Hitting tires with hammer? Wtf

They're listening to the sound of the thump. A tire low on air pressure sounds dull. A full tire makes a slight pingy sound. If you hear one that sounds different, then you use the tire gauge.

 

You can't gauge a hot tire, you won't get an accurate reading. The sound of the thump from a hammer or mallet will tell you far more on a hot tire than a gauge will.

Gauge them when they are cold, thump 'em when they are hot.

 

@Zeviander & @MBAngel are both correct. I've been hitting my tires with a hammer for years and don't intend to stop anytime soon. I keep a hammer and a tire guage in my drivers side door. Both get used daily.

 

Just don't hit the tire with the claw end! LOL

 

Highest pressure I was able to discern as being a low tire was 63lbs using a 4 lb hammer. Which is pretty low.
Meaning, anything above that seemed okay using the hammer even though a tire could be up to 37 lbs low before you would notice it with a hammer.
But it still caught it before it blew.

 

Plus, in addition , gauging a tire actually has a chance to deflate the tire. Dirt gets in the stem, gauge opens the valve, but the dirt falls in and keeps the valve slightly open. Not a fast leak, but even with caps on it can drain a tire in a few hours.

 

Lol

 

Might want to go get your hearing checked and a hearing aid. I can easily tell the difference between 80 and 100 lbs Depending on conditions, I could tell 90 to 100 lbs, although I will admit that's rare.

 

If your trailer has a tire inflation system, can't use a gauge.