The correct tyre pressure can save you a lot in terms of fuel consumption and rubber lifespan. Moreover, many off-road situations call for reduced tyre pressure. That’s why you need a reliable tyre pressure gauge.
Here’s our pick of the best.

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ARB LOW PRESSURE GAUGE
See the picture bigger

The good:
The best selling point of this model is the big face (it has a diameter of 10 cm, as opposed to the usual 5 cm-wide dial) which, coupled with large calibration markings and the fact that it only goes up
to 3.5 bar, makes reading and fine tuning your tyre pressure considerably easier
than with a regular gauge.

The 50-cm-long rubber extension hose (it is long enough so you don’t have to hunch over to read the dial) and legendary ARB toughness will probably clinch the deal.

But … It’s no lightweight − the gauge itself is slightly bigger (and heavier) than a tin of tuna, and what with the long hose, the instrument ends up taking up most of your cubby hole or centre console.

Price? R225

Contact? 4x4 Megaworld  011 454 2875; 
www.4x4megaworld.co.za

Drive Out says: Yes, it is easy to read, but it is probably only worth buying if you drive in sand regularly and are particularly fastidious about your tyre pressure.

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ARB PENCIL GAUGE
Old-school reliability

The good:
Some four-by-four-ers swear by these pencil gauges because it’s what they know and trust, and they’re supposedly also more robust. Why?

Analogue models use an internal mechanism that is a bit like a Swiss watch, whereas this pencil gauge relies simply on the tyre pressure pushing out the calibrated rod.

This means that, unlike an analogue gauge, it doesn’t have any delicate components that could get damaged if you drop it.

But … We found the calibrated rod a little tricky to read compared with a clock-type dial.

What’s more, our test unit’s reading was consistently 10% higher than the rest of the gauges, which all gave the same reading, so we’re assuming they were correct.

Price? R495 (as part of an ARB Speedy Seal kit)

Contact? 4x4 Megaworld  011 454 2875;  www.4x4megaworld.co.za

Drive Out says: This gauge is only available as part of the seal kit. This is no problem if you’re in the market for a new tyre repair kit, but it is a bit of a waste if you already have a repair kit.

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MOTOQUIP ABS DIGITAL tyre GAUGE
Digital revolution

The good:
Digital gauges are easy to read – even if you’ve left your bifocals at home, the pressure is always clearly displayed on the LCD.

This model also has an automatic 90-second cut off, so you don’t have to worry about accidentally leaving it on.

But … It runs on batteries, and even with the automatic shut off, Murphy’s Law dictates it will run out of juice on the day you really need it. (The gauge runs on LR44 watch batteries – we suggest you pack a spare set for your next trip to Bangui.)

Price? R130

Contact? Outdoor Warehouse  0800 003 051; ww.outdoorwarehouse.co.za 

Drive Out says: It is easy to use, but we prefer playing it safe with an analogue instrument.

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HAFNER STETHO GAUGE
Old faithful

The good:
This is the classic tyre pressure gauge: no frills or extra features, light and compact, and simple to use.

We rate this Stetho-gauge because the brand has a reputation for durability and reliability and because the dial only goes up to four bar (rather than the excessive seven bar on other models).

This means that the calibrations are bigger and easier to read. It’s also the only gauge that comes with a protective plastic case.

But … No quibbles here, except that like all dial-type gauges it’s a reasonably delicate device that will lose accuracy if you bash it around.

Price? R85

Contact? LA Sport   012 329 4515;  www.lasport.co.za

Drive Out says: You’ll definitely find one of these compact and durable little gadgets stashed away in our cubbyhole!

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VIAIR 3-IN-1 AIR DOWN tyre GAUGE
Multitasking

The good:
Deflating your tyres for off-roading can be a finicky business: check pressure, look for matchstick to let some air out, let air out, check pressure again, let a little more air out. Which can be a tad tedious.

This nifty device saves you the hassle of changing from matchstick to pressure gauge by incorporating both − it’s a combo tyre deflator and tyre pressure gauge.

But where does the three-in-one come from? Turns out there are two deflation modes – rapid and slow – so you can go from 2.5 bar to one bar quickly, then fine tune the pressure using the gentler mode.

But … Screwing on the valve connector is a little fiddly and takes longer than other connectors – worth the effort if you need to let some air out, but frustrating if you just want to quickly check the pressure.

Much more air also leaked out while measuring pressure than with the other models.

Price? R70

Contact? Safari Centre  021 595 3910;  www.safaricentre.co.za

Drive Out says: This pressure gauge is a winner for quick deflation, but if you just want something to check your tyre pressure with, stick with a regular gauge.

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Originally published in Drive Out #28 | Dec 2008 - Jan 2009