Tire Gauges

[elevy18]

Can anyone recommend a good (precise) and not too expensive tire gauge??? 

Tire pressure should be measured when the tires are cold... can anyone tell me how long do I have to wait to measure the pressure on my tires after I have ridden???  For example, if I measure the pressure before leaving my house and find out I am a few pounds short and I ride to the nearest gas station, how long do I have to wait to re-measure the pressure of my tires in front of the air dispenser???

Best regards,

Elliot

[He Man]

Whats wrong with the 99cent tire gauges?

The time till warm up depends on what tires you have. Softer tires warm up quicker. Sport Touring tires are harder and will take longer to warm up. I have pilot powers, and honestly, they warm up very quick. Less than 10 minutes of riding and they are pretty good on those hot summer days. YMMV

if your a little low before you leave your house, just make a mental note how low. 1psi? 2psi? Just ride to the gas station and throw in 3-4seconds of air. When you get home, just measure it again the next day and bleed of the excess.

You will always get a higher reading after youve been on the bike, even if its 1 minute of riding or 12 hours of riding, it will be higher than cold, so if your off by 1psi and ride 5 mins to the gas station, its going to read higher than before no matter what. just dont ride really underinflated and your fine.

[supertjeduc]

Buy a footpump with a Gauge on it so you can pump up your tire at home

[Slide Panda]

if your a little low before you leave your house, just make a mental note how low. 1psi? 2psi? Just ride to the gas station and throw in 3-4seconds of air. When you get home, just measure it again the next day and bleed of the excess.

Don't put 3-4 seconds of air in.  pressures coming out of those lines varies a lot from place to place.  At my local station, a fraction of a second is good for a couple PSI.  3-4 and I might blow out.

But the idea of taking the reading before you set out and remembering how much low you are has merit.  Take it before you start moving, and note how low you are.  When you arrive at the service station, take the pressure again, and aim to add to that 2nd reading, then number of pounds low you were on the 1st reading. 

Yes I know it's isn't a 100% accurate or fool proof method.  But if he's just going down the block to air up.. it'll be fine.

[elevy18]

I know it is not always practical, but how long would I have to wait at the gas station for the tires to become cold again?

If I combine warm air with cold air, how does that affect the total mix?

[He Man]

Don't put 3-4 seconds of air in.  pressures coming out of those lines varies a lot from place to place.  At my local station, a fraction of a second is good for a couple PSI.  3-4 and I might blow out.

good call. didn't realize that.

I know it is not always practical, but how long would I have to wait at the gas station for the tires to become cold again?

It depends on your tire and conditions outside.

If I combine warm air with cold air, how does that affect the total mix?

Im sure you meant something different here, because the answer to that is just common sense.

[Slide Panda]

I know it is not always practical, but how long would I have to wait at the gas station for the tires to become cold again?

If I combine warm air with cold air, how does that affect the total mix?

You're really over-thinking this.  For most street applications the psi won't really vary that much.  You're just not going to be putting enough stress on the tires to get *real* heat in them.  The only time on the street when my tires show sings of some real heat (color change at the edge and a tiny tiny bit of pilling) was a hot ass July 4th when we were utterly flying though some empty twisties. 

On the track, one will see significant temps changes and resulting pressure changes.  But on the street the differences will be a fraction of what can occur at a track.

If you ride around a bit, and go to the gas station that's a mile or two away I'd wait about as long as it takes me to gas up before attending to the tire pressure. 

Yes, bike tires will loose more pressure than a car tire would if the ambient temps drops - but that ambient temps going to have way more effect than 5 minutes of ride time. 

Also, one of the more important functions of checking your pressure before you set off is to check for any leak down. 

[somegirl]

Here's a thread discussing tire gauges: http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=5353.0

What I do at home is slightly overfill my tires with a bicycle pump, then I use a dial gauge with a bleed valve to set the pressures.  Very easy.

Actually, I do the same for my car too.

[uclabiker06]

I don't go to the gas station just cuz its inconvenient.  Here is what I suggest you do.  Get one a tire pressure gauge and don't worry if its expensive or digital; they all work.  Just get one with good ergonomics so it wont hurt your thumb every time you press it.  Now, here is what you do.  Use the tire gauge to measure your PSI then if it is  to low or use this http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_02875116000P to put a tad of air in it and you are set. 

[uclabiker06]

Use the tire gauge to measure your PSI then if it is  to low or use this http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_02875116000P to put a tad of air in it and you are set.

EDIT:  There should be no "or" in the above sentence. 

Also,  I have found that I need to add air less frequently after I got a pair of after market aluminum valve caps.  I guess flimsy stock plastic caps let out more air then I thought.