Why aren't tyre gauges certified and tested?

[Albino]

No, no axe to grind other than I'm questioning your logic about abandoning a ride because you left your personal tyre guage at home.

Try reading posts before feeling the need to argue them. The only time I mentioned 10% was in my reply to your last post and I edited it straight away after posting.

The gauge was out by 10 psi.

[Skyryder]

Generaly in winter I run about -2psi from the recommended psi. on the grounds that a softer tye grips a bit better in the wet or marginal conditions. But it's not something that I get in too much of a sweat over. Unless you are running in the optimal conditions where you corner way out close to your edge and comfort zone the tyre pressure should not be too much of a problem. However for max tyre life the optimal psi should be closely adhered to, given road surface variation of course.

Skyryder

[Paul in NZ]

Try reading posts before feeling the need to argue them. The only time I mentioned 10% was in my reply to your last post and I edited it straight away after posting.

The gauge was out by 10 psi.

I did read your post and then you edited it - I responded to the original..... Don't get wound up - I'm a nice guy and I'm sure you are as well, we just have a differnt opinion on a trivial topic, I'm not having a go at you or anything...

Getting back to your original question - regardless of the effects of air pressure in your tyres - why are the gauges not certified? Having grown up around service stations and garages I guess the answer would be because they are provided free of charge as a service to the customer at the customers risk. Certification would cost money and would place responsibility onto the service provider, the air hoses would disappear very quickly if costs increased. (I've repaired and replaced them many times when my dad had a station - people abuse them chronicly)....

Another issue you could find is that the gauges would not be certified for use on motorcycles because there is not enough volume/capacity in the smaller tyres bikes use. The digital sensing pumps can struggle (which is why you can't use em on push bikes) as they overinflate and release pressure to get to the correct level (last time I looked)

One solution you could consider is getting your own pump at home (which is what we do) and doing the pressure check before you ride off. I have an ancient tyre pump at home (still get em at the warehouse) and it is amazingly effective on motorcycle tyres. 5 or 10 strokes is all thats required to top off a tyre - no effort at all and it's what I use 9/10 times. Alternatively i have a supercheap compressor that i use to spraypaint the bike tanks etc and it was like $110 on special complete with all sorts stuff - probably cheaper than a really good certified gauge...

You may see certified pressure gauges at servos but you won't see many off them. Like many free services and free advice on the internet - they are worth what you pay for em...

[mbazza]

I also find that service station gauges Never fit bike tyres without bending the valve stem! I also have trouble getting my slide guage which is accurate enough, to fit any of my fires.
Has anyone fitted those 90 degree extension dohickies? Do they change the balance of a tyre? Cheers -

[Paul in NZ]

I also find that service station gauges Never fit bike tyres without bending the valve stem! I also have trouble getting my slide guage which is accurate enough, to fit any of my fires.
Has anyone fitted those 90 degree extension dohickies? Do they change the balance of a tyre? Cheers -

I have a removable 90 deg one - bloody god send on the Guzzi...

[scrivy]

My roadrace sidecar has a optimum hot running PSI of between 14-16 on all 3 tyres. Usually I kick the tyres to make sure they're not flat, and go hard. Adds to the fun of the race. Have also been known not to check the pressures for a whole weekend. Also tried it up to over 20 PSI (which is over 33% more), just makes for even more fun!! Makes me piss myself when people at the racetracks talk about 1/2 a PSI to gain an advantage!!
But I do race on three wheels, not two. More important for two wheelers - but not to the point of stopping riding!! Anyone remember Stroudy at Ruapuna this year?? Went out really hard for a few laps and was dicing up the front, only to slow down nearer the end of one race?? Was found to have over 45 PSI in his rear!! Didn't stop him going hard for half the race!!

[pritch]

Has anyone fitted those 90 degree extension dohickies? Do they change the balance of a tyre? Cheers -

I have one but the thought of leaving it on the bike is scary. Just buy one if you need it, use it to inflate the tyres then put it in the toolkit.

[pritch]

I have an ancient tyre pump at home (still get em at the warehouse) and it is amazingly effective on motorcycle tyres. 5 or 10 strokes is all thats required to top off a tyre - no effort at all and it's what I use 9/10 times.

I had a Warehouse pump but it broke. Memories of pumping up CF Bedford tyres from flat didn't promote the idea of another one at all. (When you own British or Italian bikes you also need to own a van.)

Your comment about just needing to top tyres up got me interested again.
In case anyone is interested REPCO currently have a $10.00 off Michelin foot pumps. Currently $29.99 and $39.99 respectively for single or twin pump models. More expensive than the Warehouse but hopefully better quality?

[Cynos]

No it's not. However 10/15psi will. And that may not be not uncommon from servo gauges.
Advice is to carry one you trust at (whatever the reading you settle on) and use that to set your tyres when using servo airpumps. Your own gauge may also be wildly inaccurate, but as long as it gives the same reading at the same pressure each time and you are comfortable with that pressure, so what...

I found a servo gauge that reckoned my front tyre was 17psi, when four other servo gauges saida 28psi, as did my pen gauge.

[_Shrek_]

A digital gauge goes with me on the bike.
My Mitre10 tyre filler attachment thingy for my compressor is about 1psi out from my digital.
On the DR there's not a lot of difference in handling from 20psi to 36psi.
36 for road and 20 for dirt.

There is a big difference in tyre wear though.

NordieBoy i leave mine at 23 & 30 for road and dirt, still get good kms out of my tyres as well