I spent some time researching tire depth gauges, from pencil to digital, and found that everyone had problems with every design. Pencil styles are harder to read, less precise, etc., but they're cheap. The digital ones are easy to read, but the batteries always seem to run out when you need them. I thought I'd buy a pencil from a local store for a few bucks when I found this one. I don't think the photos do it justice as it feels a lot heavier in the hand than it looks. It is metal with a clear plastic front. The pin at the tip is depressed to plunge the tool into the guard and take readings. It's significantly easier to read than a pencil style with digital precision. I can read a tire to within 1/4 of 1/32 of an inch. So if the gauge reads 32 inches midway between 3 and 4, I can read the measurement as 3.5/32"32". No guesses, no estimates. It's pretty damn easy and accurate compared to my digital caliper. The only thing I don't like is that I really wish it had some sort of carry case, case etc as my caliper needs to hold it securely. For $10 I guess I can't expect much, but the tool itself is undervalued at $10. It's not something you'll use all the time, but if you're checking tires for normal wear, odd plumage, and uneven wear during an oil change, you'll be glad you have a pressure gauge.