TPMS Accuracy

[wpm]

Afternoon All,

How accurate is the TPMS on the R1300GSA?
I pumped up my tyres Front 36Psi and rear 42Psi with an electric pump that cuts of when it reaches the desired pressure, then checked this with a pleasure gauge and spot on 36 and 42 but my TPMS is reading 38 and 44. which should I trust?

 

[wessie]

read the manual to how TPMS works. TPMS use pressure and temperature to give a reading. It adjusts the pressure reading to tell you what the pressure would be if the ambient is 20C (I think this is the default).

TPMS is more to do with detecting a leak when riding. Always use a pressure gauge to set tyre pressures and alter with the season.

 

[RedRick Esq.]

TPMS is a PITA

It isn't that it is inaccurate but it rarely matches to your gauge so one or other is clearly wrong and you have to decide which and compensate accordingly.

I have an expensive gauge that is allegedly calibrated to +/- 0.1LLBs PSI and that is what i rely on when i do the pressures.

The thing i rely on most with TPMS is letting me know when the tyres are up to temp as the PSI increases significantly over cold as they warm up.

My tip is find the pressure you like riding on rather than the so called industry standard of 36/42 and use the gauge if it is a good one, if it isnt get one,

Also the last time i had a puncture the TPMS warned me but in truth my sphincter felt it first

 

[Guru Gora]

TPMS is great for showing a marked decrease in pressure. Essentially a warning system.

For setting and checking TP Id always use a decent gauge.

 

[Engineer]

TPMS gives you the pressure of the tyres as if the temperature was 20/21C which is the reference temperature used by the tyre and bike manufacturer.

So if you fill your tyres at the reference temperature then both your gauge and the TPMS should agree within 1/2 psi. If you fill at a lower or higher temperature they will not agree because of this:-

The ideal gas equation is expressed as PV = nRT, where P is the pressure of the gas, V is its volume, n is the number of moles, R is the ideal gas constant, and T is the absolute temperature in Kelvin.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ideal_gas_law.

You should, ideally fill your tyres at 20/21 C but of course that is not always practical. If you fill your tyres on a cold day, they will be overpressure when the temperature rises.

And of course always RTFM

 

[MIKE R]

I recently posted a very simular question.

Thread 'TPMS Recalibration?'

Mar 6, 2026

I've just inflated my tyres to 36psi front and 42 rear using (what I believe to be) an accurate tyre pressure guage. Unfortunately when riding the tyre pressures on the TFT are showing 42F, 53R. When I inflated the tyres the ambient temperature was about 10-12 degrees centigrade and I fully understand that the TMPS compensates to give a readout that the pressure would be at 20 degrees C. To me this seems t obe to big a varience. The bike handles perfectly.

I'm going for a service in 10 days time and will ask them to check the accuracy of the TMPS readout. If they confirm that the...

• MIKE R
• Replies: 16
• Forum: 1300 GS

I'm at the dealers omorrow for a service so I'll ask the question and report back

 

[logman203]

TPMS is a PITA

It isn't that it is inaccurate but it rarely matches to your gauge so one or other is clearly wrong and you have to decide which and compensate accordingly.

I have an expensive gauge that is allegedly calibrated to +/- 0.1LLBs PSI and that is what i rely on when i do the pressures.

The thing i rely on most with TPMS is letting me know when the tyres are up to temp as the PSI increases significantly over cold as they warm up.

My tip is find the pressure you like riding on rather than the so called industry standard of 36/42 and use the gauge if it is a good one, if it isnt get one,

Also the last time i had a puncture the TPMS warned me but in truth my sphincter felt it first

Hi there, which tyre pressure gauge do you use?

Thanks
Tony

 

[RedRick Esq.]

Hi there, which tyre pressure gauge do you use?

Thanks
Tony

I think it is a Michelin digital type affair
When I say expensive it was about £40 a good few years ago but supposed to be very accurate and calibrated etc

Not sure they still make it but it looks a bit like this

Michelin Digital Tyre Pressure Gauge : Amazon.co.uk: Electronics & Photo

Michelin Digital Tyre Pressure Gauge : Amazon.co.uk: Electronics & Photo

www.amazon.co.uk

 

[JJH]

I think it is a Michelin digital type affair
When I say expensive it was about £80 a good few years ago but supposed to be very accurate and calibrated etc

Calibration is usually for 1 year then has to be tested by a certified technician. JJH

 

[RedRick Esq.]

Calibration is usually for 1 year then has to be tested by a certified technician. JJH

Yes I get that but at least it was once calibrated and I cant see it going off by very much

Oddly the most reliable and accurate gauge I have ever had was a very old pencil type thing which was also a Michelin that I inherited from my dad about 40 years ago and it still lives under my seat - it is always bang on when I compare it with any other gauge

 

[wessie]

Yes I get that but at least it was once calibrated and I cant see it going off by very much

Oddly the most reliable and accurate gauge I have ever had was a very old pencil type thing which was also a Michelin that I inherited from my dad about 40 years ago and it still lives under my seat - it is always bang on when I compare it with any other gauge

I have an Avon pencil gauge that my father was given in the 1960s at some sort of truck show. I trust it more than the TPMS and other elctronic gauges.

The accuracy of the gauge is immaterial as it is a reference point to get consistency once you have worked out the best tyre pressure compromise between handling and comfort. The 36/42 often given in a manual is only a guide and few people will notice a 1 psi difference as this happens every day with changes in ambient conditions and riding enthusiasm.

 

[RedRick Esq.]

I have an Avon pencil gauge that my father was given in the 1960s at some sort of truck show. I trust it more than the TPMS and other elctronic gauges.

The accuracy of the gauge is immaterial as it is a reference point to get consistency once you have worked out the best tyre pressure compromise between handling and comfort. The 36/42 often given in a manual is only a guide and few people will notice a 1 psi difference as this happens every day with changes in ambient conditions and riding enthusiasm.

here we go as yes I agree
The 36/42 is stated regardless of where in the world you are be that temperature wise or altitude wise, How fat you are or how light or what sort of riding style you have so its all bollocks - find the right pressure for you and the bike and stick to it using the gauge and TPMS accordingly

Like I said I use TPMS to judge when the tyres are up to temp

I cant remember who did it but some guru did a video about it that made a lot of sense