TPMS vs gauge pressure - are yours in sync?

[Pop2020]

Quick question, I finally got around to checking tire pressure with a gauge and the difference was 7-8 pounds higher with a gauge than what the TPMS was showing. Like others I found my pressure with a gauge to be 43-45 pounds while the TPMS was showing 37-39.

This is the first vehicle I've had that shows the TPMS pressures on the display. Others have just had the indicator light when pressure gets low. What "margin of error" should I expect between a gauge and TPMS?

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[Johnkn]

Are you using a $3 air pressure gauge like many people have?


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[jsus]

Do you trust that gauge? If so, why?

Did you double check with another gauge? Need to know which is more reliable. If the TPMS sensors are faulty, that's a warranty issue that your dealer will address.

 

[Freckles]

I have found that the TPMS is not accurate. I have a tire pressure gauge from a highly reputable company, and there is always a difference of 1-3 psi between the two. I trust the gauge over the TPMS.....and this is true for all 3 of my vehicles with TPMS.

 

[commadorebob]

TPMS seems to run 1 PSI higher on my wife's Escape which has the same exact tire size as the Lariat. I use a Ryobi air pump that allows me to set the exact PSI and jacking them up to 35 caused them all to register as 36psi on the FordPass app. So, I have mentally taken that into account when I look at the readings.

 

[Pop2020]

Are you using a $3 air pressure gauge like many people have?


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It's a "Slime" branded digital tire gauge. I haven't tried with the old stick-type gauge, but I'm inferring from the questions that followed my original post that the consensus is that the TPMS should be within +/- 1 pound or two of the gauge pressure.

I'll compare my stick gauge and the digital one and see what I get.

 

[crgator]

My Mav is my second vehicle with TPMS that shows the tire pressure. Both seem to be within +/- 1 psi, maybe 2. I periodically check with my tire gauge, then just check the TPMS while driving to make sure all tires have equal pressure. Of course, you should check your tires cold, and TPMS takes a couple miles to display, and they have warmed up a bit then, thus higher pressure.

 

[Darnon]

I'd trust what is essentially 4 individual gauges (each TPMS) more than 1 gauge in the case of a discrepancy like that.

 

[Pop2020]

OK, I'll do more "research." I was skeptical that the TPMS would be off that much and figure it is either a gauge issue or a "timing" issue. Manual says after inflating that it may take two minutes of driving for new air pressures to be registered.

 

[SLINGSHOT]

Like the MPG dash readout. I have NEVER had a vehicle that agreed with an absolutely accurate spreadsheet. The cars are always a BIT(?) optimistic. Could it possibly be that they want us to feel better about the mileage??

 

[Pop2020]

Well, guys, thanks for the prodding. I tried two "old fashioned" stick gauges yesterday and yes, it was a gauge problem. My digital gauge was running about 6 lbs high at the 35-40 lb range. Oddly, it was less than a pound high at the lower end (mower tires - 15lbs).

Stick gauges within 1 lb of the TPMS. This also saves me a trip later this week to Discount Tire because I thought one of my TPMS sensors on my 2012 Highlander was faulty.

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