What kind of tire guage?

Hi. Newbie to the ng here.

I'm not what anyone would call a serious bike rider anymore, maybe ever,
but I lived 2 years in Chicago and 11 years in NYC where I got around
mostly by bike, commuted to work from Brooklyn to NY over the Brooklyn
Bridge for a few months, and took a couple multi-day trips. That's the
most I can brag about.

Today I was checking the tire pressure on my car (yes, I admit I have a
car. :-( ) and I found one gauge said 42 for 3 of the 4 tires and the
other gauge said about 28!!! That doesn't seem good. (The 4th tire
had a similar discrepancy.)

Of course both gauges were about as cheap as they come. So I thought
I'd treat myself to a good tire gauge, and I thought I'd get one that
would work for the bicycle too. I've never used a tire gauge with a
bicycle. I've just pumped it up pretty much as firm as it would go, and
since my pumps are no more expensive than my gauges, I'm sure I never
over-infalted. But I'm figuring you guys would recommend using a gauge.
So for a bike and car gauge, I can use advice.

a) I don't want electronic. It would interfere with my image as an old
fogie. And my self-image as one. Unless there is some clear advantage
to electronic.

I think any that I would want will work fine for the car, but I wonder
if they would would work just as well for bicycles, if for example,
could some models let too much air escape from the smaller bicycle tire,
enough to lower its pressure??

BTW, I might take a pump and a patch kit or spare tube, but I'm not
going to take the gauge with me on the bicycle.

b) I'm inclined to get one of these:

https://www.amazon.com/Vondior-Tire-...LN/ref=sr_1_12

https://www.amazon.com/Tire-Gauge-Pr...ef=sr_1_1_sspa


I have a 26" road bike that's been my main bike for decades, and I have
what I think is 27", labeled "Mountain" as part of the name on the frame
(with wider tires that have deeper block-like tread, but the bike frame
is the same as a road bike. Is it still a mountain bike?)

How high in psi does the gauge need to read? Same for each bike?
Let's assume I weigh 240 pounds.

Any personal likes and dislikes you folks have for these designs or
other styles would interest me too.

Thanks for any advice you can give.


(I also have a 27" light-weight bike I've used for long rides, and a
3-speed Schwinn that I hate to part with though I haven't ridden it for
30+ years. It was my daily bike in Chicago, with saddle baskets big
enough for groceries. These two are not going to be ridden any time
soon.)

P.S. All my bicycles have Schrader valves

(I don't think they had anything else when the oldest one was made!)



In rec.bicycles.tech, on Mon, 17 May 2021 22:50:20 -0400, micky
wrote:

Hi. Newbie to the ng here.

I'm not what anyone would call a serious bike rider anymore, maybe ever,
but I lived 2 years in Chicago and 11 years in NYC where I got around
mostly by bike, commuted to work from Brooklyn to NY over the Brooklyn
Bridge for a few months, and took a couple multi-day trips. That's the
most I can brag about.

Today I was checking the tire pressure on my car (yes, I admit I have a
car. :-( ) and I found one gauge said 42 for 3 of the 4 tires and the
other gauge said about 28!!! That doesn't seem good. (The 4th tire
had a similar discrepancy.)

Of course both gauges were about as cheap as they come. So I thought
I'd treat myself to a good tire gauge, and I thought I'd get one that
would work for the bicycle too. I've never used a tire gauge with a
bicycle. I've just pumped it up pretty much as firm as it would go, and
since my pumps are no more expensive than my gauges, I'm sure I never
over-infalted. But I'm figuring you guys would recommend using a gauge.
So for a bike and car gauge, I can use advice.

a) I don't want electronic. It would interfere with my image as an old
fogie. And my self-image as one. Unless there is some clear advantage
to electronic.

I think any that I would want will work fine for the car, but I wonder
if they would would work just as well for bicycles, if for example,
could some models let too much air escape from the smaller bicycle tire,
enough to lower its pressure??

