tire pressure reading vs tire gage - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

aron77 · 08-24-2011, 11:03 PM

A little while ago my car showed my tires being low at like 32 or 33 so without a tire gage I aired up just using the display in the car. I never got them all at 35 and it seems to fluctuate anyways. Now a few weeks later they are showing low again just like they were before. I'm assuming that the fluctuation in temp is messing with the air pressure cuz it has been in the 100's and then cooled to mid to high 80's for a bit but is now getting pretty hot again. In the mean time I bought a cheap tire gage and when I went to air up it read them at like 37 while the car said low so I didn't put any air in. The car keeps reading them at 32 or 33 and my onstar report tagged them for air pressure but I don't know which one is more accurate? I'm gonna try a different gage eventually but has anyone else had this issue?

oldfriend · 08-24-2011, 11:09 PM

That's a hard one to verify as which one is correct , i would say try a few and make the average , the use the one that's the closest to it .

Black Lightning · 08-24-2011, 11:23 PM

Mine fluctuate with the temps. We have the same here - 100 then down to 80 degrees. I bought a high end gauge. It seems to match within 1 of what the car says.

daveagogo1 · 08-24-2011, 11:26 PM

When are you checking pressure? Check them when the tires are cold as in after sitting around all night. Not sure about the LS tires but mine go from 36 cold to 40 at times after a few miles. Also the most accurate DIC reading is while the car is moving as opposed to sitting still.

SilveRS · 08-24-2011, 11:31 PM

I have nitrogen in my tires, they came that way from the dealership, but they seem to hold a very constant pressure. According to the dealer this is supposed to be a very reliable way to keep your tires properly inflated as nitrogen doesn't expand or contract as much as air due to temperature change. The only downside is you have to go to a dealership to fill them up and it costs a couple bucks. Anyone else have input on nitrogen vs. air?

alini · 08-24-2011, 11:37 PM

You will see up to a 4 degree increase just in driving, based on outside temp, road temp and driving habits.

The TPMS is not accurate but it is consistant, so if you gauge your tire at 37 and the TPMS says 33, then you know it will be the same all the time. The TPMS is simply for your piece of mind that a tire isnt flat and should not be the primary means of testing air pressure

Nitrogen has long been proven as a stable pneumatic means of keeping pressure in tires and other air sources. Aircraft have used nitrogen for years for the same reason. The pressure is still temp sensitive but not as much becuase of the lack of 'impurities' Nitrogen is larger than some other atoms as well so it wont leak as much...in theory

Supermaro585HP · 08-25-2011, 12:41 AM

I'm having the same problem. It is driving me crazy. My onstar reports say it is low and it seems like I have to put air in every couple of weeks. I saw some valve stem caps that say that they have orings to keep the air from coming out as fast.

mulletman · 08-25-2011, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Supermaro585HP

I'm having the same problem. It is driving me crazy. My onstar reports say it is low and it seems like I have to put air in every couple of weeks. I saw some valve stem caps that say that they have orings to keep the air from coming out as fast.

Get an accurate air gauge and check the tires before driving. Air should not be coming out of the valve stems.

Chevrolet Customer Svc · 08-25-2011, 11:58 AM

What some of you may want to do is see if getting the TPMS systems relearned to your tires and see if that might help the situation. If that doesn't work having your vehicles checked out by your dealers probably wouldn't be a bad idea and it should be a quick trip as well just to check that the sensors are working properly. I found that the matching process for the sensors for the 2011 Camaro are in section 10 on page 63. I hope that helps all of you.

Jeff Morris, Chevrolet Customer Service

Corpus · 08-26-2011, 08:40 PM

i fill mine with 76 percent nitrogen and 20 percent oxygen and 4 percent of other stuff and it seems to work ok

PUNISHER · 09-02-2011, 08:39 PM

Corpus, that sounds alot like regular air.....

Ventmaster · 09-03-2011, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corpus

i fill mine with 76 percent nitrogen and 20 percent oxygen and 4 percent of other stuff and it seems to work ok

Geewhiz! How much does THAT cost?

Stex · 09-03-2011, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aron77

A little while ago my car showed my tires being low at like 32 or 33 so without a tire gage I aired up just using the display in the car. I never got them all at 35 and it seems to fluctuate anyways. Now a few weeks later they are showing low again just like they were before. I'm assuming that the fluctuation in temp is messing with the air pressure cuz it has been in the 100's and then cooled to mid to high 80's for a bit but is now getting pretty hot again. In the mean time I bought a cheap tire gage and when I went to air up it read them at like 37 while the car said low so I didn't put any air in. The car keeps reading them at 32 or 33 and my onstar report tagged them for air pressure but I don't know which one is more accurate? I'm gonna try a different gage eventually but has anyone else had this issue?

http://www.tirerack.com/accessories/...Tire+Inflation

Bill Waters · 09-03-2011, 10:33 PM

I have a very accurate digital racing tire gauge (0.01lb is accuracy rating!) and the inboard tire gauges are spot-on on my 2011 SS/RS. I have an assortment of gauges that I thought were adequate, but now that I have a "gold standard" for comparison, I have found that all of these gauges are off by at least three pounds.

