How often do you check your tire pressure?

[rob-mg]

And what tire pressure gauge do you use?

Analog? Digital? If analog, dry or glycerin filled?

Cheap? Expensive?

A question for those of you who use expensive gauges by Intercomp, Longacre, Motion Pro, etc:  Why? Is there a performance reason, or is it about a view (maybe an obsession) about tool quality or accuracy?

Why am I asking this question? Partly I'm curious, and partly because, while I have historically used really inexpensive gauges, today I purchased one that I can't possibly justify based solely on performance. I got sucked into the elegance of it.

Cheers

[guzziknight]

If I'm riding a lot, I check the pressure weekly. If it's been a while since I rode, then I check before the ride. That's been my general rule for over 20 years. Seems to work for me.

As far as the tire gauge goes, I have a cheap digital one I carry on the bike, and a better analog one I leave at home. Both seem to work well for me.

[not-fishing]

Every two to three months with about 11,000+ miles riding per year.

I use my Lezyne Mt Bike pump because I found it accurate to a couple of pounds from racing Mountain Bikes and coaching a Mountain Bike Racing Team.

I've spent $50 on fancy gauges that were so far off as to be worthless.

Just get a gauge that's reasonably accurate.  For me the bike pump works because it only takes a few pumps to bring them up to pressure, I don't have to plug it in and it has a screw-on valve attachment.

[guzzipete]

I check it every time I ride. I installed a tire pressure monitoring system.

[kirkemon]

Not as often as I should, most of the time they're spot on so I get lazy. They only seem to loose a couple lbs. every 3-4 months.

[charlie b]

I check it every time I ride. I installed a tire pressure monitoring system.

This.

I am a bit paranoid about how the bike feels and tire pressure.  If it felt a bit 'loose' I'd stop and check the pressures.  It would worry me if I had to ride some distance before it was safe to pull over.  I'd check the pressure once a week or more often (I commute so ride almost every day).

With the TPMS I just look at the readout, and, it has an alarm that I can set where I want (and I can hear it with earplugs and helmet on).

[ratguzzi]

I check mine every time after a poopy scary moment or a really weird wobbly feeling! Every 30,000 to 50,000 miles or so!
Alive and kicking!
JB

[Scud]

I put angled valve stems on, which it makes it much easier to check pressures (they point up with the bike on side-stand). I check pressures when I feel like it, which tends to be pretty frequently. I also check before a ride of any substantial distance or if I haven't ridden that bike for a while.

I use a digital gauge with a backlight (which is also nice for checking truck tires outside at night). I can't remember the brand of the gauge, but it reads psi and bar. The PSI scale includes tenths of a pound. It has a pressure relief valve. Therefore, I can over-inflate the tires a bit with air compressor, then use the pressure relief valve to bring the pressure down to exactly where I want it.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

I check tire pressure before every ride. If I'm on a trip somewhere, I check it in the morning before I leave for the day. Overkill? I don't think so.

At home I use a Blue Point analog gauge my brother gave me and on the go I carry a good quality "stick" gauge that reads as close as possible to the home gauge.

[rob-mg]

This.

I am a bit paranoid about how the bike feels and tire pressure.  If it felt a bit 'loose' I'd stop and check the pressures.  It would worry me if I had to ride some distance before it was safe to pull over.  I'd check the pressure once a week or more often (I commute so ride almost every day).

With the TPMS I just look at the readout, and, it has an alarm that I can set where I want (and I can hear it with earplugs and helmet on).

What TPMS system are you guys using? I'm specially interested in a V7 II (presumably the same for a V7) and getting an immediate warning of a sudden decrease in air pressure/blowout on my inner tube.

Any info on whether these systems actually work?

[Triple Jim]

For a new-to-me bike, I check every time I ride for a couple rides.  If it doesn't change much, I check less often.  Once I'm confident there aren't any leaks, I check about once/month.  I think any less than that adds unnecessary risk.  After all, it takes only a minute or two to check two tires.

[rob-mg]

I check tire pressure before every ride. If I'm on a trip somewhere, I check it in the morning before I leave for the day. Overkill? I don't think so.

At home I use a Blue Point analog gauge my brother gave me and on the go I carry a good quality "stick" gauge that reads as close as possible to the home gauge.

Which means that you know whether you're running a slow leak from the last ride.

[canuguzzi]

Every time I get on the bike, I use a tire pressure monitoring system (Doran) and it works perfectly and installs in a few minutes. It also has an alert to notify if the pressure drops quickly ( not blow outs).

Worth every penny. I would not ride another bike without one.

No pressure monitoring system can tell you about a blow out, those are instant things. The alerts do tell you about rapid deflation such as picking up a nail and the tire starts to lose air, giving you time to pull of the road.

Run a search, I have a pic of the system here on WG.http://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=80868.0

Link to mfg
http://m.doranmfg.com/motorcycle-tire-pressure-monitoring-systems.htm

Their product support is first class!

[rob-mg]

Every time I get on the bike, I use a tire pressure monitoring system (Doran) and it works perfectly and installs in a few minutes. It also has an alert to notify if the pressure drops quickly ( not blow outs).

Worth every penny. I would not ride another bike without one.

No pressure monitoring system can tell you about a blow out, those are instant things. The alerts do tell you about rapid deflation such as picking up a nail and the tire starts to lose air, giving you time to pull of the road.

Run a search, I have a pic of the system here on WG.http://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=80868.0

Hi,

Thanks, this is important information.

