Tire pressure indicators - accurate?

The dash info panel on my Chevy says the tire pressures are 31-32 psi. Recommended pressure is 35 psi on all four tires. When I put the compressor attachment on the tires and fill them, the attachment gauge reads 36 psi. A separate gauge also reads 36 psi. So, are both gauges wrong or are the tire pressure indicators wrong? Or is that much variation allowable. I don' want the tires to be underinflated, for gas mileage reasons, but overinflating the tires wouldn't seem to be wise either.
 
They can and do go bad. Unfortunately fairly costly to replace and a pain to replace as well. Another modern gizmo we really didn't need.
 
I have a German Draeger tire pressure gauge from the 1970s that's very accurate. I've found the TPS readings to be within a couple of PSI of the Draeger. I've also found most tire pressure gauges to be quite a bit off, some five PSI or more!
 
I used to think I didn't need them too ,but on the wifes and daughters cars it has saved them from being stranded from alerting us to a slow leak caused by objects in the tires. I am likening them more and more.
 
I have found on my '08 that the computer readings can be off a few pounds. I suspect in your case with two different gauges agreeing I would trust them more. The sending units in each wheel has a battery that weakens with time.
 
I like them. On my wife's Chrysler T&C, when any one tire gets down to 31 pounds, it beeps and the warning appears. A tire doesn't get very low before you're alerted. I run the tires at 36 pounds.
 
My '08 Mazda pick-up has the sensors (and a whack of idjit lites). Put new rubber on when I bought it, and the kid that mounted the tires overinflated them. I was at stamping my feet 'cause I had a ferry to catch home. They had a tool for reset, but still managed to miss my ferry. Anyhoo, a while ago an idjit lite came on and I had forgotten my specs. (20 klics to town - gambled) - took it to my tire guy and yep ! all 4 were down 2#. I did get shirt for not checking.
 
(quoted from post at 16:38:28 08/24/16) On minivans getting the spare out is a giant PIA - especially on the side of the road.

To say nothing about the size and mileage that the 'spare' is good for. If you need a real tire for a spare, it'll take up the space of a passenger- no place to hand it under the auto.
 
The ones that I have seen are right on.

Cannot say that about hand held tire pressure gauges, though.

Dean
 
Well many models they have quit putting spare tires into them. But who wants to mess around changing tires in the road and in the rain ?
 
at our rural electric annual meeting, they gave all the attendees an electronic pressure gauge, member service guy told me they paid 75 bucks each for them. That thing is amazing, goes from zero to 150 lbs. Is really accurate from 7 lbs in atv tires to 100 lbs on truck tires. Don't think I will check fluid filled tractor tires with it tho.
 

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