Nitrogen Tire Fill

[CapriRacer]

Originally Posted By: harry j
Could it have been seepage around the rims that was fixed when I changed to nitrogen?


Let's put it this way: The change to nitrogen did not cause the problem to be fixed, but it might be coincidental.

No, seepage around the rim is not better because of nitrogen. While the molecules are different sizes, the difference is small enough to discount any real difference.

 

[harry j]

No, I mean that the possible rim leak was fixed by the action of replacing air with nitrogen, not the nitrogen itself.

 

[steveh]

Just saw the first ad for nitrogen in our town. They want $49.95 for a nitrogen fill and that includes a nitrofill auto club membership. What a joke!!!! They have a website at http://www.whynitrofill.com

 

[kaboom10]

I bought an air compressor for air tools. It also makes it conveient to ck tire pressures and add air. We ran nitrogen in the race car tires that didn't see usage like the tow vehicle. The nitrogen was also useful to operate air tools at the track. My truck tire store doesn't use nitrogen.

 

[harry j]

Nitrogen in the tires my not be effective vs normal air, but how 'bout those valve caps!

 

[SteveSRT8]

OMG, I can't believe how many people have been bamboozled by the 'designer' tire fill, Nitrogen! Complete [censored]!

It is absolute bunk. A cheap air drier will allow you to experience the alleged 'benefits' of any pure inert gas using ordinary air and your compressor.

One of you N2 boosters explain how it can defy physics? I'm listening.

But there are those way cool caps.

 

[2oldtommy]

N2 in tires is about as crazy as Z Max in your oil IMO. ( penitrates the metal)!!! What snakeoil. I used to have great respect for Carrol Shelby. What is his ownership position in Z Max? ( please excuse the change of subject) FWIW OLdtommy

 

[Smokescreen]

Cool caps??? Hey that's right!!! I just got a set of Cooper CS4 tires and they said they put nitrogen in for free claiming it didn't seep through the rubber like 'normal air' did, but I didn't get any cool green caps! I got ripped off!!

 

[harry j]

What a rip off!

 

[KLowD9x]

My tires have about 80 percent Nitrogen in them right now. They do really well.

I like having almost 80 percent nitrogen because I can get my tires filled anywhere, usually for free, sometimes a quarter, depending on the service station.

I recommend to all of my customers that they use 80% also. It's more convenient and you are using the mixture of nitrogen and everything else that the tire designers expected us to use.

 

[harry j]

I am not entirely sure if nitrogen is any better than plain old compressed air, but it is sure a major pain getting the tires topped off. You can't just pull up anywhere to get nitrogen, no, you have to go through a whole rigermarole to get it.
I can just pull up to any air compressor, drop a quarter and be on my way, so it's no more N2 for me. I will keep the fancy valve caps though

 

[XS650]

Originally Posted By: harry j
I am not entirely sure if nitrogen is any better than plain old compressed air, but it is sure a major pain getting the tires topped off. You can't just pull up anywhere to get nitrogen, no, you have to go through a whole rigermarole to get it.
I can just pull up to any air compressor, drop a quarter and be on my way, so it's no more N2 for me. I will keep the fancy valve caps though

If it is as much better than Air as the N2 cult says, then the O2 from the air will soon leak out leaving a higher concentration of N2. Just overfill your tires by 20% and when they get down to rated pressure they will be at as high a nitrogen concentration as if you filled them with N2...if you believe the N2 cult members.

The cool part is you already have the green caps which cut leakage by another 20%

 

[scurvy]

Originally Posted By: KLowD9x
My tires have about 80 percent Nitrogen in them right now. They do really well.

I use a similar custom gas mixture in my tires as well, but I run about 78% Nitrogen. Seems to work fine in both my cars, all four bicycles and it even worked well in a motorcycle, a yoga ball, a basketball, a proper football and occasionally even to blow sawdust or metal chips off a workbench. This is really amazing stuff!

I have one of the rare & expensive machines from Craftsman to gather this rare mix in the correct proportions, compress it to about 125 psig, cool it and store it ready to be dispensed.

