Best tyre gauges 2023
Keeping your tyres inflated correctly can save you money in the long run, so it’s worth investing in a good tyre pressure gauge. But which one is best?...
Tyre gauges come in various shapes and forms, from analogue to digital, and keyring-sized to glovebox-sized. They're important, too, because keeping your tyres inflated to their recommended pressures can save you money in fewer trips to the pumps. In this test, we get the tyre caps off to find out which one’s best.
We tried out all of our tyre gauges in both daylight and at night, and we tested them on a variety of different wheels – old and new – to check how easily they fitted to different tyre valves. For overall consideration, we rated them for ease of use, perceived quality, the tyre pressure range that they can function within, and any additional features they might offer, as well as value for money.
Top 9: tyre gauges
9. AA digital tyre pressure gauge AA1634
Pressure range 0-100psi
The AA gauge is very similar to the other digital gauges here, but it measures pressure only in psi and bar. The batteries are provided, and it’s stated that they give a 12-month life, but there are a lot of customer reviews suggesting that they don’t last that long. The light on the nozzle of the gauge and the readout are very weak, too, not proving very helpful in the dark.
What Car? says 2 stars
8. AstroAI digital tyre pressure gauge
Pressure range 0-150psi
The AstroAI feels fairly cheap and light, but it is effective. The nozzle has a bright blue light to help with visibility and the readout is brightly backlit. Plus, you can switch to pressure readouts more suitable to a lorry or bike and it has a really high range for pressure readouts. However, the heavier-duty analogue options here feel like they’ll last a whole lot longer, so they might well be a better buy in the long run.
What Car? says 3 stars
7. AstroAI high accuracy tyre pressure gauge
Price £12.99 | Buy from Amazon | Pressure range 0-100psi
This is another solid-feeling analogue gauge that seems durable and hefty. It comes complete with a rotating chuck that makes it easy to get the gauge onto the tyre valve, too, but the rubber hose is chunky and can make the gauge awkward to use, because it’s harder to manipulate. It’s definitely a two-handed job. The dial isn’t as easy to read as those of some rivals, but it is glow-in-the-dark, which is useful, and can be used even for high-pressure tyres.
What Car? says 4 stars
6. ATsafepro precision gauge
Price £11.99 | Buy from Amazon | Pressure range 0-60psi
The ATsafepro is an analogue unit that feels hefty and well put together, and it gives an accurate readout. The extended, rotating neck makes awkward valves easy to reach, while the chrome-plated finish and heavy-duty rubber give it an extra-durable feel. Our only gripe is that the dial is a little harder to read than some others, even in good light, but at least it glows in the dark. You have to pay an additional £4 to extend the pressure range up to 100psi, but the spare tyre valve caps that it comes with are a very welcome, free addition.
What Car? says 4 stars
5. Halfords digital tyre pressure and tread depth gauge
Price £12.00 | Buy from Halfords | Pressure range 5-99psi
The Halfords gauge is very similar to the Goeco unit elsewhere in this test, with its digital tyre tread readout and tyre pressure functions. It’s not the easiest to get a good fix on the tyre valve, however, because the chuck on is quite short, but it is a dinky unit that stores out of the way in the car, and the tread measure is a worthwhile additional function. The CR 2032 batteries are easy to access and replace. It does feel a bit cheap, though, and there’s no backlight for the readout.
What Car? says 4 stars
4. Goeco tyre pressure gauge
Pressure range 5-99psi
The digital Goeco gauge’s neat retractable metal pin tyre tread measure – which shows the depth in millimetres and includes appropriate warning colours to indicate if the tread is low – is a really excellent feature of this gauge. The backlit screen is easy to read, and the batteries are included and easy to access. The gauge’s chuck can be tricky to fit tightly to a tyre valve, because it’s short and not canted at a 45-degree angle, as most others are, but this is our favourite of the digital units here.
What Car? says 4 stars
3. BEST BUDGET BUY – E-Smarter digital tyre pressure gauge
Pressure range 0-150psi
This is a really affordable option that has a backlit digital readout and nozzle, making it easy to use in low light. It’s a doddle to use, because it’s easy to press onto the tyre valve, and it then gives you an accurate readout in whatever measure of pressure you like, including KPA and kg/cm3 for trucks or bikes, as well as pounds per square inch (psi) and bar. The batteries are included, too, but their compartment is tricky to access. The handset feels light and cheap, but that’s forgivable at this price.
What Car? says 3 stars
2. RECOMMENDED – Goodyear portable tyre pressure gauge
Pressure range 0-60psi
This is another classy-feeling analogue gauge, and the dinky size and convenient plastic case make it easy to store in your glovebox. The 45-degree connector stuck to our tyre valves with no hassle, even if the shorter, solid neck of the gauge makes it a bit trickier to attach than some rivals. Even so, if having a compact unit that you can keep in the car is a factor – and you don’t need very high pressure readouts – this is a great little gauge that feels well made and is a doddle to use.
What Car? says 5 stars
1. BEST BUY – Draper tyre pressure gauge 69924
Pressure range 5-100psi
This is a super-smart gauge with an analogue pressure dial and solid metal fixtures. It’s also very easy to read, thanks to the simple, clear dial graphics, and it’s straightforward to connect to the tyre valve in order to get a reading. The canted angle of the rotating chuck and the flexible hose help with that, too. We also favour the traditional analogue gauges over the digital options. Because tyre gauges are typically used once in a while rather than on a routine basis, not having to worry about batteries that might have gone flat over a year or more of little to no use is a welcome relief in those circumstances.
What Car? says 5 stars
The products or services referenced in this story have been reviewed independently by our experts. When you buy using the links on our site, we may earn a commission, but this will never influence our opinion or ratings.
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