How to test tyre pressure without spending money

corblimey

I did a quick tour of local petrol stations this weekend and all of them now charge you to top up the tyres. It's a pittance sure, but is there any fool-proof way of checking from sight or feel of the car whether a top up is needed before I spend a euro and find that actually only 1 tyre was slightly under?

I don't want to wait until the tyres are noticeably flat as that can't be good for the thread, and maybe it's just a case of getting into the habit of going in every 3-4 months no matter what. What do others do?

Dial Hard

Other than the Topazs with the digital air machines, the vast majority of garages just look for a €1 deposit so people put the hose back properly, ime.

looksee

My local petrol station not only does not charge, but they will do it for you if you request it.

DaveyDave

A euro is hardly going to kill you? I'm pretty sure it's only a deposit too, you should get it back. It also reduces wear and tear from idiots messing around with it.

Check them once a month at a minimum, I'll do it when fueling up if I'm not in a rush, or whenever I'm passing by the garage if not done when filling up.

Gumbo

€1 deposit in my local Topaz or 20c in the other local Maxol.

I agree with this tbh.

Most young people wont remember going to a petrol station and finding the air machine out of order!
Least this system ensures people actually use the machine with a little bit of respect.

Wildly Boaring

https://www.ie.screwfix.com/maypole-digital-tyre-pressure-gauge.html?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=CPC&utm_campaign=Shopping&gclid=Cj0KCQiAkNfSBRCSARIsAL-u3X93k3TZmRVhYEVq5g6DCV1B-osMhc9UeOsPvPMwPGYu810FtqQoaAcaAmqiEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Alun

Buy a tyre pressure gauge?

corblimey

Huh, I'll admit I didn't look close enough to see if was a deposit or a charge, so I may be wrong on that. I'll go for another little spin this weekend and check it out.

Alun wrote: »

Buy a tyre pressure gauge?

I was looking at a branded AA one on Amazon earlier - I assume they're all pretty much the same? Seems like the kind of thing that pops up in Aldi/Lidl a couple times a year?

punisher5112

All the new machines are €1 charge.

They put a trolley type chain on many over the years as mentioned above to make sure you put the hose and gauge back as they don't take well to been run over.

I haven't found one that is free for quite a while.

Riskymove

punisher5112 wrote: »

All the new machines are €1 charge.

They put a trolley type chain on many over the years as mentioned above to make sure you put the hose and gauge back as they don't take well to been run over.

I haven't found one that is free for quite a while.

both my local applegreen garages have free air

Riskymove

Riskymove wrote: »

both my local applegreen garages have free air

but what about compressed air?:D

Alun

corblimey wrote: »

I was looking at a branded AA one on Amazon earlier - I assume they're all pretty much the same? Seems like the kind of thing that pops up in Aldi/Lidl a couple times a year?

Pretty much. Any motor factors or Halfords will have them too. Personally, I have an old-skool analogue dial one very similar to this one ...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/RACE-RX0014-Tyre-Pressure-Gauge/dp/B000VZ8S26/ref=lp_2486243031_1_9?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1515600729&sr=1-9

No batteries to wear out for a start.

CiniO

Shame that petrol stations charge for using air compressor. It was for free for years around me, and they started charging a euro recently.

I actually honestly miss petrol stations from Poland, which mostly are opened 24/7, where air is for free, toilets are clean, petrol/diesel pumps nozzles have locks so I don't need to hold the nozzle button while filling up, and buckets with screenwash water and brushes are widely available for free to clean your windows/lights/number plates

DaveyDave

corblimey wrote: »

Huh, I'll admit I didn't look close enough to see if was a deposit or a charge, so I may be wrong on that. I'll go for another little spin this weekend and check it out.

I was looking at a branded AA one on Amazon earlier - I assume they're all pretty much the same? Seems like the kind of thing that pops up in Aldi/Lidl a couple times a year?

My experience with Aldi and Lidl bike pumps with pressure gauges is bad so I wouldn't trust their pressure gauges. I have a good quality, €30 bike pump with gauge and a separate €30 pressure gauge, both accurate after 5 years of use. Used them on my sister's car whenever the tyre was looking a little low after being left sitting for a while.

