How do you guys check your tire pressure?

Sushii

Sushii

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Hi,

How do you guys check your tire pressure? I've tried a couple gauges and they dont seem to fit in due to the rim blocking access to the hole. Is there some bike specific tire checker?
Also, what do you use to inflate it? Most of the air pumps at gas stations always seems to have a broken pressure gauge so i dont know what PSI the tire is at while inflating it...

Thanks
 
Even when the gas stations' gauge works, I don't trust them. Just over inflate by a bit and then let out the extra while measuring with a good gauge.

The best gauges have an extra spot that fits on the stem to let air out, and many pumps do too.

Does anybody else find they get a lot more temperature based pressure variance after using too many gas station air pumps? They seem to have a high water droplet concentration.
 
.....kick 'em!!! J/K I use a digital gauge which turns 90 degrees at the end. My air compressor fills the tires really fast. I check pressure monthly although I should more often.
 
note that you should always be checking your tire pressures cold. You'd be surprised how much it will fluctuate with only a little heat in the tires.
 
I'll go pick one of those babies up tomorrow. I do remember seeing something like that on special a couple months back :(.

So fill them cold and not warm?

Thanks again guys :)
 
the cheaper the better
 
Grab one of these: http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/brow...Air+Compressor+with+Accessories.jsp?locale=en

On sale this week although I think I got mine for $39.99 boxing week. Other than that I use a pencil type gauge similar to what Aslan described and having your own compressor at home allows you to check and fill your tires while they're cold as TopoGeigeo recommends.

Aslan said:
Even when the gas stations' gauge works, I don't trust them. Just over inflate by a bit and then let out the extra while measuring with a good gauge.

The best gauges have an extra spot that fits on the stem to let air out, and many pumps do too.

Does anybody else find they get a lot more temperature based pressure variance after using too many gas station air pumps? They seem to have a high water droplet concentration.
Click to expand...

TopoGeigeo said:
note that you should always be checking your tire pressures cold. You'd be surprised how much it will fluctuate with only a little heat in the tires.
Click to expand...
 
shoe said:
Grab one of these: http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/6/Tools/1/CompressorsAirTools/Compressors/PRD~0587936P/Mastercraft%2B2-Gallon%2BAir%2BCompressor%2Bwith%2BAccessories.jsp?locale=en

On sale this week although I think I got mine for $39.99 boxing week. Other than that I use a pencil type gauge similar to what Aslan described and having your own compressor at home allows you to check and fill your tires while they're cold as TopoGeigeo recommends.
Click to expand...

I live in a Condo, so i dont really have a place/garage to store it. I've got some tiny one in the car so i'll probably use that.

STARSHIP said:
This is what I use now since the digital one stoped working:

http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/4/Auto/1/Tires/TireGaugesMonitors/PRDOVR~0095529P/Tire%2BFix%2B10%2Bto%2B60-psi%2BDial%2BType%2BGauge.jsp?locale=en

It is a knock-off of the VDO unit I lost a few years ago.
Click to expand...

Thanks, i'll take a look.
 
Sushii said:
I live in a Condo, so i dont really have a place/garage to store it. I've got some tiny one in the car so i'll probably use that.



Thanks, i'll take a look.
Click to expand...

Yep, that's what I use for my bike tires, the 12volt one in my truck. Has a pressure gauge built in and I double check it with my right angled digital gauge.
 
I was using a very similar gauge from CT.

I upgraded to this 40PSI unit during a group buy on R6-forum. "QuickCar tire gauge"
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It has the pressure release valve built in. Set the pressure a little high and then drop it to what you want. :)

The only thing that could make it better would be a swivel on the air chuck.
I'm going to put 90degree valve stems on the R6 next tire change, so it should be a moot point then.
 
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I believe El Zilcho had an issiue with one of those stems on one of his road trips. Major pain in the *** if I recall from his posts. I'm not sure of the make/brand or who installed it but I don't think they're worth the hassle of being stranded at the side of the road.

As for the compressor at CTC. Take it into your condo and fill the tank and then throw it into your car. lololol It's not that big and you're just using it for top ups so you shouldn't be using that much air. Pop into a CTC and look at one and you'll see what I mean. Don't trust that plastic handle on it though. Mine popped loose a few times. The last of which, the top end (plastic) hit the driveway and literally shattered everywhere. Still works though but the fan blades are exposed.
 
i just use a bicycle pump to top up the tires in the garage.
i've got one of the digital tire gauges with a 90 degree bend from canadian tire as well.

i've also installed a real time digital tire pressure monitoring system on my rims which transmits the pressure and internal tire temp to a display on my dash. works great for the past 5 years now.
 
I use a digital one that was way cheaper than the one posted from above (got it at Canadian Tire). You'll develop a skill for getting the angle right. I always over-inflate & just change the angle to let some air out until it gets to where I want it.

There's also no way I'd pay for an air compressor just to pump my tires at home. Buy one of the portable ones that you can keep in your car (you just plug it in to the cigarette lighter socket) so it's dual-function. And if you're on a super budget, you can always ask the gas attendant to turn on the air pump for free (only an attendant who feels like being a jerk would say no).
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