BTW, I might take a pump and a patch kit or spare tube, but I'm not
going to take the gauge with me on the bicycle.

b) I'm inclined to get one of these:

https://www.amazon.com/Vondior-Tire-...LN/ref=sr_1_12

https://www.amazon.com/Tire-Gauge-Pr...ef=sr_1_1_sspa


I have a 26" road bike that's been my main bike for decades, and I have
what I think is 27", labeled "Mountain" as part of the name on the frame
(with wider tires that have deeper block-like tread, but the bike frame
is the same as a road bike. Is it still a mountain bike?)

How high in psi does the gauge need to read? Same for each bike?
Let's assume I weigh 240 pounds.

Any personal likes and dislikes you folks have for these designs or
other styles would interest me too.

Thanks for any advice you can give.


(I also have a 27" light-weight bike I've used for long rides, and a
3-speed Schwinn that I hate to part with though I haven't ridden it for
30+ years. It was my daily bike in Chicago, with saddle baskets big
enough for groceries. These two are not going to be ridden any time
soon.)

On Mon, 17 May 2021 22:50:20 -0400, micky
wrote:

Hi. Newbie to the ng here.

I'm not what anyone would call a serious bike rider anymore, maybe ever,
but I lived 2 years in Chicago and 11 years in NYC where I got around
mostly by bike, commuted to work from Brooklyn to NY over the Brooklyn
Bridge for a few months, and took a couple multi-day trips. That's the
most I can brag about.

Today I was checking the tire pressure on my car (yes, I admit I have a
car. :-( ) and I found one gauge said 42 for 3 of the 4 tires and the
other gauge said about 28!!! That doesn't seem good. (The 4th tire
had a similar discrepancy.)

Of course both gauges were about as cheap as they come. So I thought
I'd treat myself to a good tire gauge, and I thought I'd get one that
would work for the bicycle too. I've never used a tire gauge with a
bicycle. I've just pumped it up pretty much as firm as it would go, and
since my pumps are no more expensive than my gauges, I'm sure I never
over-infalted. But I'm figuring you guys would recommend using a gauge.
So for a bike and car gauge, I can use advice.

a) I don't want electronic. It would interfere with my image as an old
fogie. And my self-image as one. Unless there is some clear advantage
to electronic.

I think any that I would want will work fine for the car, but I wonder
if they would would work just as well for bicycles, if for example,
could some models let too much air escape from the smaller bicycle tire,
enough to lower its pressure??

BTW, I might take a pump and a patch kit or spare tube, but I'm not
going to take the gauge with me on the bicycle.

b) I'm inclined to get one of these:

https://www.amazon.com/Vondior-Tire-...LN/ref=sr_1_12

https://www.amazon.com/Tire-Gauge-Pr...ef=sr_1_1_sspa


I have a 26" road bike that's been my main bike for decades, and I have
what I think is 27", labeled "Mountain" as part of the name on the frame
(with wider tires that have deeper block-like tread, but the bike frame
is the same as a road bike. Is it still a mountain bike?)

How high in psi does the gauge need to read? Same for each bike?
Let's assume I weigh 240 pounds.

Any personal likes and dislikes you folks have for these designs or
other styles would interest me too.

Thanks for any advice you can give.


(I also have a 27" light-weight bike I've used for long rides, and a
3-speed Schwinn that I hate to part with though I haven't ridden it for
30+ years. It was my daily bike in Chicago, with saddle baskets big
enough for groceries. These two are not going to be ridden any time
soon.)

One thing keep in mind is that some bicycles tires use Presta valves
and some use Schrader and you will require a gauge to "match" your
tires.
https://www.bicycling.com/repair/a20...-and-a-presta/
--
Cheers,

John B.

On 5/17/2021 9:50 PM, micky wrote:
Hi. Newbie to the ng here.

I'm not what anyone would call a serious bike rider anymore, maybe ever,
but I lived 2 years in Chicago and 11 years in NYC where I got around
mostly by bike, commuted to work from Brooklyn to NY over the Brooklyn
Bridge for a few months, and took a couple multi-day trips. That's the
most I can brag about.

