good quality tire gauges...what are some good companies?

[glitch]

I would prefer analogue type.
I'm assuming not all tire gauges are build equally so what are some good companies out there?

[Steve]

go to canadian tire and buy a gauge, its all the same.

[Dr.Dan]

Good Ones aren't cheap... $50~$60

I use one of the double ended truck type gauges... about the best you're going to get... all metal construction

I can't find a pic of the type I have, but this is simular... but with a round gauge http://www.autogeek.net/truck-tire-gauge.html

AccuTire seems to be a common name in good gauges, so maybe look at these http://www.msiusa.com/consumers/tire_gauges.asp

[funnyman82]

This is a problem i have when i go to the dealers. I went on friday to have my spark plugs changed and an oil change and they usually check the tire pressure. But whenever i get my vehicle back the tires are usually over inflated and they are not even the same pressure. This really ticks me off....i try to correct it but is there an easy way to do it?

[Rustynut]

This is a problem i have when i go to the dealers. I went on friday to have my spark plugs changed and an oil change and they usually check the tire pressure. But whenever i get my vehicle back the tires are usually over inflated and they are not even the same pressure. This really ticks me off....i try to correct it but is there an easy way to do it?
Are you checking the tire pressure after driving the car? If so then the heat built up in the tires will show over inflated. Best to check the tires when cold or after a few hours of a trip. It only takes a couple of miles to heat up the air inside the tire just enough to give a false reading.

[Dr.Dan]

What are you calling high and uneven? When are you checking them? What are you asking them to set them at?

Most places don't / won't set them at what it says on the tire sticker... those pressures are usually lower than ideal (they're for comfort ;))
Higher pressure, without going over the max, is ideal for fuel economy and tire wear... and is highly recommended. If you wan't them at something different, you have to tell them what you want them set at.

Also, it's possible your gauge isn't accurate... I don't know... but maybe have it checked against a known good pressure gauge.

[Ken_ver_1_5]

proper tire presser is not on the tires themselves it normally located
on the door and can differ from front to back.

[Dr.Dan]

No, what is posted on the placard (on the door or glovebox or wherever) is the car makers recommended pressures for comfort... but these are usually far from ideal pressures for the tire.

As an example, my truck recommends 30 / 29... I run them at 35 / 33.
This gives you less rolling resistance, which gives you better fuel economy, less heat and wear.

[Mr. Apollo]

It also depends on what you're doing. For towing a trailer or heavy load there's often a different tire pressure setting recommended.

Careful about setting your tire pressure too high as you'll start to cause uneven tire wear.

[glitch]

I would prefer to hear some names? Accutire is one...are they the only company to look out for?
Also...I've heard that the mechanical gauges lose their calibration. Should I be looking at digital gauges?

[Dr.Dan]

Any guage will loose their calibration if dropped... mechanical or digital readout.

Since I was a professional, I always bought these things from SnapOn or MAC tools... and don't bear the manufacturers name...

But as I said before, from doing a search, that seems to be the name that came up over and over again. Anything else I saw was cheap offshore junk.