Customer Reviews

Accutire MS-4751B Digital and Programmable Tire Gauge with LED Flashlight

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

I assume that Amazon will directly be selling this product at some point in the future (1/2008 right now), so I wanted to take the time to review this product.

I purchased this product from Costco for Christmas (well, the wife did for me) ... price was about $15. The model number was MS-4751WC. I can't see a difference betweeen mine and the MS-4751B advertised here.

Correcting some specs that are in the description ... Range is 5-99 PSI, Accuracy is +/- 1% + 0.1 PSI. Resolution is .1 PSI. The unit uses two replaceable batteries (CR2032). The unit is extremely well built ... with a heavy solid feeling that probably comes from its 1/2 pound weight! The unit is 5-1/4" Long by 2-1/2" Wide by 1-1/4" Thick. There is a bright white LED light in the tip of the unit that works well. Strange is that neither the users guide nor the unit itself tells you the model number ... it is only on the cardboard in the blister pack. Perhaps it is under the battery compartment that is held on by a philips screw. The actual display is 1-1/2 in diameter. The unit comes with a nice zippered storage case.

The unit allows you to program in front and rear tire pressures, and then will indicate if your pressure is either high or low. It looks more like a marketing gimmick, but I did program the front tires for one car, and the rear for my other car so I don't forget the inflation pressures that I use.

The unit needs to be held onto the valve stem for 2-3 seconds before the unit beeps to tell you that the pressure is recorded. It stays on the screen for 10 seconds and displays with a nice blue LCD backlight display. Unlike other Accutire gauges, this one makes a great seal between the gauge and the valve stem with absolutely no hissing or loss of air. This was on different types of tire valve stems.

Overall I like the unit, although it's a tad on the large size. It fits my hand well and the outside has a nice rubber cushion to allow you to have a good grip. A definite 5 star rating in my book.

When i opened the box and took it out, i was impressed--it's heavy and fills your hand, the display is large and clear, the controls were easy to get to. It seemed very solid and robust.

The first thing i noticed that i didn't like was a small piece of dirt or debris under the glass of the display. It wasn't a deal breaker, but it caused me to think negatively of the workmanship.

I put it inside the case that comes with it, and zipped up the case. I thought how nice that was, a well padded case to keep it in. Wanting to take another look at it, i unzipped the case and took it out and turned it on and off, and admired how nice the display was. Then, i put it back in the case and zipped it up again--but it wouldn't zip up. The zipper had broken. The case was useless.

But still, it seemed nice in the sense of being sturdy and with the nice large clear display, and also, i liked the little flash light on the tip of it, for seeing valves in the dark. This was right after work at night and i was inside the house and didn't try it out yet.

Later that night i tried it on my tires. I had a hard time getting it to fit the valve. Lots of air escaped. sometimes it fit right on and took a reading, other times, i couldn't get a good fit.

Before it had arrived, i had bought locally a different brand, Accu-gage, it's a red colored one, similar shape, but not heavy and metallic feeling, more of a plastic feel, lighter. the display is also very easy to see, in red. It is much less elaborate than the one i got from Amazon, not programmable, no flashlight, although the tip does light up in red. The thing about this red one is, it's so easy to get a good fit on the valve with one hand, it's just about impossible to leak air unless you're trying to because you want to let a little air out. I got it at Pep Boys. The model number is DT 107, about $12.

Still i wanted to like the heavy one with the big clear display and the flashlight. I was handling it, sitting in my car, when i noticed the rubber was peeling away from the silver plastic in one place on the back of the unit, on the fat end that fits in the palm of your hand. It was coming apart.

I tried using it to check the pressure in my tires one more time, before putting air in them, and couldn't get it to fit on the valve--it was one of those times when it wouldn't fit. That was it. I decided to send it back. The red one would always be my Go To gauge. I don't need another one. If it was just the broken case, the dirt under the glass, and the rubber peeling away on the back, i would still keep it, if it worked well, but the problem of the air escaping and having to struggle with it to get a reading, and letting air out of the tires when i don't want to, that was the deal breaker.

I imagine some of the units of this model are fine--this seemed like the kind of thing where i got a bad one--a piece of dirt under the glass, an unusable storage case, rubber peeling away on the back--shoddy workmanship.

But i don't know if the difficulty getting a good fit would vary from unit to unit, or if that's just in the nature of the parts used. The other brand, the red one, is perfect every time. A completely different experience. It's the way a gauge should be, no hassle, no struggle, no aggravation, just take the pressure. And also well made, nothing falling apart.

