Best Bicycle Tire Pressure Gauge
It’s vital to ensure that you inflate your bike tires to the right pressure to ensure that you have a safe and comfortable ride. The width of the tire, the rider’s weight, and the prevailing weather conditions contribute to having the right amount of pressure in your tires. However, equipping your bike toolkit with the best tire pressure gauge will give you more success.
Bicycle tire pressure gauges are very reliable and may be the difference between a smooth and rough ride. Blown tires due to over-inflation can be quite dangerous. Besides increasing the risk of causing you harm while cycling, they can prevent you from enjoying a good ride.
Equipping your bike toolkit with the right tools and accessories are essential for your safety. This review provides a guide to buying the best tire pressure gauge for your bike.
- Used by both professional and amateur riders alike
- Head Smart Head/Gauge Digital - PSI, Bar, kg/cm2
- Battery CR2032 x 1 (included)
- Suitable for both Auto and Presta valves.
- Lighted nozzle and display screen for ultimate visibility in low light or at night
- Digital display instantly and clearly shows exact reading, eliminating the guesswork of analog...
- Nozzle seals to valve stem for quick and accurate measurements
- LIGHTED NOZZLE & DISPLAY: Blue backlit LCD display and illuminated nozzle are for visibility in...
- ACCURATE MEASUREMENT: Digital display for clear and accurate readings, with high precision in 0. 1...
- SAFE DRVING: Please check our VIDEO on the left side for a quick tour of Etekcity 150 PSI digital...
- Measures up to 160 PSI
- Specify to fit Presta or Schrader valves
What to Look Out for When Getting the Best Bicycle Tire Pressure Gauge
Whether you’re cycling professionally or only having fun, then having your bike tires at the right pressure is essential. Bike tires having the right pressure improve the rider’s safety and helps in maintaining the tire conditions while cycling across different terrains.
Here are some of the most important features to consider when searching for the best bicycle tire pressure gauge.
Durability
The conditions under which you’ll be using the pressure gauge aren’t going to be easy. Pressure gauges made of aluminum or steel are durable due to the high-quality of these materials.
Due to the light nature of aluminum, gauges made of this material are very portable. This makes them suitable for packing in your bike toolkit and going on a road trip with it. Conversely, steel and brass are heavier but make very sturdy equipment. A rubber cover on most of the gauges helps to prevent scratches.
Types of Bike Pressure Gauges
There are 3 types of pressure gauges available on the market. The simplest type is the Dial Pressure Gauge. This type comes with a screen that features eligible numbers.
This type is very reliable despite the fact it doesn’t come with fancy features. The numbers can be rather small for some people to read, which results in inaccurate readings.
The other type is the Digital Pressure Gauge that comes with an LCD or LED screen that makes it easy to read tire pressure. These screens are very important in different light conditions since they make it easy for you to make pressure readings. However, you should equip yourself with more than one pair of batteries if you’re going on a long trip.
Digital gauges are more accurate than Dial gauges. Conversely, Rod Pressure Gauges are compact and easy to fit in a bike toolkit. They're light and won't weigh you down when riding down a trail. However, they're not very accurate like the other two gauges.
Ease of Use
Any equipment must not be too complicated to use and that should be the case with your pressure gauge. If you’ve never used a pressure gauge, ensure that you purchase one that comes with detailed instructions for using and setting it up.
Most of the best models come ready to use and won’t require you to use a lot of your effort. You should select a model that comes with an ergonomic design that won’t easily slip from your hands.
Hose
The pressure gauge’s hose should be a combination of durability and flexibility. The hose should easily bend to reach the tire valve despite the position. Such a hose allows you to easily inflate your bike tires.
Since you’ll be twisting and turning the hose frequently, ensure that it’s made of durable materials that won’t break easily. A low-quality hose will cost you more since you’ll have to replace it occasionally.
Budget
Like any other equipment, ensure that you select a pressure gauge that balances price with quality. You don’t want to buy a cheap but low-quality pressure gauge that will end up costing you more in replacement fees. There are many affordable models available on the market that are high-quality, reliable, and durable.
Top 5 - Best Bicycle Tire Pressure Gauge
#1. Topeak SmartGauge D2
The Topeak SmartGauge D2 is a digital pressure gauge that allows the user to accurately read their bike’s tire pressure. It features a digital display that makes it easy to determine the exact pressure in your tires up to 250 PSI.
It can also display the pressure in kg per cm or bars. The SmartGauge D2 also features an air release button that you can find near the head. This button comes in handy when you want to adjust your bike’s tire pressure.
It has a rotating head that provides improved mobility and flexibility when mounting the gauge to the valve. You can mount it at a straight angle and still be capable of reading its digital display. It’s not necessary to change any parts since the gauge’s smart head is compatible with Schrader and Presta valves.
