2008 Dodge Grand Caravan: Tire Pressure Gripe

I keep a gauge in the car. Only one of my vehicles has a TPMS. I check them whenever the temperature swings a bit, when I wash the car, or after a hit a big pot hole. So probably every other month.

I have one ($2.99 at walgreens :) and always keep it in the car. My TPMS is very accurate so I use that as my primary gauge, but I don't think it accounts for overinflation so I check it once every other week or when I fill up.

I keep a tire gauge in my 318ti, Wrangler, MS3, and Speed Triple. I don't drive the 2002 enough to justify a gauge yet.

I have one in my garage. Probably don't use it as often as I should and keep meaning to pick up ones for in the car.
On my one car with lower profile tires I tried out these little caps with LED's that flash when the pressure drops 4 lbs below what it was when you first screwed them on. Pretty slick little backup gadgets for the in-between the checks with the gauge to make sure the little led is still working.

Both my wife and I keep gauges in our glove boxes. Our fathers taught us well.

I have a cheap guage in each of my cars and a good one in my tool box.

Check them about once a month unless I have a slow leak like my Jeep has. Then I check it every time I fill up.

I have one of those horrible little stick gauges that you get for free... but hey, it's a gauge. I keep it right in my air compressor. I really want one of these though:

http://www.tirerack.com/accessories/detail.jsp?ID=11&cat=Air+Gauges

-Looks like a neat little tool for those who like to keep check on their tires.

We have them in both our cars, too. My wife's car also has a portable air compressor.

On another note, when properly inflated my front tires show a slight bulge. So I check them regardless of the way they look.

On yet another note, be sure to check your spare's pressure, too. I always ask the guys at DT to check the spare when they're rotating my tires. I'm wondering if they dropped the ball last time because when my wife had a blowout on the highway, the full-size spare was at about 10 pounds. I've learned my lesson.

There is one in every car I own.

I keep a gauge in my cars. I just put one in my friend's Jeep and showed her how to use it.

Gauges and portable compressors in both cars.

I'm going to be the bad person here and say that I don't have one in my new car...yet. Its one of those items that I keep forgetting to buy. I always kept one in my old car, but its now in the possession of that cars new owner (ie my sister).

I check pressure at the gas station on a regular basis.

I keep two in my car: one mechanical dial gauge and one electronic gauge on my portable compressor. When I found out that the Saturn dealership had pumped one of my wife's tires to 76 PSI (she then drove around on it for ~1000 miles, which removed all center tread from the tire but amazingly did not blow out), I checked it with two gauges to make sure my gauge wasn't wrong. I then let air out of it for 3 minutes straight using my fingernail.

I always keep my tires over-inflated by about 15-20% for the sharper steering response and to provide a buffer against under-inflation.

Last story: My mom drives a 2005 Dodge Neon SXT. It blatantly has improperly cast wheels, as the tires are chronicly leaking....even on multiple different tires. She is so car-clueless that she has driven around on the tires with as low as 6 PSI. Yes, 6 PSI. I had to check it twice. All tires were between 6-15 PSI within 2 months of me filling them to 35-40 PSI.

Dodge blatantly refused to warranty the stock tires/wheels for this. So I had a special tire shop near Reading PA do some work:

Brand new bfgoodrich traction t/a's, rust on rim scrubbed thoroughly, and a very thick grease applied to the entire inside surface of the rim to prevent leakage and ensure a good seal/seat.

Hasn't leaked since, to my knowledge.

Joe

I have a digital Accutire gauge that I keep in the house so it doesn't get frozen or baked in the car. I check the tires in both our cars about once a month with it. Makes a great inexpensive gift to give to someone. Mine was like $15 at Sears a few years ago.

I keep a mechanical pencil type gauge in the glovebox of my car in case my TPSM light comes on, with a portable compressor in the trunk.

"By MS3lvr92 on January 14, 2009 9:22 PM
I have one of those horrible little stick gauges that you get for free... but hey, it's a gauge. I keep it right in my air compressor. I really want one of these though:

http://www.tirerack.com/accessories/detail.jsp?ID=11&cat=Air+Gauges

-Looks like a neat little tool for those who like to keep check on their tires."

That's the one I use for our cars here.
-mike

Not to disagree with the post, but in certain circumstances, tires that "look low" are actually at the proper pressure. So you can't use the appearance of the tire as an indicator either way, good or bad.

I do have a battery-powered tire gauge, for which the battery has died. Keep forgetting to replace the damned thing...

LOL...and I just clicked on the link that MS3lvr92 and Boxermike referenced, and that's the gauge I have! Battery died about a month after I got it.

I keep a pencil tire gauge, portable air compressor, and jumper cables in every car I've had. I consider them necessities that should be in ever car.

What do you all think of those pressure-monitoring valve stem caps? The ones that change color.

Nitrogen works wonders with TPMS systems. It doesn't fluctuate with the temperature.

I also keep a tire gauge in my car at all times despite having a TPMS system that has proven to give very accurate readings in the past. I like to check both just to make sure. I also make my wife keep one in her car and taught her how to use it, although I highly doubt she ever does. I find keeping a tire gauge in my 280SE 3.5 most useful because I don't drive it much, so I have to check the tire pressure every time I do.

This is the most basic act of automotive care, it astounds me that so many people just ignore it.

Got an electronic gauge in the Mustang, and one stick gauge apiece in the truck and econobox. Plus a dial gauge in the garage, and a dial gauge built in to the air compressor. I check pressures whenever the temperature changes dramatically (the high here today is 0) or every couple weeks or if I hit a pothole/road debris/etc, whatever occurs first. I really don't have a set schedule, except for the Mustang, since one of its tires leaks about half its pressure every week. I'll get it repaired/replaced come springtime, but for now I just pump it back up.

thanks to the beauty of old 14" steel rims and big tire sidewalls, i will typically wait until they start looking a bit low. however in the winter time i will check them weekly.

I keep a gauge and compressor in the car, and check it every month. I do have a slow leak in one of the tires, which trips TPMS about once a month, getting it fixed tomorrow.

I do, and I check the pressure monthly. Unless I'm at the track, then I'm checking it several times a day.

Preaching to the choir.

Yeah, got one in the glove box.

I used to when I drove questionable beaters as a kid but now I drive vehicles that have tire pressure warnings and readings(like my 08 GCaravan). still have guages though as I have a Honda and an old mustang. Also have a portable compressor for lower and raising pressure before going on the beach in my jeep. Tire pressure=life

What do you all think of those pressure-monitoring valve stem caps? The ones that change color.

I bought a set of 32psi caps for my car a couple years ago. They are not perfectly accurate but they are still very useful. Several times they've warned me of leaks before they became apparent to the eye.

I also keep a digital gauge and portable air compressor in my car. The latter has easily paid for itself considering air is now .75 at the local gas station (not to mention the convenience of not having to drive there).

Never put any valve stems on a vehicle that kids will find interesting enough to steal and put on their bikes.

A pressure gauge that requires a battery is only slightly better than having no gauge at all.