Customer Reviews

Accutire MS-4350B Programmable Digital Tire Gauge

5 star:		(111)
4 star:		(67)
3 star:		(21)
2 star:		(24)
1 star:		(56)

 

 

I agree with the other reviewers who said this product needs an o-ring. I found it very difficult to get it to seal on the tire valve stem, but with the o-ring it works perfectly. (Why they don't manufacture it that way I don't know). But by getting an inexpensive o-ring from Ace Hardware you have a product that is outstanding. Another reviewer said the size o-ring he bought was 1/4 x 1/8 x 1/16. However I found this size was too small and didn't fit. I had to get 5/16 x 3/16 x 1/16, and it's a perfect fit. And with tax it cost me a mere .18 cents. An easy modification well worth it.

I bought an O-ring at Ace Hardware [stk no.35774B] and this ring fits perfectly into the inside of the sensor. Around the hole which makes contact with the metal tire stem. Walla ! the leak problem has stopped and one gets a very tight fit onto the stem curing the problem.
The exact size of the this rubber O-ring 1/4 x 1/8 x 1/16. [#60 O-ring]
at Ace Hardware. So one does not even need to cut or glue this thing to make it work. Give it a try! Cure the problem for sure. The part cost me
.74 cents.

The Accutire "Setpoint Tire Gauge," model MS-4350B from "MSI Sensors" (aka "MS-4350: Digital Set Point Programmable..." from "Measurement Specialties"), UPC 1550710566, has seven nice features. First, it's easy to hold. The bottom of the larger-than-usual body is rubberized, and the shape allows you to firmly press it onto a tire valve stem with a thumb. Second, there is an LED light activated by a big round button on the back. Third, the screen is backlit and the numbers are large. Fourth, there is no need to turn it on/off. Instead, you can push the nozzle onto the valve, and it displays the measurement; about 15 seconds later, it turns itself off. Fifth, it beeps when an accurate reading is taken. Sixth, the two CR2032 lithium batteries will presumably last a long time, and can be replaced if they wear out. Finally, if you keep forgetting how much air is needed, you can program separate front & rear target pressures.

UNFORTUNATELY, it's hard to obtain a solid seal on valves. It's the same problem noted here and in reviews of "Accutire MS-4000B Deluxe Backlit Lithium Digital Tire Gauge" on Amazon.com. One September 24, 2004, review there by "Crazy Dude" says "because you're pressing plastic (the gauge) against metal (the tire air stem), you must hold it perfectly flush or air will escape, making a reading difficult to get."

So to improve my gauge I more-or-less followed the instructions of "Crazy Dude," which were: "I used '3M Scotch linerless rubber splicing tape.' The thickness is important. I used .03 in. (.761mm). I wouldn't go any thicker. ... All you need to do is cut it to the diameter of the inside of the gauge's mouth, then cut out a small hole for the air hole."

Since my home has no rubber tape, I took a wide pink rubber band (from a bunch of broccoli) about 0.75mm thick. I cut a gasket about 7.5mm diameter with a 3mm hole and glued it in place. Now it works like a charm. If you have the time to make this modification, buy it from Amazon.com!

The progammable features are nice, but I should have listened to the other reviews. Those folks that said this gauge doesn't make a good seal with the tire were right on the money. The first time I tried it I let at least 5-6 psi out of the tire. After playing with it for about 20min, I still could only get a good seal after letting about 2-3 seconds of air out of the tire. This thing stinks and I would not recommend it to anyone.

I can't believe that so many people rate this thing so highly. And I also can't believe that more people don't complain about how non-user friendly it is!

For one thing, you should be able to turn it on and use it, not have to go through several screens just to check your tire pressure! After you program it, when you turn it on the display should immediately come on to the part where you can check either the front or back tire pressure, without having to go through several screens just to get to the one you need.

Moreover, I'm surprised that Charles T. Walsh was the only reviewer who wrote "What's worse is that when it beeps (to tell you that you have a good reading) if you don't immediately remove it, I mean a flash fast muscle twitch reaction, it resets itself and erases the reading it just took." How true, Charles! The thing resets itself so quickly (forcing you to go through the cumbersome task of once again going through several screens just to get to the one to read your tire pressure) that after trying it several times, I also gave up and just used my good old manual standby.

O'well. Different strokes for different folks, I guess!

I recently ordered one of these but was a little concerned about some of the earlier reviews stating that you needed to add an O-ring or gasket to get the gauge to seal properly on the tire stem. The one I received has a rubber gasket and seals easily on the stem. They also took off the transparent sticker on the display that was confusing some purchaser.

The unit works very nicely and is a very good value at the price.

I read many of the reviews on Amazon before purchasing the Accutire MS-4350B. Several reviewers mentioned the difficulty getting the gauge to seal well because of the absence of a rubber o-ring (and several of those bought o-rings from a hardware store to remedy this problem). Others mentioned that Accutire has now started to make these gauges with factory-installed o-rings. I was glad to receive mine with this apparently important modification. Nevertheless, when I tried it on my first tire, I didn't get the angle right immediately, so quite a bit of air escaped. It took the simplest of adjustments to fix this problem. I USED TWO HANDS. By doing so, I could minimize wiggling to the right or left and could easily apply enough force to seal it up right away. It's not necessary to go into contortions to see the reading while applying the gauge because, within a few seconds, it beeps to let you know an accurate reading has been obtained. It continues to display the reading for about ten seconds after removing the gauge from the tire. I didn't really miss the absence of an air release valve, since I found it was easy to purposely over-inflate each tire a bit and then let the air out in 0.5 increments by just holding the gauge at a slight angle. Very precise. This gauge is the easiest to use of any I've ever had. I hope it has a long life.

It takes some getting used to in terms of getting the seal to sit right on top. So it isn't dummy-proof. The other reviewers are correct that they could have made the seal better. But once you get the hang of it (the right angle with your valve stem) it is fine. The earlier ones they made were pretty good too. But this is excelletn for the price. My only quibble is that it is a bit bulky. In this day and age, they could reduce the size a bit. And if you have an O-ring that fits, all the better.

Ok, based on the reviews I did buy this and initially tried this on my honda civic brdigestone potenza tires and guess what the air leaks all the time. there are only handful of instances where in the air doesnt leak.

I really do appreciate the big blue screen and beep when the measuring ais accurate and all that HOWEVER if it doesnt do it basic job without leaving lot of air from the tire all the cosmetics is useless

Keep in mind though I amde 2 trips to different ace hardware stores and I got the 5/16X3/16X1/16 and also the other o-ring smaller than this and still I was not able to get the tire reading properly. The funny thing is after I glued the o-ring in to the guage, it doesnt even allow me to take the reading. Really hopeless

I really recommed to shop around for a better gauge and please do not waste your time and money on this one like I did. I went to wlamrt and bought a 87 cent menchanical one and is works jsut fine...I am all digital and stuff but until I get a good one Iam sticking to this mechanical one which SERVES the purpose

Ofcourse I returned it.

i tried out this digital tire gauge and did like it at all. the nozzle doesnt cover the tire stem very well and as a result a lot of air leaks out while you are trying to read the tire pressure.