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Nitrogen in the tires

31 messages,  Last post on Nov 16, 2011 at 6:50 AM

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Messages Page 4 of 4

#22 of 31 Re: Nitrogen is more stable... [rocdred] by tidester

Apr 13, 2010 (9:49 pm)

Replying to: rocdred (Apr 13, 2010 7:01 am)
but when you use nitrogen, the tires will remain at a much more even pressure as it's not nearly as temperature sensative
 
Nitrogen and oxygen (the primary components of air) are both small nonpolar molecules and should therefore each behave very much like ideal gases. I don't see that compressibility would be affected in any significant way by replacing 80% nitrogen with 100% nitrogen.
 
Any difference would possibly be more related to the water content of air versus that of nitrogen which effectively removes the moisture. In any case, the differences should be largely negligible for ordinary vehicles as opposed to race cars.
 
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper

#23 of 31 Re: Nitrogen in the tires [tidester] by crown5

Dec 03, 2010 (8:57 am)

Replying to: tidester (Dec 12, 2007 10:59 pm)
Our new Nissan Versa had nitrogen in tires filled by dealer.
After taking possesion of vehicle, tires were 4psi underinflated.
There was a 50$ charge on vehicle price for that nitrogen.
As winter settled in, had to go back three time for top up.
This tells me you have to check tire press nitrogen or not.
In which case, air is more convenient because if you have a compressor there is no hassle:air is easier to get than nitrogen. I see that ntrogen fill by the dealer as a cash grab.

#24 of 31 Re: Nitrogen is more stable... [tidester] by crown5

Dec 03, 2010 (9:01 am)

Replying to: tidester (Apr 13, 2010 9:49 pm)
under a perfect world, dealers and tire shops would use pure dry nitrogen or have the required equipment; they dont in order to cut costs and increase profits.
They also bank on the fact people for the most part never check their tires thinking its good enough to do it when vehicle is serviced.

#26 of 31 Re: Nitrogen in the tires [crown5] by mickeyrom

Dec 03, 2010 (9:39 am)

Replying to: crown5 (Dec 03, 2010 8:57 am)
We have two cars with nitrogen in the tires and never lost any between oil changes.That is part of the service and they never had to add any.That is why I paid #25 per vehicle to have the nitro. added.The cars are : 2006.5 KIA Optima and a 2007 Prius.

#27 of 31 Nitro Fill by sandman_6472

Dec 03, 2010 (10:51 am)

Had this for free when we got our M3s back in '05 & have found no difference between free air & $ nitro...just isn't worth the extra cost. Anyways, air is mostly made up of nitrogen anyways...just a profit source for the dealers & tire outlets. Will never do it again...unless it's free. I'm also a bit lucky in that my trusted friend from years ago & his staff know that I'm partially handicapped and check my tires whenever I swing by...never a long wait, they just do it for me!
 
The Sandman

#28 of 31 Re: Nitro Fill [sandman_6472] by crown5

Dec 03, 2010 (12:38 pm)

Replying to: sandman_6472 (Dec 03, 2010 10:51 am)
Thanks for confirming what is becoming apparent to me. Nitrogen in tires has no real benefits!
I have been maintaining vehicles myself for years and either have become too fussy or aware of different aspects of auto maintenance that dealers and shops find me a thorn in the side. its bad enough trying to maintain relationship with dealers to maintain their so called warranty requirements.

#29 of 31 DRY nitrogen by psykoconnell

Nov 15, 2011 (10:10 pm)

The reason aircraft, race cars and such use nitrogen is because it is pure nitrogen in a pressurized bottle, and it is dry. 0% moisture, and moisture inside your tire will do weird things with temp changes as well as cause your tires to deteriorate more quickly. That's pretty much the only benefit of using the nitrogen. I would have to say ALL air compressors in shops, even here in dry ass Las Vegas, build moisture when compressing the air in the tank and will disperse that moisture out the line and into your tire when filling up with air, hence the nitrogen bottle.

#30 of 31 Re: DRY nitrogen [psykoconnell] by steve_ HOST

Nov 16, 2011 (5:14 am)

Replying to: psykoconnell (Nov 15, 2011 10:10 pm)
The reason aircraft use it is because nitrogen doesn't support combustion. Even then, we're talking commercial aircraft. I flew with a guy one time after we put some Fix-a-Flat in a leaky tire.

#31 of 31 Re: DRY nitrogen [steve_] by capriracer

Nov 16, 2011 (6:50 am)

Replying to: steve_ (Nov 16, 2011 5:14 am)
Just an FYI on aircraft tires.
 
These tires can use up to 350 psi - and the simplest and easiest way to fill a tire to those sorts of pressures is to have a cart with nitrogen bottles already hooked up. These bottles have over 2000 psi in them and when you connect them and put them in a cart with wheels, the cart can be wheeled whereever it is needed.
 
And when it is time to refill the bottles, the cart goes to the shop. No muss, no fuss!

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