Originally Posted By: harry j
I am not entirely sure if nitrogen is any better than plain old compressed air, but it is sure a major pain getting the tires topped off. You can't just pull up anywhere to get nitrogen, no, you have to go through a whole rigermarole to get it.

I really hope that was sarcasm.

Air is already 80% nitrogen and you can freely top off nitrogen filled tires with regular air at any old time.

Originally Posted By: XS650
If it is as much better than Air as the N2 cult says, then the O2 from the air will soon leak out leaving a higher concentration of N2. Just overfill your tires by 20% and when they get down to rated pressure they will be at as high a nitrogen concentration as if you filled them with N2

This is the other part of the myth of nitrogen that the proponents won't ever answer - if the oxygen 'leaks' out through the tire, then it's a simple differential equation to determine how long filling with inferior, dangerous, naughty (free) air will result in a tire filled with 99% of glorious, wonderful nitrogen.

 

[harry j]

Don't get me wrong, I would still use N2 if it was more convenient to do so, just in case there was some kind of benefit.

It's like buying an electric car and having to go back to the car dealer to get the batteries charged.

Ah but those fancy valve caps, you gotta like them!

 

[Bill in Utah]

Originally Posted By: scurvy
Originally Posted By: KLowD9x
My tires have about 80 percent Nitrogen in them right now. They do really well.

I use a similar custom gas mixture in my tires as well, but I run about 78% Nitrogen. Seems to work fine in both my cars, all four bicycles and it even worked well in a motorcycle, a yoga ball, a basketball, a proper football and occasionally even to blow sawdust or metal chips off a workbench. This is really amazing stuff!

I have one of the rare & expensive machines from Craftsman to gather this rare mix in the correct proportions, compress it to about 125 psig, cool it and store it ready to be dispensed.

 

[scurvy]

Originally Posted By: Bill in Utah
Originally Posted By: scurvy


I have one of the rare & expensive machines from Craftsman to gather this rare mix in the correct proportions, compress it to about 125 psig, cool it and store it ready to be dispensed.

Bill, this is no laughing matter. Nitrogen in tires is serious business!

But I can see you're a man of science and intrigued, so if you happen to come across one of the rare & complex machines, I highly recommend you purchase one. It looks like this:

Be careful in your quest, and may you be guided by the diatomic molecule you seek!

 

[CapriRacer]

http://www.barrystiretech.com/nitrogeninflation.html

 

[SAATR]

I hear that Radon has been getting glowing reviews and is THE hot item in performance tire accessories. It's use was pioneered by racers from northern Ukraine as a readily available alternative to nitrogen, and is currently in use by teams in Japan and the southwestern United States.

It's benefits are touted as 'nitrogen plus' with its large molecule size making deflation by permeation a thing of the past. Leak detection is also easier than ever using common household tools.

Grip and handling are improved, fuel economy is excellent, and it'll even whiten your teeth!

 

[PandaBear]

If the lobbyists have it their way, they'll ban atmospheric temperature change too.

 

[edhackett]

In another thread the esteemed ekpolk said:

Quote:
Obviously, aircraft and cars are different animals, but it bears mention that virtually ALL high performance jets (and many light aircraft as well) require the use of pure Nitrogen in their tires. Nitrogen's performance, under extremes of speed, temperature, and pressure operate to remove some of the stress from the tire itself.


It's used for fire/explosion reasons. FAA Regulation found here:

http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgFinalRule.nsf/0/e18b9cadcf1a66da86256a3100713354!OpenDocument&ExpandSection=-4



Let's also take a quick look at the "doesn't expand with temperature" claim. All gasses behave according to the ideal gas law, pv=nRt. They expand when heated, and if the volume stays the same, the pressure will go up.

Now lets take a look at individual gas constants.

Nitrogen is 296.8 J/kg K
Oxygen is 259.8 J/kg K
Air is 286.9 J/kg K
Water vapor is 461.5 J/kg K

Oops. Physics says nitrogen actually expands more than air with a given temperature input.

Take a look at the value for water vapor. It's easy to see why dry nitrogen is better than un-dried air straight from a compressor. They used a water based lube to mount your tires, you say? Oops again.


Ed