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#2. SCHWALBE Airmax Pressure Gauge
The SCHWALBE Airmax Pressure Gauge is a digital pressure gauge that's ideal for use on both bikes and cars since it gives very accurate tire pressure readings. It comes with an extra lithium metal battery that you can replace if you’re going on a long bike trip. It's also very compact and lights making it easy to fit in your bike toolkit and carry it with you on a long journey.
Like the Topeak D2, the Airmax pressure gauge is also compatible with Presta and Schrader valves that make it convenient for different types of tires.
This digital pressure gauge can measure tire pressures of up to 160 PSI, which may be more than what you may require on your bike’s tire. It’s also quite affordable and it won’t break your bank if you want to use it personally or professionally.
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#3. TEKTON 5941 Instant Read Digital Tire Gauge with Lighted Nozzle
The TEKTON 5941 Digital Tire Gauge comes with a highly visible screen that makes it easy for the user to read even in poor light conditions. Its nozzle has a light that also makes it easy to use at night or under extreme lighting conditions.
This digital gauge provides users with precise and practical readings. Besides, it has nozzle seals to the valve stem that helps to secure the pressure and prevent it from leaking.
It’s also very easy to use and you don’t need to be an expert to effectively use this equipment. The switch button allows you to switch it on easily and take your pressure measurements. It has an energy-saving feature that ensures the batteries last for long since it goes off after 30-seconds of staying idle.
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#4. Etekcity Digital Tire Pressure Gauge
The Etekcity Digital Tire Pressure Gauge features a lighted nozzle that allows you to fix the gauge on the tire valve even under challenging light conditions. It has an LCD with back up lighting that allows you to measure pressure at 0.5 increments. It also displays four different pressure units.
This digital pressure gauge is also very easy to use. All you have to do is connect the nozzle to the tire valve creating a tight seal without any air leaks. It also has an energy-saving feature that shuts off after a few seconds of inactivity. This gives it longer battery life.
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#5. AccuGage Tire Pressure Dial Gauge
The AccuGage Tire Pressure Gauge is the perfect gauge to use if you’re on a tight budget. It’s a dial gauge that gives you great value for your money and allows you to measure pressure up to 160 PSI. Besides, it’s also compatible with Presta and Schrader valves ensuring that you can inflate your tire in the best way possible.
It’s a high-quality gauge that you can travel with despite the terrain you’re riding on. It can withstand the rocks and any other obstacles that allow you to have fun while riding.
The AccuGage is also easy to use since you only need to press it onto the valve and take your readings. It has an analog dial that allows you to properly read the tire pressure.
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Properly Inflating Your Bike Tires
An improperly inflated bike tire can cause many things to go wrong. The ride won’t be very comfortable and it could lead to a tire blowout endangering the rider’s safety.
Generally, narrow tires require more pressure than wider tires. Nonetheless, the ideal tire pressure will depend on the rider’s weight. Always add your weight after inflating pressure to the mid-range on a new set of tires.
Tires lose pressure over time, making it vital for the rider to keep on checking regularly. Some tires lose pressure faster than others, but generally, certain factors contribute to this phenomenon.
Regardless of the quality of your tires, they’ll eventually start losing pressure. You should make a habit out of regularly checking tire pressure to avoid riding on the wrong tire pressure.
Another common problem that occurs when pumping pressure into bike tires is overinflating. The bike tires come with a marking on the sidewall indicating the maximum pressure that you should put in your tires.
However, this pressure recommended by the manufacturer is too high since it doesn’t take into account external factors such as the rider’s weight.
Inflating Your Bike Tires
Compared to other repairs that you have to do on your bike, pumping pressure into your bike tires is quite easy. To inflate your bike tires, you’ll need to have a pump in hand, either a mini hand pump or a floor pump.
Each of these pumps has its advantages and disadvantages when using them. Mini hand pumps are ideal for riders wishing to go on long trips since they’re light and portable.
With a pump in hand, you need to determine the right pressure for your tires. As mentioned before, tire sidewalls provide the maximum pressure as recommended by the manufacturer. Wider tires require lower pressure while narrower tires require higher pressure. The pump should also be compatible with the valve on your tire.
You can start pumping pressure into the bike tires once you fix the pump into the valve. Always check the pressure gauge while pumping to ensure that the pressure is increasing.
An increasing PSI means that you’re pumping pressure into the tire. You can keep pumping until the gauge shows the desired tire pressure, then you can remove the pump nozzle from the tire valve and tighten the screw.
Verdict
The above reviews mainly focus on digital gauges because they’re accurate, provide a wide range of readings, and come with many great features. Besides, you also use these pressure gauges on your car since they’re compatible with a wide variety of nozzles. This guide and review will help you narrow down to the best bicycle tire pressure gauge.
