I hear you on the backlight—trying to squint at a dial gauge under a streetlamp is just asking for trouble. I’ll admit, I was stubborn about sticking with my old-school pencil gauge for years. Had one in the glovebox since my first car. But last winter, after fumbling around in freezing rain and getting a reading that was way off, I caved and picked up a digital one. Still double-check it sometimes, just out of habit, but it’s been pretty spot-on so far. Guess tech’s finally catching up to my skepticism...
- Totally get the old-school loyalty—my dad swore by his pencil gauge too.
- I’m still not 100% sold on digital either, but the backlight is a game changer when you’ve got three kids in the car and it’s raining sideways.
- Still keep the analog as backup though... just feels wrong to toss it.
- Anyone else notice digital ones eat batteries faster in winter, or am I just cursed?
Still keep the analog as backup though... just feels wrong to toss it.
I hear you on that—my old stick gauge has lived in the glove box longer than some of my cars. There’s just something about that click and hiss that feels right. As for digital ones draining batteries in winter, you’re not alone. Mine always seems to die when it’s freezing and I’m fumbling with gloves. Maybe it’s just the cold, or maybe they’re all a bit finicky. Either way, I’d never ditch the analog backup.
Honestly, I’ve seen too many folks stranded because their fancy digital gadgets quit in the cold. Analog’s not pretty, but it works when you need it. Had a claim last winter—guy’s tire pressure light came on, he pulls out his digital gauge, dead as a doornail. He calls roadside, and here’s the kicker: Progressive sent someone out just to check his tire pressure and air him up. Didn’t even need a tow.
If you’re paying for roadside, don’t forget you can use it for little stuff like that. People think it’s just for breakdowns or flats, but they’ll come out for low tire pressure or even if you lock yourself out. I’d still keep the analog gauge handy, though. Batteries don’t care about your schedule, and neither does winter.
Honestly, I learned this the hard way last semester. My car’s tire pressure warning popped up right before a big exam. I had one of those digital gauges—looked cool, but it was totally dead. Didn’t even think about the cold draining batteries that fast.
- Ended up calling Progressive roadside, half expecting them to say no, but they sent someone out in like 30 minutes.
- The guy checked all my tires with his own (analog) gauge and topped them off.
- Didn’t need a tow, just a little air.
I used to think roadside was just for when you’re stuck on the side of the highway, but it’s way more useful than that. Like you said:
People think it’s just for breakdowns or flats, but they’ll come out for low tire pressure or even if you lock yourself out.
Now I keep an old-school gauge in my glovebox. Not as fancy, but at least it doesn’t care if it’s freezing out. Digital stuff is great until it isn’t... analog just works.