To respond to some of the more common criticisms I see in the other reviews here, first of all, I have relatively small hands for a man, but I have had no difficulty in handling and using this air gauge. The round shape with rubberized grip, along with the weight of the unit, makes it very easy to handle and quite easy to push onto the valve stem of the tire. Once you've pushed it onto the valve stem, hold for 1 or 2 seconds and the unit will beep and give you the reading. Very simple with large, easy to read display with blue lighted background and a light button mounted like a trigger to illuminate the valve stem in dark conditions. Overall, a really rock solid product that works extremely well, easy to use, and appears to be very accurate in measurement. I can highly recommend this one.

Great little gauge with a big, easy to read display. It works well, providing consistent readings, and seems quite solidly built. The only flaw I've noticed is it doesn't include a bleed valve or other means to let air out of tires when they're over-inflated. A nuisance, not a show-stopper, but it is a strange ommission on a more deluxe product like this. Even the cheapest pencil gauges include a stud or pointed tip.

July 28, 2009 UPDATE
It has been about 15 months since receiving this gauge and I still find it does the job well. It has its own spot in the garage and it gets used often or no less than once a month. I have read where others did not like it for one reason or another; however, without equivocation I would buy this again. It is well worth the money.

Some of you may agree that when you get old you often need numbers that you can see without having to get assistance. This gizmo does just that and it works well. I had no problem getting it to work and it did a fine job. Still does actually. It fits your hand well. It is easy to operate even after reading the instructions that were well written. Buy again? You bet.

I owned the earlier version of the MS-4445B and it finally broke while taking readings in the rain. I ordered the MS-4445B along with the MS-4751WC to do a product comparison. Both have a nice bright backlight for night time readings. Both have front and rear tire programmable settings. Both have the same 2 tone color. Other than price, there are a few differences. The talking feature of the MS-4445B is more of a novelty for those who want to impress children. The MS-4751WC has the "Low" and "High" feature for those who failed math. The main difference is the size and case. I prefer the MS-4445B because it is slim, sleek, and has a pistol grip, but it comes with an oversized case. The MS-4751WC has a nice carrying case that fits like a glove, but is pretty bulky. If you have large manly hands, this gauge may fit nicely in your palm. But, if your valve stem is hard to get to, like between spokes or something, forget about it. This gauge is too fat for some rims; it is nearly impossible to take a reading. But, if your valve stem is easily accessible, and you like that bulky look, this is the gauge for you. Both gauges did well as far as the readings were concerned, but this one ended up in my wife's Denali to fit that "bulky" profile. I've heard that using tape solves the perfect seal issue for both gauges. I have not resorted to that method, luckily. Maybe it is because I was use to the less forgiving older model that I can take a perfect reading most of the time. If you press the gauge down perpendicular to the pin, you should not have a problem taking a reading. Beware, any slight degree off 90 may bring on some frustration. This is common for this bulky fellow.

The unit works great except that I can't use it on my truck. The way it is shaped is odd and it will not seat on the valve stems on my truck, because the big round part hits the center caps. My rims are not small, it's just that it's a 4X4 and the center caps stick out farther than the average car center caps. Other than that it works great on my Wife's car.

I really like that you set the pressure you want for your tires and it remembers them. Having a couple of vehicles I always want to double check the values, and this is perfect for that.
What is really good about this gauge, is it is big, it has a nice sweeping design and the screen is very easy to read.

Unfortunately the bad with this gauge are the same, due to its size and swoop design I can not use this with my motorcycle. There is just not enough room to get this gauge onto my stems with a decent fit, instead I end up just leaking huge amounts of air and not having any confidence in the reading.

This is a very nice two handed gauge, but it will not work universally and no matter how nice it is, if it can not determine your pressure it is of no use.

It does seem very accurate, but it takes some practice to position it correctly to get a seal.

The included LED light is a great idea and is surprisingly useful. It is bright enough and points in the right direction to help you use the gauge in poor lighting.

I've tended to avoid checking my car's tire pressure because until I got the Accutire gauge, it was such a hassle. I found it to be a hassle for two reasons: 1) I can't read other gauges without my reading glasses (the only kind I wear), and having to get my glasses from wherever they are in the car and put them on and then move from tire to tire with reading glasses on that make it hard for me to see things that aren't up close - just a hassle and I find peering over the reading glasses in that situation a hassle, and 2) I've had a problem with every single gauge I've used except the Accutire getting it seated just right on the valve stem. I've used standard pen-sized gauges as well as gauges that have a hose attached to a dial-readout. Sometimes I've managed to let more air out of my tires when attempting to fill them than I've managed to put in.

For me, the Accutire has changed all that. I can easily read the dial without my reading glasses, and I can easily get the gauge seated on the tire stem without deflating the tire in the process. I bought it right before a road trip during which I put about 1500 miles on my car, and the tires were well inflated the whole time - because checking the pressure was so unintimidating - and the ride certainly felt better. I bet I saved some gas too. Now, for the first time in my life really (and I'm pushing 60), I actually look forward to checking my tire pressure.