Tyre pressure indicator caps

[GazzaH]

Are these kinda things any use at all?

334620

I'm not expecting precision engineering for a few dollars, delivered from China, but if a tyre is low, I'm more likely to notice within a day or two, well before I spot the squidgy handling or check the pressures with a guage.

Would be interested to hear from anyone who has invested ... or better yet engineers who have tested them ...

[jellywrestler]

at 99cents each what do you think?

[GazzaH]

As much as that? I was hoping to get them cheap!

[Akzle]

say no to drugs
http://realfunny.net/uploads/mom_said_she_found_this_pipe_in_my_car_and_that_we _needed_to_have_a_talk._8417801214.jpg


but seriously, they're not that hard to use

[pritch]

They sell similar things for push bikes which is where the silliness really shines through. The normal thing with a pushbike tyre is you give it a squeeze, if it feel soft you pump it up. Not really difficult.

Amazon lists caps at various pressures and prices but none I saw look like bike pressures.

[caspernz]

Only useful as short range slingshot ammo. That's all...:laugh::bleh:

[GazzaH]

:laugh:

That may be where they end up if they don't work.

But for $BuggerAll I might as well get some and try em out.

Loadsachoice on Aliexpress.

I promise to publish a "customer review".

[caspernz]

The problem you'll find is the range over which they show your tyre pressure as being correct, is too wide for a motorcycle. We tried them on the car some time ago, you can buy 'em in various pressure ranges. Green might be 36-40, orange 32-36 and red below 32. Never mind the fact you're now surrendering the task of keeping the air in the tyre to a cheap and tacky metal item of questionable quality. Russian roulette anyone?

[GazzaH]

say no to drugs
http://realfunny.net/uploads/mom_said_she_found_this_pipe_in_my_car_and_that_we _needed_to_have_a_talk._8417801214.jpg


but seriously, they're not that hard to use


In theory, maybe ... so long as you don't knacker them by letting them rattle around in your bike box for far too long. Just threw mine away, and spotted the jellybean things while looking for a replacement. I normally rely on the guage on my compressor, but in reality I have no idea how accurate it is.

I couldn't resist pulling the old cigar-tube thing apart to find out how it works. The sliding plastic indicator rod piston-thing is pushed up in the tube by air pressure against a spring - a carefully specified and precisely engineered spring, made to close tolerances and calibrated by an accredited laboratory, all for $5 (including postage from Beijing).

[GazzaH]

The problem you'll find is the range over which they show your tyre pressure as being correct, is too wide for a motorcycle. We tried them on the car some time ago, you can buy 'em in various pressure ranges. Green might be 36-40, orange 32-36 and red below 32. Never mind the fact you're now surrendering the task of keeping the air in the tyre to a cheap and tacky metal item of questionable quality. Russian roulette anyone?

Good point CasperNZ: I'm looking at a set of 4 specified as 2.0 Bar 30 PSI.

"Color Indication:
Greenshows that tire pressure is normal.
Yellowshows that the pressure is down about 5 pounds.
Redalerts you that the pressure is down by at least 10 pounds."

So the yellow would be "about" 25 PSI, and the red less than 20 PSI. Hmmm. I'd be happier with 30/28/26 PSI. At 20 PSI I'd be lucky to make it down the drive without losing a tyre off the rim.

OK, scratch that idea.

Phew, close shave. I just saved a whopping US$2.18, avoiding false sense of security - priceless!

[Banditbandit]

I have my doubts - but only because I know when my tyres are down - I can feel it when they are 5pounds out .. don't need indicator caps.

[Ifsn8u]

Sound a bit shit. Takes all of a few seconds to check pressures with a gauge.

How lazy do people wanna be.

[Scubbo]

hows the wheel balance?

[AllanB]

Talking to a mate over Xmas who had ones on his car. He reckon they were accurate within a few psi. Fine on a car where you are unlikely to notice the difference between 32 and 36 psi but as Casper said above on a bike 4psi can make a big difference.

Buy some and let us know.

I have purdy black tyre valve caps with skulls on the top. Added at least 1.5 bum HP. ;)

[RDJ]

Are these kinda things any use at all?

334620

I'm not expecting precision engineering for a few dollars, delivered from China, but if a tyre is low, I'm more likely to notice within a day or two, well before I spot the squidgy handling or check the pressures with a guage.

Would be interested to hear from anyone who has invested ... or better yet engineers who have tested them ...

I bought 2 sets about 10 years ago. Ditched them quick when one on the rear tyre set for 40 psi lost its seal and deflated the tire to the rim, luckily while parked at work. Never again. Of course that was a decade or so ago... they may be better now. Caveat emptor I reckon.