One good thing about the old pencil tire gauges...you'll never pull it out to find the battery is dead and it's useless, like digital ones. :}

Paul H

I've used high quality round ones with a tail, like listed previously in this thread. I bought a round one with a bleed off valve for my fit, at my local auto parts store. Not super accurate, but not expensive either, and it's good enough for my purposes.

 

yah, but a typical car guy like me has several gauges...

 

Nighthawk, IIRC, you aren't running a GE8, Correct? I don't belive the FIT Sport has a High pressure sensor, just low. Other cars have it but I'm 99% sure the fit isn't one of them. Is your current Ride still the 350 or is there another vehicle?

~SB

 

What a coincidence! My low pressure just turned on today. I blame the extreme drop in temperature the last 24 hours. All month it has been 100+. Then yesterday a storm rolls through, dropping our temp by about 40degs. I checked the tires and they were all at 25psi. I inflated to only about 32psi, because I figure the temps will go back up to 100+ in a day or two, which should heat up my tires again, which which gather should add pressure. Was it okay that i did this?

 

I keep mine at 35psi, and check weekly with an Accutire digital gauge. While I'm at it, I check all fluids- legacy of having driven older, less reliable cars....

 

Tire gauges are fine but what happens when you need air? Forget driving to the gas station. I bought one of these for $60.

MotoMaster 12V Programmable Air Compressor | Canadian Tire

It allows me to check and inflate my tires anywhere I am since it plugs into your 12V outlet. I keep it under the cargo cover.

It's actually quite small





Whatever model you go with make sure you take it to your dealer and have them check the calibration. That way you will know for sure if it is accurate.

 

huh, that looks awesome. how's the reliability on that compressor?

i use to have a fancy one similar to that and it died in 2yrs. i currently use this orange pos looking thing and it's been working great for 4yrs+ you can also set the dial to stop at a certain psi as well. i pump a few psi higher, then i use my digital gauge with release valve to set it perfect to where i want.



as for calibration, you can check the same tire with a few gauges. i have like 5 gauges of different shapes and they all are within 0.2 psi of each other. i tossed a pen gauge as it wasn't very accurate at all.

 

btw, the one i show runs on 120v. i have a compact 12v one in the car.

 

FYI, not related to OP's issue but wanted to pass along.

I've read that most TPMS systems also warn for a specific delta or difference in pressure between individual tires. Say the recommended pressure is 33psi then your TPMS light probably comes on at 25-27 psi for a low pressure warning. But if 3 tires were at 40 psi and one was at 33 psi it would also come on do to uneven pressure. Not sure if this applies to the Fit's system though. I looked but couldn't find anything about it.

_

 

That might have once been true, but isn't anymore. Older TPMS systems used data from the antilock brakes system to measure rotational speeds of the wheels. Higher pressure wheels will have slightly higher circumferences, and rotate slightly slower. Modern TMPS systems use a sensor in each wheel to directly measure the air pressure.

 

The label 33 to 35 psi is good street pressures; you haven't damaged your tires running at 50 psi; racers and autocrossers do it all the time to get siffer tire shape and adhesion. The 51 psi is recommended maximum for comfort and performance.
air is 79% N2; 21% O2; the only advantage to N2 is the lesser expansion with heat, good in racing but not for street. N2 has a bigger molecule than O2 so the N2 weeps thru the tire carcass much slower than O2. Again its only use in long time storage.
Stick with air.

 

Were using 47psi auto crossing. Nice still sidewall and some wheelspeed to boot.

 

regarding some of the 12v compressors available: An old BMW motorcycle trick to save space: Most of these have plastic outer shells for appearance and protection from high temperatures generated while working to inflate your tires. But you can split the case and discard it, leaving a small metal motor, connecting rod, and compressor unit. Takes up much less space: mine would fit in the tailpiece behind the rear of my BMW R1100RT seats. Just be aware parts move very quickly and get SUPER HOT, so when using it put it on the ground and don't try handling it. Will free up space at your spare...put it in an old lg sock or wrap in a towel so grease dosen't dirty your other stuff.