Today I was checking the tire pressure on my car (yes, I admit I have a
car. :-( ) and I found one gauge said 42 for 3 of the 4 tires and the
other gauge said about 28!!! That doesn't seem good. (The 4th tire
had a similar discrepancy.)

Of course both gauges were about as cheap as they come. So I thought
I'd treat myself to a good tire gauge, and I thought I'd get one that
would work for the bicycle too. I've never used a tire gauge with a
bicycle. I've just pumped it up pretty much as firm as it would go, and
since my pumps are no more expensive than my gauges, I'm sure I never
over-infalted. But I'm figuring you guys would recommend using a gauge.
So for a bike and car gauge, I can use advice.

a) I don't want electronic. It would interfere with my image as an old
fogie. And my self-image as one. Unless there is some clear advantage
to electronic.

I think any that I would want will work fine for the car, but I wonder
if they would would work just as well for bicycles, if for example,
could some models let too much air escape from the smaller bicycle tire,
enough to lower its pressure??

BTW, I might take a pump and a patch kit or spare tube, but I'm not
going to take the gauge with me on the bicycle.

b) I'm inclined to get one of these:

https://www.amazon.com/Vondior-Tire-...LN/ref=sr_1_12

https://www.amazon.com/Tire-Gauge-Pr...ef=sr_1_1_sspa


I have a 26" road bike that's been my main bike for decades, and I have
what I think is 27", labeled "Mountain" as part of the name on the frame
(with wider tires that have deeper block-like tread, but the bike frame
is the same as a road bike. Is it still a mountain bike?)

How high in psi does the gauge need to read? Same for each bike?
Let's assume I weigh 240 pounds.

Any personal likes and dislikes you folks have for these designs or
other styles would interest me too.

Thanks for any advice you can give.


(I also have a 27" light-weight bike I've used for long rides, and a
3-speed Schwinn that I hate to part with though I haven't ridden it for
30+ years. It was my daily bike in Chicago, with saddle baskets big
enough for groceries. These two are not going to be ridden any time
soon.)


Inflation pressure is molded into your bicycle tires'
sidewalls. Auto pressures are not (the 'maximum' number on
the tire should be ignored); look for a tire label in the
doorwell or on older cars inside the glovebox lid.

You need two gauges. A bicycle gauge commonly scales to 120
or 150psi which makes the distinction between 28 and 30
difficult at best for your auto tires.

--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org/
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

On 5/17/2021 10:50 PM, micky wrote:
Hi. Newbie to the ng here.

I'm not what anyone would call a serious bike rider anymore, maybe ever,
but I lived 2 years in Chicago and 11 years in NYC where I got around
mostly by bike, commuted to work from Brooklyn to NY over the Brooklyn
Bridge for a few months, and took a couple multi-day trips. That's the
most I can brag about.

Today I was checking the tire pressure on my car (yes, I admit I have a
car. :-( ) and I found one gauge said 42 for 3 of the 4 tires and the
other gauge said about 28!!! That doesn't seem good. (The 4th tire
had a similar discrepancy.)

Of course both gauges were about as cheap as they come. So I thought
I'd treat myself to a good tire gauge, and I thought I'd get one that
would work for the bicycle too. I've never used a tire gauge with a
bicycle. I've just pumped it up pretty much as firm as it would go, and
since my pumps are no more expensive than my gauges, I'm sure I never
over-infalted. But I'm figuring you guys would recommend using a gauge.
So for a bike and car gauge, I can use advice.

a) I don't want electronic. It would interfere with my image as an old
fogie. And my self-image as one. Unless there is some clear advantage
to electronic.

I think any that I would want will work fine for the car, but I wonder
if they would would work just as well for bicycles, if for example,
could some models let too much air escape from the smaller bicycle tire,
enough to lower its pressure??

BTW, I might take a pump and a patch kit or spare tube, but I'm not
going to take the gauge with me on the bicycle.

b) I'm inclined to get one of these:

https://www.amazon.com/Vondior-Tire-...LN/ref=sr_1_12

https://www.amazon.com/Tire-Gauge-Pr...ef=sr_1_1_sspa


I have a 26" road bike that's been my main bike for decades, and I have
what I think is 27", labeled "Mountain" as part of the name on the frame
(with wider tires that have deeper block-like tread, but the bike frame
is the same as a road bike. Is it still a mountain bike?)

