Experience with nitrogen in tires?

[Fibrepunk]

Instead of paying $199 to the dealer for the nitrogen air, I request that the dealer remove all nitrogen air from the tires and I mean not a single molecule of nitrogen air in the tires then I will pay them $199.

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[SLINGSHOT]

I have two compressors in my garage. One for summer air, one for winter air. The tires must be purged spring and fall and the appropriate air put in them.
The same mechanic that took care of my blinker fluid told me about that secret.

 

[CajunMick]

My belief…unlike nitrogen, compressed air oxidizing agent. And rubber has some permeability, will see leakages over time. Compressed air will react with rubber compounds, essentially causing some measure of sealing. Nitrogen, being stable gas, will not reacts with compounds, hence any permeability presence will allow nitrogen molecules to flow.

 

[Bruce W]

Nitrogen is so old fashioned. Personally, I use heliummakes the truck lighter for better mpg.
And you float over bumps.

GB
The wait begins.

I heard propane works well but can be too exciting when you change tires

 

[Chris_G]

I didn't notice a performance gain till I went with helium.

 

[Mike215]

I am enjoying this thread, please keep it up

 

[Smith]

My Lincoln was filled with nitrogen when I bought it. I never had to add anything in the life of the tires.

 

[Carlitos_92]

I didn't notice a performance gain till I went with helium.

That might give "overlanding" a new meaning!

 

[The Real Maverick]

Insider information here:

Brother is an aircraft mechanic and works at a major metro airport.

The reason(s) they put nitrogen in airplane tires are:

It is dried gas. Plane tires can go from 140°F on the tarmac to -100°F at altitude. Moisture not only creates higher pressure swings, any condensate will freeze. Upon landing, ice in the tires will cause them to be out of balance. Even if just a little.

Second, Nitrogen does not support combustion. Those tires get HOT upon landing. They blow out more than we'd like to admit. It's increased safety factor to have non-combustible gas in the tires.

Third, they need to top off aircraft tires out in the field, away from electricity. Carrying a compressed nitrogen cylinder on a truck is an easy way to do this. Also, without using spark generating electricity they can air up tires around jet fuel.

Fourth, the higher pressure of nitrogen cylinders fills large tires faster.

For many of these same reasons, nitrogen is used at some race tracks. But it really has nothing to do with the health of the tire.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

That might give "overlanding" a new meaning!

SEE I TOLD YOU

I use the trailer hitch to tether it.
I'm thinking about it getting a wireless remote control winch up front.
GB

 

[raymaines]

I guess you don't really need my snarky comments, do you?

If you let Costco fill your tires with Nitrogen you get a set of cool green valve stem caps.

 

[Capn Tom]

Our atmosphere is 78% nitrogen.
As mentioned previously, moisture can create problems with metal surfaces.

 

[AutobahnSHO]

Nitrogen is so old fashioned. Personally, I use heliummakes the truck lighter for better mpg.
And you float over bumps.

GB
The wait begins.

The state of Wyoming appreciates you. (Huge producer of the gas)

 

[MetalsGeek]

IMHO - If you add up all the comments in this thread, you get a really good picture of the value of nitrogen in tires. e.g. It does not do a lot for most of us. The ideal gas law (PV=NRT) tells us that water and nitrogen behave the same in gaseous form, so the main benefit to nitrogen is a reduction of pressure variations from temperatures low enough to condense some of that water vapor into liquid. You can never really get ALL the water vapor out anyway, since there's air in the tire when it's mounted. You would have to fill with N2 (or dry air) and bleed down several times to get most of that out, and nobody ever seems to bother. If you're a hard core DIY type, you can make a simple air dryer in your garage by running the high pressure line from your compressor thru a coil of tubing and a condensate filter submerged in a bucket of salt water & ice.

 

[dalola]

We are contemplating nitrogen in our tremor tires but wondered pros and cons?

A lot of detailed (mostly correct) answers...but the short version is, if you can get it for free, there really is no con's. The pro's, it is simply more temperature stable vs atmospheric air, so you have less adjustment to make due to temperature changes. That's pretty much it.

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