When it comes to pumps and pressure gauges it's worth spending a few quid on. Worst case scenario a cheap bike pump will get your tyre up to a safe PSI in a pinch so you can go to a garage.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

looksee wrote: »

My local petrol station not only does not charge, but they will do it for you if you request it.

Same here. If some are starting to charge it must be due to inflation.

Lord Nikon

Give it a kick, if it's hard, it's grand.

Dan Jaman

Mekhi Flat Telephone wrote: »

Same here. If some are starting to charge it must be due to inflation.

Is that your coat by the door?

biketard

Mekhi Flat Telephone wrote: »

Same here. If some are starting to charge it must be due to inflation.

I see what you did there.

freddieot

I gave up on searching for garages without this new system.

Late last year I tried 3 local garages and all had the €1 charge (2-5 minutes air) machine. I don't begrudge the Euro as I agree it stops people messing about but I do when none of the machines work properly.

Bought a small compressor in Woodies and a digital pressure gauge in Halfords. Check it every 3 weeks or so and no issues anymore.

grogi

freddieot wrote: »

I gave up on searching for garages without this new system.

Late last year I tried 3 local garages and all had the €1 charge (2-5 minutes air) machine. I don't begrudge the Euro as I agree it stops people messing about but I do when none of the machines work properly.

Bought a small compressor in Woodies and a digital pressure gauge in Halfords. Check it every 3 weeks or so and no issues anymore.

Those small gauges can have variance of 75% - one might show 25 PSI and another one 45 PSI. "Calibrate" yours with reliable source...

freddieot

grogi wrote: »

Those small gauges can have variance of 75% - one might show 25 PSI and another one 45 PSI. "Calibrate" yours with reliable source...

I cross-reference with the TPMS in the car. Seems accurate to about 0.05 bar.

worded

So will a good quality bike pump suffice ?(T shaped dynamite detonator type) road runner ...

GarIT

freddieot wrote: »

Bought a small compressor in Woodies and a digital pressure gauge in Halfords.

Thanks for saying this, I was about to buy one but you mentioning "small compressor" reminded me that my car came with one :pac: Now I just need to find the correct PSI.

looksee

Mekhi Flat Telephone wrote: »

Same here. If some are starting to charge it must be due to inflation.

Oh, har har very good! The local Tesco has a charged one but I cannot figure how to use it, so I go do the 'helpless old lady' bit at the usual garage.

Dan Jaman

I've been using a PCL pencil gauge for 20 years, and the previous one for 20 years before that. I check it for accuracy occasionally, but it never varies - always within a psi of correct. These are the metal-bodied ones, not the newer plastic jobbies; I don't know how accurate or reliable the new ones are.

jca

Here ya go stingy http://www.halfords.ie/workshop-tools/garage-equipment/tyre-inflators-pressure-gauges/halfords-essential-twin-barrel-foot-pump-gauge

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

looksee wrote: »

Oh, har har very good! The local Tesco has a charged one but I cannot figure how to use it, so I go do the 'helpless old lady' bit at the usual garage.

What do you mean "do"?

honda boi

have a digital oxford pressure gauge and a jump start/compressor I bought in Aldi like 4 years ago.
Check tyres once a week I'd say and if low just use the compressor,haven't needed to go near a garage compressor for a long time.

jimbis

200 litre compressor in the back helps keep my tyres up to pressure :pac:.
But as said above, for the joe soap you can't fault the pencil gauge. Cheap, reliable and last long enough untill you loose it.

biketard

GarIT wrote: »

Thanks for saying this, I was about to buy one but you mentioning "small compressor" reminded me that my car came with one :pac: Now I just need to find the correct PSI.

Correct PSI is written on a sticker in your driver door frame.

FionnK86

biketard wrote: »

Correct PSI is written on a sticker in your driver door frame.

On some cars like my Yaris, it's in the glove box took me forever to find it.

Santry Service Station is free and has a digital gauge that stops at the desired PSI. It's also rarely busy and I've never been asked to buy anything though I do most times i'm in there.

The Great Gas up the road is cheaper for petrol though.