Suggest getting an accurate gauge and compare your onboard sensors with that and you're done.

HTH

08-24-2011, 11:03 PM	#1
aron77 Drives: 2011 Camaro LS Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: KC MO Posts: 567	tire pressure reading vs tire gage A little while ago my car showed my tires being low at like 32 or 33 so without a tire gage I aired up just using the display in the car. I never got them all at 35 and it seems to fluctuate anyways. Now a few weeks later they are showing low again just like they were before. I'm assuming that the fluctuation in temp is messing with the air pressure cuz it has been in the 100's and then cooled to mid to high 80's for a bit but is now getting pretty hot again. In the mean time I bought a cheap tire gage and when I went to air up it read them at like 37 while the car said low so I didn't put any air in. The car keeps reading them at 32 or 33 and my onstar report tagged them for air pressure but I don't know which one is more accurate? I'm gonna try a different gage eventually but has anyone else had this issue?

08-24-2011, 11:23 PM	#3
Black Lightning Drives: 2011 Camaro 2SS/RS Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 618	Mine fluctuate with the temps. We have the same here - 100 then down to 80 degrees. I bought a high end gauge. It seems to match within 1 of what the car says. __________________ Red hood spears; Corsa cat-back exhaust; Roto-fab intake; Engine bay black/red theme; Black outs including both bowties, tail lights, tail light bezels, and side lamps; gill stripes; 35% window tints; Side SS badges; Hurst-equipped badge.

08-24-2011, 11:37 PM	#6
alini Drives: 2016 Camaro Hyper Blue 2SS Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 370 View My Garage	You will see up to a 4 degree increase just in driving, based on outside temp, road temp and driving habits. The TPMS is not accurate but it is consistant, so if you gauge your tire at 37 and the TPMS says 33, then you know it will be the same all the time. The TPMS is simply for your piece of mind that a tire isnt flat and should not be the primary means of testing air pressure Nitrogen has long been proven as a stable pneumatic means of keeping pressure in tires and other air sources. Aircraft have used nitrogen for years for the same reason. The pressure is still temp sensitive but not as much becuase of the lack of 'impurities' Nitrogen is larger than some other atoms as well so it wont leak as much...in theory __________________ The above post is by someone who is not an expert 2005 Pt Cruiser panel Conversion 2016 2SS Camaro Hyper Blue white interior 1937 Chevy truck. Full custom. Build in work https://www.teamalini.com

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08-24-2011, 11:09 PM	#2
oldfriend Drives: Fiat 500 E Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: 32.7607/N. 16.95947/W Posts: 7,816 View My Garage	That's a hard one to verify as which one is correct , i would say try a few and make the average , the use the one that's the closest to it .

08-24-2011, 11:31 PM	#5
SilveRS Dream Big, Work Hard.... Drives: 2011 2SS/RS IOM Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 130 View My Garage	I have nitrogen in my tires, they came that way from the dealership, but they seem to hold a very constant pressure. According to the dealer this is supposed to be a very reliable way to keep your tires properly inflated as nitrogen doesn't expand or contract as much as air due to temperature change. The only downside is you have to go to a dealership to fill them up and it costs a couple bucks. Anyone else have input on nitrogen vs. air?

08-25-2011, 12:41 AM	#7
Supermaro585HP Account Suspended Drives: 2011 Camaro SS RS Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,186 View My Garage	I'm having the same problem. It is driving me crazy. My onstar reports say it is low and it seems like I have to put air in every couple of weeks. I saw some valve stem caps that say that they have orings to keep the air from coming out as fast.

08-25-2011, 11:58 AM	#9
Chevrolet Customer Svc Drives: GM Vehicles Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Michigan Posts: 9,327	What some of you may want to do is see if getting the TPMS systems relearned to your tires and see if that might help the situation. If that doesn't work having your vehicles checked out by your dealers probably wouldn't be a bad idea and it should be a quick trip as well just to check that the sensors are working properly. I found that the matching process for the sensors for the 2011 Camaro are in section 10 on page 63. I hope that helps all of you. Jeff Morris, Chevrolet Customer Service

08-26-2011, 08:40 PM	#10
Corpus Drives: 2011 Camaro SS Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Goodrich, Michigan Posts: 1	i fill mine with 76 percent nitrogen and 20 percent oxygen and 4 percent of other stuff and it seems to work ok

09-02-2011, 08:39 PM	#11
PUNISHER Drives: 2SS/M6 IBM CGM Stripes Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Lampasas, Texas Posts: 84	Corpus, that sounds alot like regular air.....

09-03-2011, 10:33 PM	#14
Bill Waters Drives: 2011 RS/SS; 1965 Cobra Factory Five Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Carrollton, Georgia Posts: 38	I have a very accurate digital racing tire gauge (0.01lb is accuracy rating!) and the inboard tire gauges are spot-on on my 2011 SS/RS. I have an assortment of gauges that I thought were adequate, but now that I have a "gold standard" for comparison, I have found that all of these gauges are off by at least three pounds. Suggest getting an accurate gauge and compare your onboard sensors with that and you're done. HTH