Alexandra Ramirez
1. JACO
Best Overall Tire Pressure Gauge
5/5 Product Rating
Outside of its wide-range compatibility, I particularly find myself enjoying the fact that the JACO ElitePro comes with a lifetime guarantee of satisfaction. This is different from a warranty, in that you’ll be able to return the item for any reason at all, even if it works perfectly. This means you can be sure the product exceeds expectations, as the company will lose money every time it doesn’t. This is a level of consumer protection you just can’t help but appreciate in any product.
– Jonathan Maxwell
2. Joes
Best Overall Tire Pressure Gauge – Runner Up
4.7/5 Product Rating
This gauge is likely best for you if you know your car and its tires are built in a way that ensure you never have to worry about the pressure even getting close to sixty PSIs in the first place. If you know you don’t need a higher range, you can be sure every dollar you put into your gauge goes into features you actually will need. It also comes with a fairly lengthy hose and a face which glows in the dark; two extremely convenient and practical features.
– Jonathan Maxwell
3. Tikon
Best Budget Tire Pressure Gauge
4.5/5 Product Rating
For example, you can expect to receive an extra four valve caps with your gauge. This is something I’d like to see more manufacturers of similar products offer their customers, being that it indirectly increases the unit’s overall level of durability and ensures you won’t have to buy a new gauge for quite some time. It also comes with a lifetime guarantee and an easy-to-read display. As you can see, the Tikon breaks away from the bunch in that it is sure to offer you features that you can appreciate, no matter what car you may happen to drive.
– Jonathan Maxwell
Tire Pressure Gauge Buying Guide
What is a Tire Pressure Gauge?
The tire pressure gauge is to the tire what the blood pressure reader is to you and I. It won’t fix any problems, nor will it prevent them. Rather, the tire pressure gauge is meant to “diagnose” your tires, letting you know when the time has come to fill them back up with air. Not only does this do a better job than estimating the amount of air in your tires yourself, it can also save a great deal of time through ensuring you only pump more air into your tires when doing so is truly necessary at the time.
While some may not already have one sitting in their glove compartment, the tire pressure gauge should be seen as a mandatory piece of equipment in this day and age. Not only can it save you time and money, it can keep you safe through ensuring your car is the best it can be at all times.
If the above list of tire pressure gauges just doesn’t seem to have what you’re looking for, you can always find what you need simply by shopping around the net or at your local auto shop. Of course, knowing just what you need before you pick out a product is a must. Here are the two main questions you should ask while shopping for tire pressure gauges.
How Much Pressure Do My Tires Need?
Unfortunately, this is not a question I can even begin to answer for you. It’s going to be up to you to make sure you check with your manufacturer to see just what your optimal tire pressure is. After doing so, the most important thing to look for in a tire pressure gauge is a PSI range into which your car’s optimal pressure falls.
Are You Willing to Use Batteries in Your New Gauge?
If so, you’ll likely find a battery-equipped tire gauge to be easier to read at night, which is sure to offer an added level of convenience. On the other hand, not having to carry batteries around with you in the first place could also be seen as being rather convenient as well.
Types of Tire Pressure Gauges
There are three main types of tire pressure gauges. Each type serves the same end result, though gets there through a different means. Let’s take a look at how each of these types vary from one another.
- Stick Gauges – Stick gauges could be seen as being rather low in quality when stacked up to the other two types of tire pressure gauges. This is likely due to the fact that the may be harder to read. However, those looking to save money would likely do well with such a gauge. The same can be said of those who want something extremely portable, being that stick gauges are quite small in size.
- Digital Gauges – Digital gauges have backlights on their faces, allowing you to easily read your tire pressure under any form of lighting. The downside to such gauges is that they are typically more expensive. You’ll also have to carry batteries around with you, which may be inconvenient for some.
- Dial Gauges – Dial gauges, such as the three gauges we covered in the above list, are likely the most practical type of gauge you’ll be able to get your hands on. While they may not be as compact as stick gauges or as easy to read as digital gauges when used at night, they typically come with a wide variety of convenient features.
Common Tire Pressure Gauge Features
Which of the above three types of tire pressure gauges is right for you truly all comes down to a matter of priorities. The same can be said of many of the features one might expect to find in any possible gauge on the market. However, there are a very few number of features which you should always look for in a gauge, no matter where your priorities lie.
- A Long Hose – If you decide to go with a dial gauge, you should always get one with a long hose. Because this is likely the most convenient feature in a dial gauge, those with short hoses likely aren’t worth your money over a stick gauge.
- An Easy-to-Read Display – If you don’t plan on going digital, make sure your gauge’s face is easy to interpret under all circumstances. While it might look extremely easy when it’s packaged in the store or shown to you as a picture under perfect lighting, try imagining yourself using it in the late evening. Does it still seem easy to read? If not, you might want to move onto the next gauge on your list.
- The Ability to Read Low PSI Increments – As previously stated, how high a tire pressure gauge’s PSI range needs to go will depend entirely on your car. However, the lower your gauge’s reading can pinpoint your tires’ exact level of pressure, the better.
- Consumer Protection – A tire pressure gauge helps keep you safe. As such, the manufacturer should be confident that their gauge will work. Warranties and guarantees of satisfaction are always a great thing to look out for.
Conclusion
The variable that will most decide whether or not a particular fuel gauge is good for you is the level of pressure that could be considered optimal in your tires. There is no way of knowing this without some sort of indication from your manufacturer. After finding out this key information, you have everything you need to pick outa gauge which can be sure will work for you. However, keeping all of the aforementioned tips in mind can net you with a gauge that better works with you and your specific needs, giving you a degree of value outside of simply doing the bare minimum.
