Ultra-Precise Digital Tire Gauge — When 'close' is just not good enough

So how exacting are you when it comes to putting air in your tires?

Oh, you never do that?

Okay.

For everyone else (I guess that'll be about six of you — but no matter) there's this ultra-precise (note that "precise" is not synonymous with "accurate" — more on that distinction below) racing tire gauge with clip-on chuck (wonderful feature), bleed valve and its own bespoke carrying case.

"The large, backlit LCD readout is supplemented by 1psi segments around the dial (imitating an analog gauge). The pressure reading is maintained until you press the 'bleed' button."

Details and Features:

• Dial type: Digital, plus LCD segments that mimic an analog readout

• Battery power: ultra-long-life lithium (included)

• Gauge reading increments: 0.1psi

• Hose length: 12", swiveling

• Gauge dial diameter: 2.5"

• Gauge range: 0-60psi

• Warranty: 5 years

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You may recall the high-end analog gauge (below)

featured here last month.

I bought that one and am delighted with it.

The reason I won't be upgrading to this more tricked-out version is what I alluded to above, i.e.: "precision" v "accuracy."

Just because you can measure something to a greater degree of precision — i.e., psi in 0.1 instead of 1.0 increments — doesn't mean the measurement is more accurate or informative.

In fact, quite the opposite is true in many cases.

For example, my portable blood pressure monitor will produce numbers varying by 10, 20 or 30mm Hg — sometimes more — every time I take successive readings.

Are they all correct?

All wrong?

Or is averaging them into a ballpark figure rounded off to the nearest 10 more likely than not to give the best approximation of the state of my circulation?

Yes, that's the case.

The myriad scientific studies concluding that results which are numerically close are in fact "significantly different" and therefore "prove" a drug is efficacious or better than an alternative are so much baloney (trust me, I've been there, done that and published more than a few).

As someone (Benjamin Disraeli? Mark Twain? Who knows) remarked a long, long time ago, "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics."

The digital gauge costs $59.95.

Note that at $4+ a gallon for gas you're leaving a significant amount of money on the table over time if you're driving on underinflated tires.

If I were making money off this gauge I'd say you'll earn back its price in no time flat (as it were).