Best Tire Pressure Gauges (Review & Buying Guide) in 2018

Tire pressure is monumentally important, and so is your pressure gauge quality. If you’re all about extending the life of your fuel economy, putting less strain on your vehicle, and enjoying that nice, smooth ride you used to have, then you’ll know that this isn’t just a purchase—it’s an investment in your vehicle.

Why is Tire Pressure so Important?

It’s one of the least thought-about things when you try to diagnose problems with your vehicle. Here are three main reasons why your tire pressure is vastly important:

• Fuel Economy: You love your car, but gas prices are always fluctuating, especially following natural disasters. If you’re trying to get the most out of your MPG, especially if you’re travelling a lot of highway miles or commuting each day to work, you’re going to need the most for your money. A nifty little tool like a tire pressure gauge allows you to keep everything in check, so you’re not dumping out your wallet at the pump and praying that you’ll get to your destination.
• Vehicle Strain Reduction: Less air in the tires means that you’re going to put more strain on your tires, and damage them at a much higher pace. Too much damage, and your tires will leak (if you’re lucky), or potentially blowout while you’re on the road. Nobody wants to wait for a tow truck to pick them up, especially for a problem that is so easily avoidable.
• Smoother Ride: Smoother ride, happier you. Apart from that, there are a few actual reasons why having a smoother ride is better for your vehicle. When all your tires are at their specific tire pressure requirements, there’s little to no strain on the rest of your vehicle. Your car is the designated height off the pavement that it’s supposed to be, which can save your skin if you hit a pothole.
• Better Braking: Your tire pressure is directly related to your brakes. Slamming on the brake pedals without having proper pressure tire requires a longer distance to stop, and a looser grip on braking. While you’re only going to see a significant decrease in stopping power from seriously underinflated brakes, it’s still best to ensure they’re where they should be all the time.

How do I Check my Tire Pressure?

There’s always more than meets the eye, with everything in life—when checking your tire pressure, you might be surprised to find that there’s a commandment, if you will, that you have to follow to determine your correct tire pressure: check it cold.

That is, before you start your engine or drive your car at all. Your tires are most likely losing 1psi per month, on average from regular use, so checking them frequently is recommended. Unscrew the knob, and apply the tip of your pressure checker to your tire pressure escape valve. If you hear the sound of air escaping, like a faint whistle, then you’re doing it right. Losing a tiny bit of air from applying/removing your gauge isn’t going to mess with your tire pressure all too much, so don’t worry.

Your indicator will either read immediately (standard gauge) or take 2-3 seconds (electronic gauge), and you’ll get a clear answer. If the pressure matches what your owner’s manual suggests, then you’re good to go for a while before checking it again.

If you’re wondering what the proper pressure should be for your tires, your vehicle owner’s manual will have that information. If you’re rocking an older car or you just don’t have access to a manual for your car, your vehicle manufacturer’s website should have a PDF you can view for your make and model, where you can figure out your required tire pressure.

How do I Tell if My Tire is Going Flat?

If you check the tire pressure on Monday, and it’s good to go, and by Wednesday you notice a difference in your driving and handling, you check the pressure, and it’s down at least 1psi or more, you have a leak. Your psi drops over time, but 48-72 hours shouldn’t impact it enough—you’ll need to patch up.

If you’re losing 1+ psi per day, your tire may be leaking bad enough that you’ll need to replace it. As a heads-up, this is also an indicator that your other tires are running low on time, as well.

Does Winter Influence my Tire Pressure?

Absolutely. Any extreme temperature shift is going to greatly impact your tire pressure, so for those of you planning a road trip from Florida to the frosty north of Maine, you’re going to encounter a lot of tire pressure shifts as you go. The cold cuts down on oxygen in the air, so the colder it is, the harder it is to breathe. This constricts that air in your tire, so to speak, and compresses it to actually have less pressure.

If you are driving in the winter, make sure you have a set of snow tires that can handle these types of conditions.

Types of Tire Pressure Gauges

In total there are three types of tire pressure gauges: digital, dial, and stick. So long as you properly learn how to use the one that you believe to be the best buy, they’ll each perform their tasks as well as any other type of gauge. Here’s the gist of each type, broken down a bit.

• • Digital: These are simple to read and display within 2-3 seconds, on average. With a little LCD screen, you get all the info you need in a quick, readable fashion. Digital gauges come a tad bit bigger than stick or dial gauges, so if you’re going to stash one in the glove compartment, just be sure you have the room, and pay attention to the dimensions on product sales pages.
  • Dial: These are the most common types you’ll see in stores. They display a clock face-type dial window, hence the name. These have been known to be pocket-sized, and come with shock resistant covers. They’re the middle ground between reliability from stick gauges and digital ones.
  • Stick: Ever seen those gauges in plastic that resemble ballpoint pens? Yep—those were stick gauges. These are simple to use, compact enough to fit into a car maintenance kit, and require a touch of know-how to determine your proper pressure when using, but they’re among the most reliable types.

Features to Look For When Buying a Tire Pressure Gauge

With simple, straightforward products like tire pressure gauges, you actually have a lot more to focus on than what you may expect. Here are a few tidbits to be on the lookout for during the buying process.

• Max PSI Reading: If your vehicle has a specific requirement for pressure, which is especially common in custom tires/vehicles, you’ll need to go above the standard 60 psi you’ll find on most gas station tire pressure gauges. For instance, our top pick, the Tekton, is able to climb up to 100 psi.
• Display: This is wholly going to depend on what type of tire pressure gauge you decide on. The only time this really comes into consideration is if you either have a difficult time reading one type of gauge, or if you work the graveyard shift and check your pressure before you hit the road. If the latter is the case, you’ll want a digital reader to clearly see the pressure display.
• Weight and Grip: Sounds a bit simple, right? While a lot of avid auto enthusiasts will always pick a stick style tire pressure gauge, there’s one issue that goes with them: they’re lightweight. You don’t want to accidentally end up releasing too much air from your tire, which happens when you apply pressure, and it pops off. With a higher weight and ergonomic grip, you’ll have the proper pressure and grip to hold it in place.
• Battery Requirements: Digital gauges require batteries—while most models are going to include them, they might require specific types. If your batteries burn out, replacements could be a pain. For instance, the Tekton on the height of our list requires LR44 batteries, which aren’t your average AA or AAA solution.
• Size: Digital gauges end up being bulkier than dial, and dial are bigger than the stick. If you have a small kit for your car and not a lot of space, or if your glove compartment is already cramped enough, consider size as a factor.

Sources:

1. Hurricane Irma Pushes Gasoline Prices to Highest Increase Since Katrina, CNBC
2. Correct Tire Pressure, Pep Boys
3. How to Check Tire Pressure, Michelin US