Difficulty getting tyre pressure reading

[Eric Bloodaxe]

Just been checking the tyres on the Mrs's SEAT Mii and found, as usual, it was really difficult to get a steady reading without air blowing out, as if the gauge is not seating properly. 

This has been the same since new, all 4 wheels, so I'm pretty sure there's no damage to the valves or tyres (Conti 165/70x14), and it happens whichever gauge I use, be It an ancient Schrader type, an accutyre digital, or a Halfords own brand digital, all of which work perfectly first time on the Mich PS4s on my Fiesta. Once correctly inflated the tyres hold pressure perfectly normally.

I always manage to get a reading in the end after faffing about, but anyone got any thoughts as to why these particular tyres/valves should be so awkward? If it was just one I'd put it down to a faulty/sticky valve, but all 4 from new? 

[TomsFocus]

Does the Mii not have TPMS as standard?  

I've never had or heard of this issue myself, I reckon you're right in that it's a dodgy valve, but a whole dodgy batch of valves fitted when new.  Most people don't bother checking pressures and get through tyres so quickly that they'd be replaced within a couple of years.

[Eric Bloodaxe]

3 hours ago, TomsFocus said:

Does the Mii not have TPMS as standard?  

It doesn't have much at all as standard!😀 The Mrs is not a car person and requires the smallest, least powerful car we can find with as little technology as possible!

Plus of course, even if you have TPMS,  if you get a low pressure warning you still have to pump up the tyres and check them with a gauge as the inbuilt gauges in filling station air pumps or foot pumps cannot be relied upon to be accurate in my experience.

[TomsFocus]

6 hours ago, Eric Bloodaxe said:

It doesn't have much at all as standard!😀 The Mrs is not a car person and requires the smallest, least powerful car we can find with as little technology as possible!

Plus of course, even if you have TPMS,  if you get a low pressure warning you still have to pump up the tyres and check them with a gauge as the inbuilt gauges in filling station air pumps or foot pumps cannot be relied upon to be accurate in my experience.

TPMS (or at least DDS) is a legal requirement these days, I wasn't sure how old the car was.

I must admit, I rarely check mine with a guage and do rely on the forecourt pump to be reasonably accurate lol.  They haven't been far off when I have checked them...but then, I don't know how accurate my guage might be either!

 

[iantt]

11 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

TPMS (or at least DDS) is a legal requirement these days, I wasn't sure how old the car was.

I must admit, I rarely check mine with a guage and do rely on the forecourt pump to be reasonably accurate lol.  They haven't been far off when I have checked them...but then, I don't know how accurate my guage might be either!

 

Not very accurate.lol 

Gauge/inflator I use at work is a digital one that's calibrated every 6 months. Other Mickey mouse guages/inflators can be way out compared. 

[Eric Bloodaxe]

48 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

TPMS (or at least DDS) is a legal requirement these days, I wasn't sure how old the car was. 

It was registered at the end of Sept 2014, just before the TPMS became a mandatory fitment in November. It's one less warning light for Mrs B to worry about!😀