The Best Tire Pressure Gauges for 2021
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Best Tire Pressure Gauge
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According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) proper tire pressure is the most important part of maintaining your tires because it can affect safety, durability, and fuel consumption.
To help you avoid getting stranded or reducing your fuel efficiency with underinflated tires, I have put together a collection of the best tire pressure gauges currently available.
UPDATED: September 8, 2021.
MY TOP PICK:
If you are looking for the best overall, I recommend the TireTek Premium Gauge because it features an all-metal tube with an angled 360-degree swiveling chuck, bleed button, and easy to read dial.
A study from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that underinflated tires lead to sluggish handling, longer stopping distances, increased stress to tire components, and heat buildup. These, in turn, can lead to catastrophic failure of the tire, such as separation or blowout. Underinflation also decreases fuel economy.
The NHTSA study of tire inflation pressure and tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) showed that 12 percent of all passenger vehicles in the United States of model years 2004 - 2011 (with and without TPMS) have at least one tire underinflated by at least 25 percent.
TPMS
Most new vehicles include Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS). However, these will only give a warning when the tire has severely low pressure and should not be used in place of regular pressure checks. Proper inflation requires measurement with a pressure gauge to maximize safety and fuel economy.
RELATED: The Best Tire Inflators
Tire Pressure
There are three common units of measurement when it comes to tire pressure. The most common is PSI (Pounds Per Square Inch) and is the standard unit of measurement in the United States. Another unit is kPa (Kilopascal) which is more common in Europe. The third unit is BAR which is simply equivalent to 100 Kilopascals. One BAR is approximately the atmospheric pressure at sea level.
A fourth and less commonly used measurement is kgf/cm2 (kilogram-force per square centimeter) which may be included in some digital gauges.
How to Check Your Tire Pressure
The NHTSA publishes information on how to properly check and maintain vehicle tire pressure:
You should always keep a tire pressure gauge in your car and check the pressures of all the tires, including the spare, once a month.
Find the recommended tire pressure on the Tire and Loading Information Labels on the driver's side door edge or in the owner's manual. The correct tire pressure is what the vehicle manufacturer has listed and what is listed on the tire itself.
Measure the pressure when the tires are cold, this means that the car has not been driven for at least three hours.
Check out this video for a basic overview of how to check your car tire pressure:
Here of some features and components to be aware of when selecting a model of inflator:
Digital vs. Analog
There are two main categories of gauges to choose from: digital and analog. Digital gauges feature a small LCD screen that displays the measured pressure. Typically this is backlit to make it easier to see in low-light conditions. Most digital gauges will offer the ability to switch between the different pressure units such as PSI, kPa, and BAR.
Analog gauges feature a dial or marked stick that protrudes when the measurement is taken. Some dial gauges have glow-in-the-dark markings but generally, it will be easier to read a digital backlit display at night. Analog gauges have the advantage of not requiring any batteries.
Maximum Pressure
The maximum pressure rating for a particular model will be given in PSI or kPa. Most standard units operate up to 60 to 100 PSI, so this shouldn’t be an issue for most users unless you have an extremely high-pressure requirement.
Accuracy
The accuracy of a particular gauge will be provided by the manufacturer as a plus/minus value. This is how close the gauge comes to providing the exact tire pressure. For example, an accuracy of +/- 1.0 PSI means it will be within one PSI of the correct pressure.
Relief Valve
Most gauges will feature a built-in relief valve that allows you to press the bleed button while the gauge is still on the tire valve, releasing air until you reach the exact target required. This makes it easier than trying to awkwardly release air by manually pressing on the value.
Most dial analog gauges will hold the pressure reading on the dial which makes it easier to read when off of the valve. The relief valve doubles as a reset button that returns the dial to the zero position, so it is ready for another reading.
Extension Hose
Some gauges will include an extension hose that makes it easier to reach awkwardly located tire valves. I have found that some wheels and hubcaps can make it difficult to get a clean attachment when taking a pressure reading. However, the hose will make the overall unit larger and take up more space in the glove box or other car storage area.
The hose also requires you to take the measurement using two hands. Using a short fixed tip can be quicker by having the air hose in one hand and the gauge in the other to top off the tires.
So here is my list of The Best Tire Pressure Gauges for 2021.
Enjoy!
Best Overall: TireTek Premium Tire Pressure Gauge
The TireTek Premium pressure gauge features steel and brass construction for long-lasting durability.
Features a compact design that can easily fit in a car glove box for easy access.
Equipped with a rubber cover to provide dial protection and improve grip when in use.
Features a relief valve that releases air from the tire while connected to the valve to get down to the desired pressure.
Equipped with a fully swiveling chuck positioned at a 45-degree angle.
Offers an easy-to-read dial and a simple to use no-battery design.
Measures up to 60 PSI which is sufficient for standard tire pressures.
Runner-up: Vondior Heavy Duty Tire Pressure Gauge
The Vondior gauge features a glow-in-the-dark dial that makes it easier to read in low-light conditions.
