Nitrogen for Tires

[JYODER240]

I guess we're getting this at work. Can anyone here inform me of the pros and cons of it?

[Eye of the Tiger]

Nitrogen filled tires makes your car float on water.

Actually, they're good for the extreme temps encountered in racing since they'll maintain a desired pressure better than air.
It's overkill on street cars though.

[MX793]

Beyond the more consistant pressure @ temperature, nitrogen won't seep through rubber.  Some of the components of air with smaller molecules can slip through rubber, meaning that after a while your tires will lose some pressure.  Nitrogen molecules are too large to do so.

IMO, nitrogen in tires for the typical consumer is a waste of money and a gimmick.

[JYODER240]

So if I can get it for free on my car I should?

[280Z Turbo]

Nitrogen filled tires makes your car float on water.

I hear it can more than triple your fuel mileage.

[280Z Turbo]

Beyond the more consistent pressure @ temperature, nitrogen won't seep through rubber. Some of the components of air with smaller molecules can slip through rubber, meaning that after a while your tires will lose some pressure. Nitrogen molecules are too large to do so.

IMO, nitrogen in tires for the typical consumer is a waste of money and a gimmick.

The vast majority of our atmosphere is already nitrogen.

[heelntoe]

i'll do it when i can find the place that fills it. it's not much more expensive than normal air.

[Eye of the Tiger]

The vast majority of our atmosphere is already nitrogen.

yup

[S204STi]

The vast majority of our atmosphere is already nitrogen.

About 71% IIRC.

Don't do it unless it's free, and even then I would refuse out of principle.

[Soup DeVille]

There's always the Jim Hodges technique (a forklift mechanic at a place where I used to work):

Just fill all your tires with RTV sealant.

[MX793]

There's always the Jim Hodges technique (a forklift mechanic at a place where I used to work):

Just fill all your tires with RTV sealant.

Instant run-flats.

[Soup DeVille]

Instant run-flats.

Exactly- he claimed it was a technique used on wheeled armored vehicles during WWII.

He also said it didn't ruin the ride or make the tires weigh about 400 lbs each- but I can attest that he was lying through his ass about that one!

[S204STi]

Exactly- he claimed it was a technique used on wheeled armored vehicles during WWII.

He also said it didn't ruin the ride or make the tires weigh about 400 lbs each- but I can attest that he was lying through his ass about that one!

I wonder how much RTV was needed...probably several 1lbs tubes at least.

[Eye of the Tiger]

They make some kind of foam to fill up tires with. We had a guy put it in our backhoe once.

[Raza]

I fill my cars with a mixture of pure oxygen and liquid gold. 

[JYODER240]

I fill my cars with a mixture of pure oxygen and liquid gold.?

I fill mine with farts and sunshine

[280Z Turbo]

I fill my cars with a mixture of pure oxygen and liquid gold.

Yeah right.

Porsche owners don't fill their own tires. They have people for that.

[Raza]

Yeah right.

Porsche owners don't fill their own tires. They have people for that.

[Payman]

Nitrogen retains zero moisture. This is why aircraft tires are filled with it. If you want to save your expensive rims, nitro is the way to go.

[93JC]

About 71% IIRC.

Closer to 78%, actually.

[etypeJohn]

Nitrogen doesn't promote oxidation of the rubber so the ionside of the tire would last longer.  But for 99.99 percent of cars on the orad it soens't matter.  The outside rubber will deteriorate anyway and the tire tread wil wear out before the "benefits" of nitrogen are realized.  Most shop air compressors have in line water seperators so excess moisture in the normal air in tires really isn't a factor anyway.  I've got a water seperator on my home compressor system. If you have a compressor at home you should too.

Pros: Dubious claims of extended tire life. Bragging rights.  Stickers? 

Cons: Extra cost.  And compromised pure nitrogen the first time you top off your tire pressures anywhere else.

[S204STi]

Nitrogen doesn't promote oxidation of the rubber so the ionside of the tire would last longer.? But for 99.99 percent of cars on the orad it soens't matter.? The outside rubber will deteriorate anyway and the tire tread wil wear out before the "benefits" of nitrogen are realized.? Most shop air compressors have in line water seperators so excess moisture in the normal air in tires really isn't a factor anyway.? I've got a water seperator on my home compressor system. If you have a compressor at home you should too.

Pros: Dubious claims of extended tire life. Bragging rights.? Stickers??

Cons: Extra cost.? And compromised pure nitrogen the first time you top off your tire pressures anywhere else.

A lot of nitrogen users, when they come in for an oil change, will request that we not touch the tires because we don't use nitrogen.  So they have to make two trips, one to us for an oil change, and when we tell them that their precious nitrogen has leaked out (oh no!) and their tire pressure is 26psi, they then have to make a trip down to the tire shop where they bought the tires and nitrogen to get it refilled.  Yeah, it sure works great!

[Soup DeVille]

I wonder how much RTV was needed...probably several 1lbs tubes at least.

Somehow, he was able to order 50 lb kegs of the stuff.

[Soup DeVille]

OK, unless your wheels have two valves on them, there is no way they are going to be filled with pure nitrogen.

When the tires are put on they already contain air! 14.7 PSI of it to be exact- So a tired filled to 30 PSI gauge pressure nitrogen really contains about 45 PSI absolute pressure: 1/3 of which is still air!

[MX793]

OK, unless your wheels have two valves on them, there is no way they are going to be filled with pure nitrogen.

When the tires are put on they already contain air! 14.7 PSI of it to be exact- So a tired filled to 30 PSI gauge pressure nitrogen really contains about 45 PSI absolute pressure: 1/3 of which is still air!

Maybe the tires are mounted and then inflated in a sealed, pure nitrogen environment?

[Soup DeVille]

Maybe the tires are mounted and then inflated in a sealed, pure nitrogen environment?

I haven't noticed any hyperbaric chambers of that size down at Discount Tire, have you?

[MX793]

I haven't noticed any hyperbaric chambers of that size down at Discount Tire, have you?

I've actually never been to a tire shop, so I wouldn't know.

[Lebowski]

A lot of nitrogen users, when they come in for an oil change, will request that we not touch the tires because we don't use nitrogen.? So they have to make two trips, one to us for an oil change, and when we tell them that their precious nitrogen has leaked out (oh no!) and their tire pressure is 26psi, they then have to make a trip down to the tire shop where they bought the tires and nitrogen to get it refilled.? Yeah, it sure works great!

Lol, that completely defeats the purpose.

[Pancor]

Nitrogen filling machines perform an exchange procedure which obviously doesn't do a perfect job, but certainly ensures there is less than 1/3 "air" in your tire.   While nitrogen machine the owner of my shop purchased paid for itself in about 5 months, I really don't see any tangible benefit to using N2 unless you drive a racing car. 

[Soup DeVille]

I've actually never been to a tire shop, so I wouldn't know.

You're a very smart man- I suggest you continue that streak of wise decisions.