Tire Pressure Gage?

[GeneralT001]

How often are you checking the tire pressure...just when they look a bit flat...or before every flight?

Is analog or digital preferred?

Take any recommendations.

 

Thanks

[Oscar Avalle]

I should check before each flight, but I do it if I see that they look flat… I usually use an analog gage.
Oscar


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[GeneralT001]

5 minutes ago, bluehighwayflyer said:

I gave up on digital tire pressure gauges a few months ago.  And on cheap, pencil analog gauges.  Here is the one that Amazon recommended to me.  So far I really like it.  
 

https://www.rhinousainc.com/products/75-psi-tire-pressure-gauge

Gotta admit...I like the look of that!!

[Marc_B]

I have an Accu-Gage RH60X that works really well.  You can pick one up at Spruce or on Amazon.  It has automatic pressure hold and a button to reset that you can use to let out a little air if you overshoot PSI.  The hose is so much easier to hold the gauge where you can see it and bend the hose to check pressure.

Regarding checking pressures, my habit is to check tire pressure at least monthly and as needed.  But the best idea would be to check tire pressures a little more frequently (say weekly) until you see a trend on how long pressure is maintained.  But don't discount a big drop in pressure; I had a tube that was leaking at the valve that seemed to hold pressure fine between fills...but seemed to need more air than the others.  Went to check it once and had a decent drop in pressure that only had a slight change in tire appearance...checked the tire and needed to replace the tube.

[DonMuncy]

I have had, and use a Draeger gauge I have had for 40 or 50 years, but I recognize that I used to be a lot more ego-driven than I am now. I have found many gauges that seem to have perfectly acceptable accuracy, so my advice would be to use any type you that seems comfortable for you.

[PT20J]

If you wait until they look low, they are really low. How often to check depends on what type of tubes you have and the air pressure. My Michelin Airstop mains at 30 psi seem to hold air very well and I only check them about every couple of months and probably only add a pound or two of air every 6. My Airstop nosewheel at 49 psi loses air a bit faster and I probably add a pound or two every couple of months.

+1 for a good analog gauge with a hose and peak hold with release button feature.

Skip

[Hank]

I use the $2 pencil gage from the auto parts store counter. The pressure reading stays until I push it in, and it's easy to let a little air out, just turn  it over and use the bump on the back. Keep one in each vehicle, one in the garage and one in the hangar. When one craps out, just grab another--Advance Auto is where I turn off the highway to reach that airport 1/4 mile behind it anyway.

[201Mooniac]

1 hour ago, bluehighwayflyer said:

I gave up on digital tire pressure gauges a few months ago.  And on cheap, pencil analog gauges.  Here is the one that Amazon recommended to me.  So far I really like it.  
 

https://www.rhinousainc.com/products/75-psi-tire-pressure-gauge

I've been using that one for a couple of years now and I really like it.

[EricJ]

If you don't have known leaks, it's good to check at least in the spring (when temps start warming up and the tire pressure will be increasing) and fall (when temps go down and the tire will lose pressure).   I don't think airplane tires need to be super accurate, but I use a racing gauge that lets you set pressure accurately to within 1/2 psi or so.  Overfill a little and bleed it down to what you want with the button.    The peak hold type are good, too. 

I think checking often enough to know whether you have a slow leak or not is more important than what gauge you use, since most are accurate enough for this application.

This is what I use at the track and at the hangar:

https://www.amazon.com/Joes-Racing-32307-Pressure-Gauge/dp/B00404WDUC

[MooneyMitch]

It’s possible I’m mistaken, but aren’t all our take off distances in our handbooks based on having correct tire pressures at maximum levels? 
With low pressures, those distances certainly are affected.

With that said, I don’t recall ever seeing any information in my Mooney handbooks that stated correct tire pressures must be kept in order to achieve published takeoff distances.

Therefore, doesn’t it make sense to monitor your tire pressures frequently, whether they look low or not?

What say you.....

[EricJ]

19 minutes ago, MooneyMitch said:

It’s possible I’m mistaken, but aren’t all our take off distances in our handbooks based on having correct tire pressures at maximum levels? 
With low pressures, those distances certainly are affected.

With that said, I don’t recall ever seeing any information in my Mooney handbooks that stated correct tire pressures must be kept in order to achieve published takeoff distances.

Therefore, doesn’t it make sense to monitor your tire pressures frequently, whether they look low or not?

What say you.....

The POH for my M20J just gives single pressure numbers (30 and 49 psi for main and nose gear, respectively), "for maximum service life".    There is no minimum value specified or tolerance indicated on that number.    Pressures can change a few psi just from being in the sun or not or during normal ambient temperature changes during the day or overnight.   I think it does make sense to monitor them reasonably regularly just to know if they do get low due to a slow leak or because of seasonal changes or whatever.   Monitoring often enough to get a sense for whether there are leaks and how fast/slow they are is good for operational awareness as well as potentially changing out a tire with a progressively worsening leak before it strands one somewhere AOG. 

[Will.iam]

Well I know this blows my CB license but this tire gage has been awesome. Very accurate holds up well to being dropped and even has a light up window if you are using it at night.  Air clip is good at holding on the tire of my Mooney but on motor scooter can be hard to get on air stem due to lack of room to bend air hose. 
 

Astro Pneumatic Tool 3018 3.5" Digital Tire Inflator with Hose
by Amazon.com
Learn more: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002PUTC0M/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_CPSQNFS82X8CTEZFPMVK

[WAFI]

Let’s get fancy…

 

[Boilermonkey]

9 minutes ago, WAFI said:

Let’s get fancy…

 

Anyone tried these?  My only fear would be that they are not as robust as the metal caps we all use.

