Gas stations with Digital tire gauges?

[DJ_Peanuts22]

I usually goto the Petro Canada at Morningside/Ellesmere to inflate my tires with their digital gauge, but when I went to go check today, they replaced it with an analog one charging $1 for air. :(

Does anyone here know of any gas stations in the GTA that have digital tire gauges that offer free air?

[DrXenon]

I wouldn't trust a gas station gauge (digital or analog) if I were you. Make a massive $20 investment in an ANSI-certified analog dial gauge.

[veryhuman]

Got this one (http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/product_detail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=253437430 3523098&bmUID=1233963030640&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442952255&assortment=primary&fromSearch=true) at Canadian Tire when it was on sale. Excellent quality, comes with a case with a built in lifetime battery.

[superping]

I usually goto the Petro Canada at Morningside/Ellesmere to inflate my tires with their digital gauge, but when I went to go check today, they replaced it with an analog one charging $1 for air. :(

Does anyone here know of any gas stations in the GTA that have digital tire gauges that offer free air?


Some idiot broke it. :mad:

[J8]

Yup, Petro had the free going for a while now...wtf $1!?!?. I liked that digital gauge...

It's getting harder to find the free air nowadays...at least the Shell by my place charges 50 cents and it actually lasts for a while.

[Jucius Maximus]

Got this one (http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/product_detail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=253437430 3523098&bmUID=1233963030640&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442952255&assortment=primary&fromSearch=true) at Canadian Tire when it was on sale. Excellent quality, comes with a case with a built in lifetime battery.

I have that Accutire device and I hate it. It's very difficult to make a proper seal in comparison to the brass analogue gauge devices.

[Webhead]

I usually goto the Petro Canada at Morningside/Ellesmere to inflate my tires with their digital gauge, but when I went to go check today, they replaced it with an analog one charging $1 for air. :(

Does anyone here know of any gas stations in the GTA that have digital tire gauges that offer free air?

Shell is the only gas station offering free air. No digital gauge.

[gman]

You cannot trust those digital gauges on the pump. I know at least one pump is about 10 lb off.

[gamer123]

last time i went to the old petrocan at hwy/kennedy they have free digital pump for free...accuracy would be another issue

[DaVibe]

The convenience in owning my own the ease in checking my tires, anywhere at any time ...

Well worth the convenience rather than chasing down where they still have a free one in this city. Just my opinion.
No more than $20, $10 or less on a good day.

[gman]

The convenience in owning my own the ease in checking my tires, anywhere at any time ...

Well worth the convenience rather than chasing down where they still have a free one in this city. Just my opinion.
No more than $20, $10 or less on a good day.

The problem of using your own pump is it takes forever to do the job. I have one build in in my car, I don't really want to use it unless I have to.

[DJ_Peanuts22]

I'm really thinking about getting my own tire inflator at home. However, I don't want one that plugs into the cigarette lighter as I hear they kinda slow to inflate a tire.

What would these typically cost? What's a good brand to consider?

I can budget up to a maximum of $100.

Do ANSI-certified digital gauges exist too?

[DJ_Peanuts22]

Just came across this at Canadian Tire... is this a good gauge?

http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/product_detail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=253437430 3523098&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524443285106&bmUID=1234019485936&assortment=primary&fromSearch=true

[GangStarr]

Instead of spending money on gauges, why not spend $15 and get a little compressor that runs off your 12v socket? If your just topping off a deflated tire its really all you need. When I swamp my winters it usually takes about 5-10 minutes to get the tires up to the correct psi.

I bought one just yesterday for $15. Not the fastest way of filling up, but I do it in my garage and not at a gas station. The unit has a built in gauge.

I have one of those digital psi gauges, and they are crap. Old school brass all the way.

[gman]

Instead of spending money on gauges, why not spend $15 and get a little compressor that runs off your 12v socket? If your just topping off a deflated tire its really all you need. When I swamp my winters it usually takes about 5-10 minutes to get the tires up to the correct psi.

I bought one just yesterday for $15. Not the fastest way of filling up, but I do it in my garage and not at a gas station. The unit has a built in gauge.

I have one of those digital psi gauges, and they are crap. Old school brass all the way.

5 to 10 minutes for all 4 tires? Or, per tire.
If it is for all 4 tires, can you tell me what the brand/model is and where you bought it? Thanks.

[Pavel]

Got this one (http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/product_detail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=253437430 3523098&bmUID=1233963030640&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442952255&assortment=primary&fromSearch=true) at Canadian Tire when it was on sale. Excellent quality, comes with a case with a built in lifetime battery.
Avoid digital tire gauges, especially those that Canadian Tire carries. One guy at the parts counter said don't by them, buy the inexpensive manual gauges ones or those with a dial. Besides, I already owned one of these and they're a POS. It died after the occasional use within two years.

As far as gas stations go. There is an Chevron station nearby that has a digital gauge and it's very accurate. We may start seeing more of these but we'll have to start paying to fill air into our tires like in the USA cuz crack heads steal the copper from the hoses.