Equipped with a two-inch dial with easy-to-read markings.
Features a chuck that swivels 360-degrees making it easier to connect to the tire valve.
Equipped with a built-in air bleeder valve that also resets the dial when a measurement is complete.
Features a rubber dial cover to provide protection and improve grip when taking readings.
Measures up to 60 PSI which is sufficient for standard tire pressures.
Offers an accuracy of +/- one percent.
Best Digital: Astro 3018 Digital Tire Pressure Gauge
The Astro 3018 gauge features a long 21-inch braided stainless steel hose for access to difficult valves.
Features a digital display that can provide measurements in PSI, BAR, kPa, and KGF.
Equipped with LCD screen with backlighting for use in dark conditions.
Features a rubber housing to provide grip and protection from damage.
Measures up to a very high-pressure reading of 175 PSI.
Features a measurement accuracy of +/- 1.2 PSI when taking readings up to 58 PSI.
Powered by two AAA batteries.
Best Glow-In-The-Dark Dial: Rhino USA Tire Pressure Gauge
The Rhino USA gauge features a glow-in-the-dark dial that makes it easy to read in low-light conditions.
Features solid brass components and a braided air hose for long-lasting durability.
Equipped with a two-inch dial with easy-to-read markings.
Features a 360-degree swivel that makes it easier to connect to the tire valve.
Features a rubber dial cover to provide protection and improve grip when taking readings.
Measures up to 60 PSI which is sufficient for standard tire pressures.
Best Value: TireTek Flexi-Pro Tire Pressure Gauge
The TireTek Flexi-Pro gauge features a two-inch easy-to-read dial and a simple-to-use analog no-battery design.
Features a chuck that swivels 360-degrees making it easier to connect to the tire valve.
Equipped with a built-in air bleeder valve that also resets the dial when a measurement is complete.
Features a rubber dial cover to provide protection and improve grip when taking readings.
Measures up to 60 PSI which is sufficient for standard tire pressures.
Best Budget Analog: JACO Deluxe Tire Pressure Gauge
The JACO Deluxe features a dual-layer dial cover to provide protection and improve grip when taking readings.
Equipped with a 1-1/2-inch dial with easy-to-read markings.
Features a chuck that swivels 360-degrees making it easier to connect to the tire valve.
Equipped with a built-in air bleeder valve that also resets the dial when a measurement is complete.
Measures up to 100 PSI for measuring a large range of tire pressures.
Best Car Emergency Accessories: Amazon Basics Tire Pressure Gauge
The Amazon Basics digital gauge includes a window hammer and a seat belt cutter for car emergencies.
Measures tire pressures ranging from 3 up to 150 PSI.
Equipped with an LCD with a backlight to see the readings in the dark.
Includes an LED flashlight to help illuminate the area if working in low-light conditions.
Flashlight is powered by a AAA battery (not included) and the gauge is powered by a CR2032 button cell battery (included).
Features a measurement accuracy of +/-1 PSI.
Constructed from stainless steel and ABS components for durability and corrosion resistance.
Best Budget Digital: AstroAI Tire Pressure Gauge
The AstroAI digital gauge offers the ability to provide measurements in four different units.
Features a simple-to-use compact design that easily fits in a car glove box for easy access and storage.
Provides four different units of pressure measurement:
4 to 150 PSI.
0 to 1000 kPa.
0 to 10 BAR.
0 to 10 Kgf/cm².
Equipped with a nozzle that lights up to help to provide illumination of the valve area in low-light conditions.
Features an automatic shut-off after approximately 30 to 40 seconds to preserve battery life.
Powered by four lithium batteries (included).
Best for Use with a Compressor: JACO FlowPro Tire Pressure Gauge
The JACO FlowPro features a 1/4" NPT connection to easily hook up to a compressor hose to inflate and measure tire pressures in one go.
Includes an easy-to-use thumb trigger to control the airflow.
Offers the ability to also measure tire pressures as a stand-alone unit without connecting a compressor hose.
Equipped with a long 21-inch reinforced rubber air hose for easy access to hard-to-reach valves.
Features a glow-in-the-dark dial that makes it easy to read in low-light conditions.
Features a rubber dial cover to provide protection and improve grip when taking readings.
Measures up to 100 PSI for measuring a large range of tire pressures.
Includes 1/4" NPT fitting.
Best Compact Design: AstroAI Tire Pressure Gauge
The AstroAI Pencil tire pressure gauge features a compact design that allows it to be stored anywhere such as a car glove box for easy access.
Equipped with a four-sided ABS indicator bar.
Offers the ability to provide three different units of pressure measurement:
10 to 75 PSI.
70 to 550 kPa.
0.7 to 5.5 BAR.
Constructed from stainless steel components for a durable, corrosion-resistant design.
Equipped with a that reduces air leakage around the nozzle for accurate measurements.
I hope this list of the best tire pressure gauge was helpful.
If you think I left out one that is important or have a suggestion for a future article, let me know in the comments below.
Brandon Hubbard, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C