How high in psi does the gauge need to read? Same for each bike?
Let's assume I weigh 240 pounds.

Any personal likes and dislikes you folks have for these designs or
other styles would interest me too.

Thanks for any advice you can give.


(I also have a 27" light-weight bike I've used for long rides, and a
3-speed Schwinn that I hate to part with though I haven't ridden it for
30+ years. It was my daily bike in Chicago, with saddle baskets big
enough for groceries. These two are not going to be ridden any time
soon.)

Ah, pressure gages. I've got about six of them, I think - one built into
my floor pump, about four pencil-style ones most often used for cars,
and a Zefal gage that measures both Schrader and Presta valves. I bought
the latter during a long tour when we were having problems with tire
sidewall failures.

In my experience, getting an accurate gage is a matter of luck. I used
to have access to a laboratory grade dead weight pressure tester. I once
used that to test my collection. Two of the cheap pencil gages were
quite accurate. The nice looking dial gage on my floor pump was off by 7
psi. The Zefal gage reads high, but I forget by how much.

Tire pressure really isn't very critical - that is, being off by 7 psi
won't harm your tires or ruin your life. Given that, I'd go with a cheap
pencil gage. But I'd get one that reads higher than 100 psi (i.e. higher
than the ones you linked). Some day you might want to measure pressure
in a narrow bike tire, and those do use higher pressure.

BTW, I tend to think simpler is better. I see no advantage to a battery
powered gage.

- Frank Krygowski

On Tuesday, May 18, 2021 at 1:09:39 PM UTC-5, Frank Krygowski wrote:
On 5/17/2021 10:50 PM, micky wrote:
Hi. Newbie to the ng here.

I'm not what anyone would call a serious bike rider anymore, maybe ever,
but I lived 2 years in Chicago and 11 years in NYC where I got around
mostly by bike, commuted to work from Brooklyn to NY over the Brooklyn
Bridge for a few months, and took a couple multi-day trips. That's the
most I can brag about.

Today I was checking the tire pressure on my car (yes, I admit I have a
car. :-( ) and I found one gauge said 42 for 3 of the 4 tires and the
other gauge said about 28!!! That doesn't seem good. (The 4th tire
had a similar discrepancy.)

Of course both gauges were about as cheap as they come. So I thought
I'd treat myself to a good tire gauge, and I thought I'd get one that
would work for the bicycle too. I've never used a tire gauge with a
bicycle. I've just pumped it up pretty much as firm as it would go, and
since my pumps are no more expensive than my gauges, I'm sure I never
over-infalted. But I'm figuring you guys would recommend using a gauge.
So for a bike and car gauge, I can use advice.

a) I don't want electronic. It would interfere with my image as an old
fogie. And my self-image as one. Unless there is some clear advantage
to electronic.

I think any that I would want will work fine for the car, but I wonder
if they would would work just as well for bicycles, if for example,
could some models let too much air escape from the smaller bicycle tire,
enough to lower its pressure??

BTW, I might take a pump and a patch kit or spare tube, but I'm not
going to take the gauge with me on the bicycle.

b) I'm inclined to get one of these:

https://www.amazon.com/Vondior-Tire-...LN/ref=sr_1_12

https://www.amazon.com/Tire-Gauge-Pr...ef=sr_1_1_sspa


I have a 26" road bike that's been my main bike for decades, and I have
what I think is 27", labeled "Mountain" as part of the name on the frame
(with wider tires that have deeper block-like tread, but the bike frame
is the same as a road bike. Is it still a mountain bike?)

How high in psi does the gauge need to read? Same for each bike?
Let's assume I weigh 240 pounds.

Any personal likes and dislikes you folks have for these designs or
other styles would interest me too.

Thanks for any advice you can give.