[DJ_Peanuts22]

^
So I parked in the garage and used the cheapo blue compressor from CT I got a long time ago for $10, took around 10mins to fill all 4-tires.


Do you have a link what this compressor looks like?

What exactly do I need to buy in order to be able to start filling up my own tires at home?

Sorry for the newbish questions, but I've never had any experience with them before, so anyone who can shine some light on the subject, it would be greatly appreciated.

[gman]

Avoid digital tire gauges, especially those that Canadian Tire carries. One guy at the parts counter said don't by them, buy the inexpensive manual gauges ones or those with a dial. Besides, I already owned one of these and they're a POS. It died after the occasional use within two years.

As far as gas stations go. There is an Chevron station nearby that has a digital gauge and it's very accurate. We may start seeing more of these but we'll have to start paying to fill air into our tires like in the USA cuz crack heads steal the copper from the hoses.

My digital one died because the battery ran out. I replaced the battery and it works again. I also have one with a dial but it broke because it stuck and became 10 psi off. BTW, this is the 2nd digital I got. The first one with L shape did suck big time.

This is the one I am using. I bought it for $10. It is $6 this week.

http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/product_detail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=253437430 3523098&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524443285106&bmUID=1234140718177&assortment=primary&fromSearch=true

http://a116.g.akamai.net/7/116/8068/infinite/www.canadiantire.ca/media/images/products/images/Assortments/PrimaryAssortments/Automotive/AutomotiveTools/TireGaugesWrenches/0095524_160_CC_v1_m56577569830782115.jpg

[Frankie3s]

I usually goto the Petro Canada at Morningside/Ellesmere to inflate my tires with their digital gauge, but when I went to go check today, they replaced it with an analog one charging $1 for air. :(

Does anyone here know of any gas stations in the GTA that have digital tire gauges that offer free air?

I complained to Petro-Can about it and they had sent me an email back saying that the reason why they replaced the digital pumps was because they have outsourced all of their air pumps to a third party company. The money collected helps to pay for the maintenance of the analog pumps and allows them serviced faster when they are down.

Not happy about it either myself.

[afici0nad0]

i tried using the digital tire gauge at a petro-canada. garbage...

i just ended up using my analog dial gauge. way more effective.

[Pavel]

My digital one died because the battery ran out. I replaced the battery and it works again. I also have one with a dial but it broke because it stuck and became 10 psi off. BTW, this is the 2nd digital I got. The first one with L shape did suck big time.
The L shaped one from Accutire I had...it was garbage. I opened it up and even replaced the battery, it still wouldnt work. A friend has the Nascar one from CT and like all the digital ones, I find it to be a a PIA because I find you lose a lot of air trying to get a seal. while with my dial one or even the pencil shaped tire gauge, there isn't usually a problem.

[gman]

The L shaped one from Accutire I had...it was garbage. I opened it up and even replaced the battery, it still wouldnt work. A friend has the Nascar one from CT and like all the digital ones, I find it to be a a PIA because I find you lose a lot of air trying to get a seal. while with my dial one or even the pencil shaped tire gauge, there isn't usually a problem.

True. The L-shape one is the worst because that one is hard to get seal. The 'straight push' one I show is a lot easier. That one should be similar to the dial one or pencil shaped one.

[supsx]

Well now that we are getting charged for air, what else can they charge us for?

[Mayoo]

Just came across this at Canadian Tire... is this a good gauge?

http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/product_detail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=253437430 3523098&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524443285106&bmUID=1234019485936&assortment=primary&fromSearch=true

I have this one .. sometimes it work . sometime it doesnt .. it all depend on how u fit it ..

Now i ended up going to Sunaco .. $0.5 and it seems acurate ..

[DJ_Peanuts22]

How much ideally should I be budgeting on a compressor?

I just want something that will be reliable and won't break on me after a few uses.

[Icerian]

I was thinking about picking up one of these:

http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=84552444328 3747&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1408474396672438&bmUID=1234230422787&deptid=1408474396672395&ctgrid=1408474396672399&subctgrid=1408474396672438

The reviews on the CT site seem to indicate it is a decent tool. Any other comments?

Edit:
What about one of these?

http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/product_detail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=140847439 6672225&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442205047&bmUID=1234230832979&assortment=primary&fromSearch=true

How much effort does it take to inflate to 32 PSI?

[Pavel]

I have one of those old portable DC compressors. They can usually be had for cheap on Boxing Day or whenever on sale. It takes about 2-5 minutes on average to fill air into your tire. It's very loud and I use industrial earplugs. I have sensitive hearing.

You can also get one of these and fill it up in air. I've seen them for under $40 at CT: http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/product_detail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=140847439 6672861&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524443282108&bmUID=1234231730370&assortment=primary&fromSearch=true

I like this one myself but it cant do much but inflate tires or balls: http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=84552444324 8031&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1408474396672861&bmUID=1234232008721

[DJ_Peanuts22]

There is currently an air compressor on sale at partsource for $50 right now, I was thinking about getting that one but I guess I need to do some more research before deciding.

Thanks for all the helpful replies everyone.

[gman]

Does anyone use the air compressor from Costco? Any feedback?