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Topeak SmartGauge D2 Presta/Schrader Digital Pressure Gauge [Rider Review]

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Checking your tire pressure is an essential task before heading out on a ride, and an accurate pressure gauge is your friend in this situation. Topeak offers the SmartGuage with a digital interface. Our friend, Patrick, got their hands on one and has been trying it out. See what they think!

Overview

I use a Park Tool PFP-3 floor pump to inflate my tires. Sometimes I use it on my car and motorcycle tires, and I know from that experience that the pressure gauge is not very accurate. I use one of those pen-shaped gauges with the scale that slides out the end, and my floor pump reads about 39psi when the scale gauge reads 35psi. I recently built up a hardtail with wider tires that I have been running at lower pressures. I don’t have much experience with running low pressure, so I wanted to be able to base my choice of psi on recommendations found online. Since the Park gauge isn’t accurate, I wanted a better measurement method. The Topeak SmartGauge D2 had good reviews, so I ordered one from Worldwide Cyclery.

Operation of the SmartGauge is intuitive. Follow these steps:

Slide the switch on the end to either Presta or Schrader. This switch causes the brass piece in the center of the fitting to be firm for Schrader or able to be pushed inward for Presta.
Press the “Unit” button to cycle between psi, Bar and kg/cm2, as desired.
Firmly press the gauge onto the valve stem momentarily. The gauge captures the pressure reading and leaves it displayed on the screen even after the gauge is removed from the valve stem.

To adjust the tire pressure, press the “Tune” button and put the gauge back on the valve. The Tune setting causes the reading to flash and update live while you press the yellow bleed button repeatedly to let air out of the tire until you reach the desired pressure.
Hold the power button down for a few seconds to turn the gauge off. The gauge will also turn off on its own after being left idle for a little while.

Note: The head of the gauge can be swiveled through 180° to improve the viewing angle of the screen during use.

I compared a couple of readings of the SmartGauge to the gauge on my floor pump:

SmartGauge Floor Pump

20psi 25psi

36psi 40psi

My floor pump appears to be 4-5psi off, and this agrees with what I have found with my automotive pressure gauge.

If you use more than one pump, using a SmartGauge would be a good way to keep your tire pressure consistent, since it is likely that every pump gauge gives a unique reading.

The SmartGauge D2 is powered by a CR2032 battery, and is installed in the back of the unit by removing a cover with a coin.

At one point during testing, the gauge quit taking pressure readings. The screen was stuck at zero even after turning the power off and back on several times. It finally decided to start working again, but I’m not sure why, although the word “re-set” appeared briefly on the screen the last time I pressed the power button. Hopefully it continues working.