Pretty sad that alot of people don't know how to check their tire pressure anymore...

[spacejamz]

I have seen several posts (on Facebook) about the long lines at some of the Discount Tire today around Dallas...with the cold temps this morning (it was around 80 yesterday and it dipped down to upper 30's), a lot of people's low tire pressure warning lights probably came on this morning...

One of the earliest things my Dad taught me when I learned to drive was to use one of those old style pen-looking tire pressure gauges (where the white stick thing with numbers would come out to indicate the tire pressure)...at least now, you have those easier to use gauges with a dial on it...

 

[nakedfrog]

From my understanding, the dial gauges are typically more accurate than the pen style too. Definitely still room for variance, I have two different dial ones that are a solid 4PSI off from each other.

 

[Captante]

One advantage of the "pen-style" is that they hold their "reading" after being removed from the valve without needing to retain air-pressure inside unlike MOST dial-gauges. (electronic/digital gauges also do this)

 

[Stiff Clamp]

that's inflation for you

 

[KB]

I usually check mine monthly as underinflated tires can reduce gas mileage and increase wear on the tire. If the tire pressure light comes on, I know I will soon have a flat. Surprised more people don't keep up on it.

 

[BurnItDwn]

i just look at the little screen in the car and it tells me the pressure of each of the 4 tires.


Otherwise, I have to go outside and put the gauge in each tire and check them. When it gets cold out, the gauge sometimes freezes in place and doesn't work. Usually they are ok down to like 5-10 degrees, but, of course when its -15 is when one really wants to double check ....

 

[sdifox]

I have a tire pressure stick in my glove compartment. A spare in the garage.

 

[spacejamz]

wonder what the ages of the people in line at Discount Tire were...

 

[brianmanahan]

fleabag knows how

Let's talk about tire psi - Inflating to sidewall

I've had great experience with inflating my tires to sidewall but it seems like there are a lot of dissenters out there who desperately cling to manufacturer suggestions of inflating tires to the PSI they desire. These people are so dogmatic that they wouldn't even dare do otherwise for it will...

forums.anandtech.com

 

[sdifox]

Inflate to Sidewall was great

 

[brianmanahan]

coincidentally, i just took a drive and my tire pressure light came on

i thought about going all the way to sidewall!

but i stopped at 37 instead

 

[nakedfrog]

One advantage of the "pen-style" is that they hold their "reading" after being removed from the valve without needing to retain air-pressure inside unlike MOST dial-gauges. (electronic/digital gauges also do this)

I've got one of those dial ones with a button you press to release the pressure after you check the reading, but now that it's older it leaks
One of these days I'll buy myself a digital.

 

[lxskllr]

My tpm light is on. Something's broken. I'd like to remove the whole system, or at least turn the light off. I should look into that.

 

[brianmanahan]

i have a digital gauge that's also a passthrough for the hose, so no need to switch back and forth between gauge and hose

 

[Captante]

I've got one of those dial ones with a button you press to release the pressure after you check the reading, but now that it's older it leaks
One of these days I'll buy myself a digital.

That's the issue with MOST "dial" models that hold the pressure setting by storing a small amount of the air from the tire inside.

Many of them will drop at least a couple PSI right when you remove them from the valve so you'll be off a couple lbs from the get-go and all will eventually start to leak badly.

It is however possible to get a more expensive dial-gauge with a mechanical "interlock" that uses a gear to hold the reading instead.

 

[lxskllr]

I just use a stick gauge. I'm not building a watch out there. Close enough is close enough.

 

[sdifox]

My tpm light is on. Something's broken. I'd like to remove the whole system, or at least turn the light off. I should look into that.

Electric tape. Cover the light.

 

[Captante]

My tpm light is on. Something's broken. I'd like to remove the whole system, or at least turn the light off. I should look into that.

When I got new tires on my Honda mid-2020 two of my TPM units essentially disintegrated when they removed the old tires.

They wanted over $200 to replace them.... I said fvck it.

I somehow managed to survive sans any kind of "flat indicator" on anything I drove for a good 25 years AND with far crappier tires!

The only real bummer is without TPMS it's impossible to turn off the traction-control however since I have a manual-shift that doesn't really come into play much in the snow.

Electric tape. Cover the light.

In my 1986 Toyota pickup I did that with the oil-light! (drove for another 80k or so then sold it for $500!)

 

[Red Squirrel]

My tpm light is on. Something's broken. I'd like to remove the whole system, or at least turn the light off. I should look into that.

I wish I had just spent the money to get the new sensors when I got new wheels, now I get nagged every time I get in the truck. I thought it would be something that can be turned off but does not look like it can. I was thinking of buying cheap sensors on ebay and throwing them in a pressurized container, but it looks like you need a special tool to pair them.

 

[Captante]

I wish I had just spent the money to get the new sensors when I got new wheels, now I get nagged every time I get in the truck. I thought it would be something that can be turned off but does not look like it can. I was thinking of buying cheap sensors on ebay and throwing them in a pressurized container, but it looks like you need a special tool to pair them.

Any tire place will have the equipment although a large/corporate type place would be unlikely to help you for liability-reasons.

Try going to a few local shops and offer the guy some cash to "pair" a set off Ebay for you. *(disclaimer: I have no idea if this is even possible)

 

[sdifox]

Any tire place will have the equipment although a large/corporate type place would be unlikely to help you for liability-reasons.

Try going to a few local shops and offer the guy some cash to "pair" a set off Ebay for you. *(disclaimer: I have no idea if this is even possible)

Pairing is not the issue. It's getting the sesor to report psi in target range.

 

[Captante]

Pairing is not the issue. It's getting the sesor to report psi in target range.

Shouldn't be too difficult to rig something up with an old steel wheel, a tire that holds air (any size would do) an electric drill and 4x tire-valve kits no?

 

[sdifox]

Shouldn't be too difficult to rig something up with an old steel wheel, a tire that holds air (any size would do) an electric drill and 4x tire-valve kits no?

Lol why not just install it on the actual wheel at that point?

 

[Captante]

Lol why not just install it on the actual wheel at that point?

Because mounting an old/worn tire on a 15-inch junkyard steel wheel with 4 ebay sensors is one heck of a lot cheaper then re-mounting four big tires with new/factory TPM's on a full-size Ford pickup? (plus doing stuff like that is fun if you enjoy DIY projects)

 

[sdifox]

Because mounting an old/worn tire on a 15-inch junkyard steel wheel with ebay sensors is one heck of a lot cheaper then re-mounting four big tires with new/factory TPM's on a full-size Ford pickup? (plus doing stuff like that is fun if you enjoy DIY projects)

You don't need factory sensors. Plenty of sensors that can be programmed.