(I also have a 27" light-weight bike I've used for long rides, and a
3-speed Schwinn that I hate to part with though I haven't ridden it for
30+ years. It was my daily bike in Chicago, with saddle baskets big
enough for groceries. These two are not going to be ridden any time
soon.)
Ah, pressure gages. I've got about six of them, I think - one built into
my floor pump, about four pencil-style ones most often used for cars,
and a Zefal gage that measures both Schrader and Presta valves. I bought
the latter during a long tour when we were having problems with tire
sidewall failures.

In my experience, getting an accurate gage is a matter of luck. I used
to have access to a laboratory grade dead weight pressure tester. I once
used that to test my collection. Two of the cheap pencil gages were
quite accurate. The nice looking dial gage on my floor pump was off by 7
psi. The Zefal gage reads high, but I forget by how much.

Tire pressure really isn't very critical - that is, being off by 7 psi
won't harm your tires or ruin your life. Given that, I'd go with a cheap
pencil gage. But I'd get one that reads higher than 100 psi (i.e. higher
than the ones you linked). Some day you might want to measure pressure
in a narrow bike tire, and those do use higher pressure.

BTW, I tend to think simpler is better. I see no advantage to a battery
powered gage.

- Frank Krygowski
3 of my pumps have gages on them which I use. I bought a dedicated bike tire gage which seems top quality and has a pressure release value as it will sit on the PSI. The problem is according my pump gage they are always more. I think if I get a tire to about 100 it only goes to around 90 on the dedicate tire gage. In the end it really does not matter. Frankly if I am at 102-92 on rear I am ok and less on the front.

Deacon mark

micky wrote:

Of course both gauges were about as cheap as they come. So I thought
I'd treat myself to a good tire gauge, and I thought I'd get one that
would work for the bicycle too. I've never used a tire gauge with a
bicycle. I've just pumped it up pretty much as firm as it would go, and
since my pumps are no more expensive than my gauges, I'm sure I never
over-infalted. But I'm figuring you guys would recommend using a gauge.
So for a bike and car gauge, I can use advice.


For a bicycle, I'd skip the gauge. If I can squeeze the tread with
my fingers, the tire's soft. When my arms start to give out on the
hand pump the tire is hard. A couple of the pumps I use have gauges,
but they're so coarsely-graduated fingers are more sensitive.

For any use, the key is knowing the gauge. Check it against one you
trust and note the offset. If you can't find a gauge you trust, check
a bunch and pray to the god of averages 8-). Pencil gauges are hard
to use on a bike, they spill too much air. I'd look for a screw-on
gauge with a short hose that seals before it depresses the valve pin.
If you're being precise that leads to a uniform air loss at each test
which can be taken into account.

I must respectfully disagree with amuzi. Max pressures molded into
the sidewall offer the lowest rolling resistance and wear. Hence
the minimum stress on the tire. No excess stress is imposed on the
tire. You may, however, notice that dental fillings tend to loosen.

hth,

bob prohaska

On 5/18/2021 9:01 PM, bob prohaska wrote:
micky wrote:

Of course both gauges were about as cheap as they come. So I thought
I'd treat myself to a good tire gauge, and I thought I'd get one that
would work for the bicycle too. I've never used a tire gauge with a
bicycle. I've just pumped it up pretty much as firm as it would go, and
since my pumps are no more expensive than my gauges, I'm sure I never
over-infalted. But I'm figuring you guys would recommend using a gauge.
So for a bike and car gauge, I can use advice.


For a bicycle, I'd skip the gauge. If I can squeeze the tread with
my fingers, the tire's soft. When my arms start to give out on the
hand pump the tire is hard. A couple of the pumps I use have gauges,
but they're so coarsely-graduated fingers are more sensitive.

For any use, the key is knowing the gauge. Check it against one you
trust and note the offset. If you can't find a gauge you trust, check
a bunch and pray to the god of averages 8-). Pencil gauges are hard
to use on a bike, they spill too much air. I'd look for a screw-on
gauge with a short hose that seals before it depresses the valve pin.
If you're being precise that leads to a uniform air loss at each test
which can be taken into account.

