Review of Michelin Tyre Pressure Gauges

At Carblogger we have been testing a range of Michelin digital tyre pressure gauges. It is often when at the garage getting fuel, you think I must check my tyre pressures, then notice someone is using the machine so put it off until next visit.

Its important to check our tyre pressure regularly, not only the safety aspect but an underinflated tyre will cause you to use more fuel, as well shorten the life span of your tyres. Overinflated tyres are also equally bad, as it will cause the tyre to have a smaller contact patch. This is the the part of the tyre that makes contact with the road which can lead to a loss of traction and poorer braking distances. The tyres will also wear heavily and unevenly across the central part of the tyre. Either way it will shorten the life of the tyre.

We tested three different Michelin digital tyre pressure gauges. The first being the Custom Programmable Digital Tyre Pressure Gauge CUS12279. Although this is the most expensive of the three its not hard to see why. It feels well made, the alloy body has a nice rubber cushion to grip, and comes with a very easy to read backlit screen. You have the option to pre-programme the cars recommended (front and Rear) Pressures into the gauge. I tested it on my vehicle and it preformed well, providing very accurate pressure readings and the screen is easy to read in both daylight and when its dark. It also comes provided with a sturdy case, that’s helpful for safe storage in your vehicle or toolbox.

The second one tested was the Michelin 12278 model, this one is more of a compact design, but still with an easy to view LCD screen although not backlit. Its very easy to use, as the gauge only activates when placed onto the tyre valve. The 12278 model provided accurate readings during numerous testing. Due to the smaller compact design makes it easy to store virtually anywhere within the car.

The third and final one is the Michelin 12275 key chain tyre pressure gauge. This is especially useful if you have access to more than one vehicle as it can be kept on your keying to use when required. Although it a more basic it still has a LCD screen and a very useful LED light for use at night. As with the previous models the gauge automatically activates when placed on a tyre valve. This also insures the lithium cell battery included is not drained unnecessarily. The readings from the 12275 were also within range of the other tests in providing an accurate tyre pressure reading.