Are you using Doran on a bike with inner tubes? If not, do you have views on that? As I understand it, the sensors would have to go on the valves, rather than in the tire, and would require the wheels to be rebalanced. Do I have that right?

PS I don't care about the so-called theft issue.

[Nic in Western NYS]

Every 1-200 miles or when there is a big temperature change.

[canuguzzi]

Hi,

Thanks, this is important information.

Are you using Doran on a bike with inner tubes? If not, do you have views on that? As I understand it, the sensors would have to go on the valves, rather than in the tire, and would require the wheels to be rebalanced. Do I have that right?

PS I don't care about the so-called theft issue.

Tubeless tires. There is no rebalancing involved, the sensors are very light.

The Doran system can be used in two ways, on the valve stem or inside the tire, your choice and it comes with everything you need to do it the way you want.

It also comes with a security screw so that someone doesn't casually take the sensor. I don't use the security screw, how many people are running around looking at motorcycle tires to steal a sensor? The sensor doesn't attract attention.

You do need metal valve stems but they too are included so nothing to buy. I amnusing the stem mounted method and won't bother mounting them internally unless I change tires. Even then, I like the way they work now so would probably just continue as is.

It also comes with a separate small led indicator which you can mount where you will see it if you don't want the LCD readout in plain view. For example, mount the readout under the seat and just the bright led low pressure alert on the handlebars or by the speedo.

You can wire it to be always on or on with the ignition. Ibhave it turn on with the ignition so it takes a few minutes to calibrate and readout. Start the bike, helmet on, gloves on and check mirrors and such, by that time read out is ready. From then on it is always on. Very easy to use.

[keener]

every time i ride....
i use a bicycle pump to top off and i have a Clark dial gauge and its on the money...

[krglorioso]

Accu-Gage.  I check tires about every 2 weeks.  Pressures used in my two California Stone Touring models are 34F and 36R as I don't weigh much and ride solo. 

Ralph

[ponti_33609]

Use a cheap digital gage. I haven't experienced more accurate readings when I compare to an expensive one.

Check every couple weeks. On my v7 (may be because it is so light?) I can tell while wheeling around the garage to park when it's lost a few pounds.

[Kev m]

Analog, Dry (but results compared with the TPMS readouts on the 2 Jeeps).

Monthly or less - unless a dramatic change in ambient temps, then I check again.

I also tend to check right before any long trips.

On the Jeeps I check more frequently, I hit a button on the steering wheel and I can instantly see the pressures at each wheel. They don't change much, except the OCD kicks in when the display shows 3 at 36 and 1 at 37 

[Yeahoo Whoyah]

If I'm riding a lot, I check the pressure weekly. If it's been a while since I rode, then I check before the ride. That's been my general rule for over 20 years. Seems to work for me.

As far as the tire gauge goes, I have a cheap digital one I carry on the bike, and a better analog one I leave at home. Both seem to work well for me.

 :1:  the digital gauge I have was a give away for test riding a BMW from a marketing campaign years ago. Since it has the BMW logo on it then it can't be cheap, even if it was free.  Haha.

[slowmover]

Every time I ride.Accu-Gage.

[Groover]

I check before every ride before leaving the garage and/or when out before getting on the bike if it's been parked for hours and actually remember to do that. I especially do that if I plan to be riding two-up with my girlfriend. I use my thumbs and squeeze the sidewalls to be sure they are around where they need to be. I never did this before, but after going tubeless on tube-type rims and after all that reading on that topic, I got a little paranoid so I started doing that. I do check the pressure properly every few weeks or so to be sure all is good and that my thumbs are still calibrated... 

[leafman60]

I try to check my air pressure before every ride....

Oh, I have several pressure gauges that I use regularly, one of them a Meiser Accu Gage that I've owned for almost 40 years. About every 10 years I send it back for them to calibrate.

http://www.ghmeiser.com/

[fossil]

When I ride regularly: 1 x per week. When I ride seldom (winter) before each ride. The same after a strong drop in temperature. Either I use an old small hand gauge by Dräger Werke Lübeck or my small Black & Decker compressor (slow, but with an astonishing exact digital gauge).

[Gliderjohn]

Use an Accu-Gage at home. Small digital on the road. The Accu-Gage seems to work better (seal) than most others on the 90 degree Norge valve stems. It is like the valve is slightly deeper seated from the rim than most valve stems.
 Now that I live out on several miles of dirt roads I mostly take the Norge out for longer rides so it may only be ridden once every few days during the season so I generally check pressure before every ride plus I had four flats within the first 12K miles. Get a bit paranoid.
GliderJohn

[RinkRat II]

   My Sunday afternoon ritual, check all three bikes as I ride all three during the week to work. Craftsman Digital gauge  accurate to within a1/4 psi.

   Paul B

[charlie b]

My TPMS is a Hawks Head.  I got the smaller, portable version cause I can put the sensors on the RV when I take it on trips.  I also like that it tells me the tire temp as well.

Response to a sudden decrease in pressure is pretty fast, less than one second.  You can test it just by unscrewing the sensor.  I love mine.

If I were to get another one I'd consider an inside the tire mount version.  But, I change my own tires and would worry that I'd hit the thing with a tire spoon  :( 

Tubes are fine.  As long as you have a metal valve stem that is fixed to the rim with locknuts then the screw on type will work.  Just do NOT use Slime or anything like that in the tire or it will mess up the sensors.

[tpeever]

Every time I ride using one of these. Nice piece of kit.

[cloudbase]

I check weekly with a digital gauge.