I must respectfully disagree with amuzi. Max pressures molded into
the sidewall offer the lowest rolling resistance and wear. Hence
the minimum stress on the tire. No excess stress is imposed on the
tire. You may, however, notice that dental fillings tend to loosen.

hth,

bob prohaska



That's not right. You misread me.

Maximum _bicycle_ tire pressure is a reasonable riding
limit, within taste, and not unsafe. Sidewall maximum for
_auto_ tires should be ignored. I just stepped outside to
double check that. My 28psi (glovebox label) tires clearly
show "maximum pressure 44psi". Don't try that at speed on a
wet corner!

--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org/
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

Am 19.05.2021 um 15:47 schrieb AMuzi:
On 5/18/2021 9:01 PM, bob prohaska wrote:
micky wrote:

Of course both gauges were about as cheap as they come.Â* So I thought
I'd treat myself to a good tire gauge, and I thought I'd get one that
would work for the bicycle too.Â*Â* I've never used a tire gauge with a
bicycle.Â* I've just pumped it up pretty much as firm as it would go, and
since my pumps are no more expensive than my gauges, I'm sure I never
over-infalted.Â* But I'm figuring you guys would recommend using a gauge.
So for a bike and car gauge, I can use advice.


For a bicycle, I'd skip the gauge. If I can squeeze the tread with
my fingers, the tire's soft. When my arms start to give out on the
hand pump the tire is hard. A couple of the pumps I use have gauges,
but they're so coarsely-graduated fingers are more sensitive.

For any use, the key is knowing the gauge. Check it against one you
trust and note the offset. If you can't find a gauge you trust, check
a bunch and pray to the god of averages 8-). Pencil gauges are hard
to use on a bike, they spill too much air. I'd look for a screw-on
gauge with a short hose that seals before it depresses the valve pin.
If you're being precise that leads to a uniform air loss at each test
which can be taken into account.

I must respectfully disagree with amuzi. Max pressures molded into
the sidewall offer the lowest rolling resistance and wear. Hence
the minimum stress on the tire. No excess stress is imposed on the
tire. You may, however, notice that dental fillings tend to loosen.

That's not right. You misread me.

Maximum _bicycle_ tire pressure is a reasonable riding limit, within
taste, and not unsafe.Â* Sidewall maximum for _auto_ tires should be
ignored. I just stepped outside to double check that. My 28psi (glovebox
label) tires clearly show "maximum pressure 44psi". Don't try that at
speed on a wet corner!

I propose similar arguments for car and bicycle tires:

1) higher pressure reduces rolling resistance
2) lower pressure increases ride comfort
3) more weight (luggage) requires higher pressure
4) lower pressure might increase grip in certain situations

There is only one major difference between 'round tires' and 'square
tires' (diagonal tires):

Square tires are designed to have a rectangular contact patch as opposed
to an ellittic contact patch. As a result, the grip dependency on tire
pressure is increased (too high pressure at too low load deteriorates
the contact patch).

Still, before a long journey in the car I increase the tire pressure
compared to day-to-day usage, just as I do on the bicycle.

Rolf

AMuzi wrote:
On 5/18/2021 9:01 PM, bob prohaska wrote:

I must respectfully disagree with amuzi. Max pressures molded into
the sidewall offer the lowest rolling resistance and wear. Hence
the minimum stress on the tire. No excess stress is imposed on the
tire. You may, however, notice that dental fillings tend to loosen.


That's not right. You misread me.

Maximum _bicycle_ tire pressure is a reasonable riding
limit, within taste, and not unsafe. Sidewall maximum for
_auto_ tires should be ignored. I just stepped outside to
double check that. My 28psi (glovebox label) tires clearly
show "maximum pressure 44psi". Don't try that at speed on a
wet corner!

My point was that posted sidewall pressure isn't bad for the tire,
it's good. It might be bad for certain drivers 8-)

Hot tires tend to be sticky and low pressure makes them run hot.
In the dry it makes a big difference. There'd be some difference
in the wet, though probably less.

Just out of curiosity, are there any reports on speed/load/temperature
measurements for bicycle tires?

Thanks for writing!

bob prohaska