[WAFI]

Just now, Boilermonkey said:

Anyone tried these?  My only fear would be that they are not as robust as the metal caps we all use.

I haven’t tried them but just might. I wouldn’t be worried about them holding up on a plane as i would on a truck that goes through mud, water, sand, etc… My friend does have them on his dual axe boat trailer, with no complains. It’s funny we were just talking about putting them on my plane the other day before this thread popped up.

[WAFI]

Side question does anyone fill their tires with nitrogen? Is that a thing in aviation? 

[Hank]

17 minutes ago, WAFI said:

Side question does anyone fill their tires with nitrogen? Is that a thing in aviation? 

All of my tires (cars, truck, golf cart, mower, trailer and airplane) are filled with 78% nitrogen, mostly supplied by my own compressors. 

[Hank]

46 minutes ago, WAFI said:

Let’s get fancy…

 

I put a cheap set of "visual indicator" caps on my pickup, supposed to stay green above 32 psi, the turn yellow or red as pressure dropped. A week later, they were green but the tires looked low, all were about 20 psi. Filled up my tires and threw them worthless things away.

But I do enjoy having remote tire pressure readings in the dash, although in winter it takes a couple of miles for all four to appear. That's why I keep a gage in each vehicle, ones that don't require a battery since their use is infrequent. The only thing less useful than a battery-powered gizmo with dead batteries is the same gizmo with dead, corroded batteries in it . . . .

[A64Pilot]

I fill mine when they look low. it’s not like I’m getting on the highway and cruising for3 hours at 80 MPH. 

Be careful if you check often, only flat I ever had was on the nose wheel of a 210, we added air just before I took off. Apparently when air was added the schrader got stuck just a little and I landed with a completely flat tire, additional cause was I didn’t have a quality all metal cap with an O-ring seal. it most likely woud have prevented the issue, no harm was done though, didn’t even require a new tube or tire. But a 210 has a lot more prop clearance.

Nitrogen in tires is just plain silly, the air you breathe is 78% N2, I believe it comes from racing, we used N2 tanks to power air tools and to fill tires as tanks are the easiest answer and N2 is the cheapest gas as it’s the most in fractional distillation and of course mostly released as there is not much use for it. People see racers doing it, it must be better right? Plus tire shops make good money with it.

We had high pressure air compressors in the military to fill nog Oleo struts like for the OV-1 etc and later just used N2 bottles because they are easier and don’t require maintenance. Only issue in Oleo struts or hydraulic accumulator is you want a dry gas to prevent corrosion. But an inner tube I doubt would care.

‘So N2 in car tires and or airplane tires has no value

Edited February 23, 2022 by A64Pilot

[RobertGary1]

Honestly I just visual them until annual when I’m pulling them to inspect bearings. You can tell if they’re low pretty easily with a visual. But I also carry a little dc compressor. It will fill the tire but it sound like it’s shaking itself to death. 

[Greg Ellis]

53 minutes ago, WAFI said:

Let’s get fancy…

 

If you buy one of these you are officially out of the CB club.  Price starts at $290 on Amazon.

[RobertGary1]

1 minute ago, A64Pilot said:

I fill mine when they look low. it’s not like I’m getting on the highway and cruising for3 hours at 80 MPH. 

Be careful if you check often, only flat I ever had was on the nose wheel of a 210, we added air just before I took off. Apparently when air was added the schrader got stuck just a little and I landed with a completely flat tire, additional cause was I didn’t have a quality all metal cap with an O-ring seal. it most likely woud have prevented the issue, no harm was done though, didn’t even require a new tube or tire. But a 210 has a lot more prop clearance.

Nitrogen in tires is just plain silly, the air you breathe is 87% N2, I believe it comes from racing, we used N2 tanks to power air tools and to fill tires as tanks are the easiest answer and N2 is the cheapest gas as it’s the most in fractional distillation and of course mostly released as there is not much use for it.

We had high pressure air compressors in the military to fill nog Oleo struts like for the OV-1 etc and later just used N2 bottles because they are easier and don’t require maintenance. Only issue in Oleo struts or hydraulic accumulator is you want a dry gas to prevent corrosion. But an inner tube I doubt would care.

‘So N2 in car tires and or airplane tires has no value

I disagree with that. In cars you have to add air seasonally as warmer air expands. I’ve gone years with n2 not needing a top off. Plus we have a local place that’s free. I’ve never been charged for n2. 

[A64Pilot]

6 minutes ago, Greg Ellis said:

78% not 87%

I noticed and corrected it, still drinking the mornings first coffee

As a tri-mix diver I should know better

Edited February 23, 2022 by A64Pilot

[A64Pilot]

10 minutes ago, RobertGary1 said:

I disagree with that. In cars you have to add air seasonally as warmer air expands. I’ve gone years with n2 not needing a top off. Plus we have a local place that’s free. I’ve never been charged for n2. 

If you can get it for free, sure why not, doesn’t hurt.

Just don’t be one of those guys that pay $20 per tire for it.

[skydvrboy]

I got a cordless air compressor similar to this: https://www.amazon.com/AKASO-Compressor-Rechargeable-Automatic-Inflatables/dp/B098JHMLFM/ref=mp_s_a_1_19?crid=2HW63QJB35XHF&keywords=cordless+air+compressor&qid=1645625610&sprefix=cordless+air+compressor%2Caps%2C156&sr=8-19

 Absolutely love it. Every month or so, I set the desired pressure, connect, and pull the trigger. It couldn’t be easier. Plus it goes with me in the plane on all trips just in case.