardware store and buy some fittings to allow you to quickly connect the gauge to the tire. That'll get you a gauge with excellent calibration.

As you wish: http://www.amazon.com/Accutire-MS-4350B-Programmable-Digital-Gauge/dp/B000B6JJUK

A good cheap one is the Slime gauge at walmart. It may not be accurate but it is quite precise, which is more important. It can reliably read within a half pound or less. Also it has that nifty valve on the side to hold pressure when pulled off the stem, or bleed air when still on the stem.

Just don't drop it. I had to replace one already due to a skipped gear from my butterfingers.

I've got the exact same one as this one (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250248050746&cguid=4ee2c71c11f0a0aad4c605e6ffeff0d9) - I've had it for 10 years now, it's a fantastic thing. Battery just starting to die today, but I can't complain, can't I? Considering the spelling (tire vs tyre), this should be more common and cheaper in the US, there is also other versions of this thing. Let us know what you get! Just Google for "Accutire".

I've got a couple of the traditional pen type. They're pretty bullet proof, nothing can break. Just get your technique down for getting it quickly and solidly square on the valve orifice and you'll get predictable results. You can tell if it's not right, from the hiss.