can a tire valve cause a bad pressure reading?

[Jersey mike]

2 weeks ago I went out for a ride. before leaving I did a pre-trip since it was about a month since my last ride and the temps have been changing regularly. When I checked my tire pressure, the rear was at 37lbs but the front was at 27lbs. the front looked normal, felt normal to the touch and didn't sound low on air when i hit it w/ a round stick, so I checked my truck tires and car tires w/ the same pressure gauge and all those tires were at the pressure I have them set to.

I went back and checked the tire again and it was 27lbs so I inflated to 40lbs (Metzler ME880's) and did the rear too.

On that ride the front didn't feel right, but it was 50 degrees out. the front felt hard and wanted to push out on turns and leans.

today I went out and again I did a pre-trip and again the front was at 27lbs but I didn't touch it and it rode the same as the previous trip. I checked the tire for nails or anything to puncture it but nothing.

I double checked my air gauge with 2 other gauges and they were all within 1 lb of each other again on my truck...running 43 lbs all around and my camry running 33 lbs all around.

the valve stem didn't leak w/ the bubble test and the cap is on to prevent crap getting in and the valve releases air when pressed.

I'm wondering do I;

A) deflate the tire to almost flat and refill to proper 40lbs

or

replace valve

any thoughts or comments would be helpful

[sandy]

You don't mention the type and age of your valves. I'd guess after all your checking that 27 PSI is correct. I'd replace the stem with a new screw in stem. Then you'll never have to replace that one again.

[gordonv]

When I first bought my Honda VT1100T with the valve stem support, and I checked the rear tire pressure, I thought I was doing it wrong, so tried repeatedly, until I broke the stem support.

Why was I trying again and again? Because I was getting different readings, and felt each time I wasn't seated properly. In the end, the tire was low, like 20 psi low.

But since then, I no longer use a push on type gauge to check pressure, I use a screw on type. It's also part of my electric pump, so if I don't like what I see, I can turn on the pump.

[da prez]

  Try changing the valve core. The little piece in the middle (for those who do not know). What ever type you take out , replace it with a different style. There is one that is long with an exposed spring and one that is short with no spring visable.  I usually use  the short one. They have a more positive seat.   Also consider a sealing valve cap , not a plastic one. A good metal cap has an O-ring inside to seal the stem.  Just be sure you have soap checked all sealing areas and soap check the entire tire and rim. There have been cases of rims leaking from small cracks that let out some pressure but close at some point.

                                                da prez

[98valk]

air gauges for the most part are inaccurate, due to changing atmospheric conditions and basically they are not calibrated.
I use a digital gauge which compensates. search my posts from a few yrs ago.

[Cracker Jack]

air gauges for the most part are inaccurate, due to changing atmospheric conditions and basically they are not calibrated.
I use a digital gauge which compensates. search my posts from a few yrs ago.

How does atmospheric conditions affect the accuracy of a gauge?? Never heard that one before.

Don't make no sense to me.

[Steel cowboy]

Mike are your tires balanced with dyna beads. They can jam up in the valve and give bad air pressure readings or leak air out. Just a thought.

[Ricky-D]

If you are not using a digital tire pressure gauge, you are living in the "stone age".

***

[john]

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