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I have another hobby where I write for magazines and one topic I cover frequently is testing of parameters. The fact is that all instruments have error and unless you purchase an instrument with a certified accuracy (and often no such "certification" exists) you really don't know what's what.Having said all that I will contrast that with a simple fact: multiple readings from different cheap gauges that are then averaged can usually give readings as accurate as an expensive instrument.
Point is: even a $300 gauge can be off if it doesn't have some type of "certification" but multiple readings from different cheap gauges that have been averaged will normally provide equal or better input. Plus if you know the variance in a given gauge you can account for that, Trouble is most instruments used for measurements of any kind will vary considerably depending on conditions.
Never rely on a single reading if the result is important to your success.
No, other way around. They are there to indicate the location of the DOT mandated 2/32 wear bars. While some may have found them helpful in dialing in certain tires, that is not the original purpose. Also, not all tires use the triangle indicator, some use TWI (Tread Wear Indicator), Michelin uses a little Michelin Man pointer. - Aren't they cute? If the purpose was to be used as a tool to judge the ideal contact & tread use, than I'm clueless on how to adjust my truck's tires.
Not going to get into semantics with you. I just shared a technique that has worked for me, and many others, for years. I can quote hundreds of links to folks who have found this same technique works well for them. Your mileage may vary. I only speak from my personal experiences over the past 13 years. If you have any info/experience/techniques to share, let's have 'em.
Yes, but wet from a compressor is wet all the time. Having worked in body shops (were moisture is a problem) and other places, compressors make lots of water regardless of the ambient humidity. Some more info on making compressed air dry https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...yBvMjzkR7JSIEw
Not going to get into semantics with you. I just shared a technique that has worked for me, and many others, for years. I can quote hundreds of links to folks who have found this same technique works well for them. Your mileage may vary. I only speak from my personal experiences over the past 13 years. If you have any info/experience/techniques to share, let's have 'em.
It's not semantics. It is the intended purpose of the marks. No tire manufacturer put the wear indicator marks on the tire intending them to be used as max roll over indicators. So, for this purpose, they may be in a good spot or they not be.
So I'm wondering -- how can I determine if my gauges are accurate?
There is a fixture that companies like Competition Tire (trackside support) carry that you can use. It's basically a regulated air supply with a certified, lab quality gauge attached to a shrader valve. You put your gauge on and see how it compares.
You can also use a master gauge or a known good gauge to compare yours to. I have a master gauge and then compare others to it. All of the gauges I've purchased from Longacre have been spot on.
So I'm wondering -- how can I determine if my gauges are accurate?
If you buy from Intercomp you can have them recertify the accuracy of the gauge. Don't know how much this costs but it is less than the price of a new gauge. I was told it should be done every couple of years.
You can also use a master gauge or a known good gauge to compare yours to. I have a master gauge and then compare others to it. All of the gauges I've purchased from Longacre have been spot on.
I had a pricey oil-filled Intercomp gauge that was so awful and inconsistent compared to the couple cheaper ones I had that it was completely useless. Finally, after few years, it leaked all of its oil into my garage drawer and made a complete mess of the tools and other stuff there which was a pain to clean up. I don't think I'll be getting another oil-filled Intercomp gauge any time soon.
This thread is really old...but this morning in absolute anger (once every ~7 years), I placed my Longacre oil filled highly inaccurate POS gage in the vice, and cranked the vice and squeezed the juice out of it. I then placed this POS in the trash can.
Hence, why I am reading the thread as I will be buying a digitial gauge.
08-04-2015, 04:11 AM
