air COMPRESSOR QUESTION - help

You will only get an accurate reading on a compressor gauge when you have stopped inflating the tyre. The most reliable tyre pressure reading will be gotten on a good quality hand held unit. The 2psi discrepancy could simply be caused by heat in the tyre or the heated air generated by the compressor.

I usually use the compressor gauge as a guide, turning off the compressor for the reading. If you are worried about a 2psi discrepancy, then it would pay to go round the tyres with the hand held tyre gauge after inflation.

Cheers

Mick

Hi Carolyn,
You're not alone. The same thing happens to me. I use a hand held and go by that one. At the end of the day, it's the pressure that best works for you in the situation you're in that counts.

Different tyres, sizes and vehicle weights will determine what pressure best suits your immediate need, be it sand, mud, highway, whatever.

Focus more on getting your tyre pressures consistant from side to side rather than trying to match what others recommend. Use their recommendations as a guide only.

Fab.

All those readings are wrong why ? because the air is heated by the compressor and all will read high by a couple of psi. From your listing I would go with Pirahna.

If you want an accurate reading , first don't take a reading until 10 mins or so after putting in air. Air tyre directly exposed to sunlight will also read high than others.

All those guages have a limited accuracy and could be +_ 3 psi out.

The right approach is to verify the accuracy of any tool you use as well as having the right measurement approach.

You can buy products with stated accuracy - maybe your Pirhana guage has an accuracy - I don't know, but the rule is always verify any measurement device.

Surprizingly the most accurate "off the shelf" type of product are those ones shaped like a pencil which push out a rod with marks on it - usually come free with most cars.

The difference between compressor operating and not operating can easily arise from resistance to air flowing into the tyre. I wouldn't trust any gauge measuring around 35 psi to be accurate to within 2 psi.

I've carried up to 6 pressure gauges at the one time! Finally paid lots of good money for a digital one of reputable brand - didn't take long before it started reading about double the actual pressure and doing so quite consistently. Recently bought 2 very cheap identical ones (2 for $9) and they seem to read what I'd expect them to quite consistently. They are in broad agreement with my collection of stick types and with the gauge at my local servo. I don't trust any of them to be absolutely correct, or even close, but I think this is less important than consistency.

With no opportunity to check against a pressure standard, we just have to accept that most gauges are ok if within a few psi of actual pressure. Equalising pressures from side to side seems to me far more important than being absolutely correct.

Cheers

John

Best Tyre gauge I found to be a Michelin motor bike tyre gauge .We used them at Aussie Post for the reading on the CT110 Honda's .They are very accurate.

You're talking 5psi difference over all three..... is it REALLY that important.

Sooner the Uni's offer a doctorate in 4wdology the better.

Maybe you should look at a true scientific calibrated temp gauge...... should be able to get one for under $1000 for a basic one.

Being serious you will not notice the difference.