I just bought a car with Nitrogen filled tires. They are all
10 pounds low, can I add air to bring them up to specs? Thanks
10 pounds low, can I add air to bring them up to specs? Thanks
Nitrogen
- Thread starter bobbob
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It is advisable to bring them to you local tire center and have them adjusted with more nitrogen as you lose the benefits of the gas when combining the two. Its fairly inexpensive too. But if needed one can fill up with regular air though.
The only advantage of nitrogen inflation is the absence of water vapor that may come out of a compressed air hose down at your corner gas station. When you fill your tires with air, you're filling them with a mixture of gases that is ~78% nitrogen, ~21% oxygen, and <1% everything else.
Sooo.....
When they say the tire is filled with nitrogen, do they somehow purge all the air out first? How would they do that with only a single tire valve without breaking the bead to make an air-exit for the in-flow of nitrogen?
I've often wondered, when you think that when you mount a tire in an air-filled environment, what about all of the air that was present between the tire and the rim when they seated the bead (presumably with nitrogen), then used nitrogen to go from ambient pressure to 32 psi (or whatever is spec'd)?
When they say the tire is filled with nitrogen, do they somehow purge all the air out first? How would they do that with only a single tire valve without breaking the bead to make an air-exit for the in-flow of nitrogen?
I've often wondered, when you think that when you mount a tire in an air-filled environment, what about all of the air that was present between the tire and the rim when they seated the bead (presumably with nitrogen), then used nitrogen to go from ambient pressure to 32 psi (or whatever is spec'd)?
Nitrogen filled tires... biggest scam since the 100 mpg carburetor. ;-)
Yes, I know that the difference between pure nitrogen and regular damp air can be significant at Daytona or Indianapolis, but IMO not in a street car. Certainly not worth the price and hassle of trying to keep it pure.
Yes, I know that the difference between pure nitrogen and regular damp air can be significant at Daytona or Indianapolis, but IMO not in a street car. Certainly not worth the price and hassle of trying to keep it pure.
Kestas
Staff member
What about all the water used to mount the tire with dry nitrogen?
I doubt that's pure nitrogen. Separating Nitrogen from air sounds expensive and costly to maintain, even if you buy the gas from a chemical supplier.
I think it's a gimmick in my opinion. All luxury cars nowadays use regular air now.
I think it's a gimmick in my opinion. All luxury cars nowadays use regular air now.
They do sell machines that separate the nitrogen from the other gasses, and it's fairly straightforward to fill with nitrogen when mounting a tire. That being said, the advantages are marginal at best. Sure, no water and a pure gas inside the tire are ideal. Though, the mounting process is another issue. Aside from that, how many tires rot from the inside out, though? Corrosion to the wheel? There are far more "environmental enemies" on the outside surfaces.
Besides, green valve caps are tacky, and that's sufficient reason to avoid nitrogen filled tires.
Besides, green valve caps are tacky, and that's sufficient reason to avoid nitrogen filled tires.
Just stick with the 78% nitrogen. Both my truck and my wife's Pilot came with that too. Just use my garage compressor to fill them up when needed.
Originally Posted By: Garak
They do sell machines that separate the nitrogen from the other gasses, and it's fairly straightforward to fill with nitrogen when mounting a tire. That being said, the advantages are marginal at best. Sure, no water and a pure gas inside the tire are ideal. Though, the mounting process is another issue. Aside from that, how many tires rot from the inside out, though? Corrosion to the wheel? There are far more "environmental enemies" on the outside surfaces.
Besides, green valve caps are tacky, and that's sufficient reason to avoid nitrogen filled tires.
I agree on everything above except the bit about the valve stem caps. Those may be the biggest benefit of nitrogen filling
. I bought a car with N2 filled tires, the caps are really nice metal jobs with an O-ring inside, far superior to the plastic caps that come with a N2 "blend" filled tire
However, when my wife had the tires rotated on that car while I was out of town the shop decided that presence of the green-tipped caps were a good reason to charge an extra $15 or something like that for the rotation without consulting the Mrs first. I was highly unimpressed by this.
I wouldn't pay extra for N2, as quality valve stem caps by themselves can usually be found for significantly cheaper.
They do sell machines that separate the nitrogen from the other gasses, and it's fairly straightforward to fill with nitrogen when mounting a tire. That being said, the advantages are marginal at best. Sure, no water and a pure gas inside the tire are ideal. Though, the mounting process is another issue. Aside from that, how many tires rot from the inside out, though? Corrosion to the wheel? There are far more "environmental enemies" on the outside surfaces.
Besides, green valve caps are tacky, and that's sufficient reason to avoid nitrogen filled tires.
I agree on everything above except the bit about the valve stem caps. Those may be the biggest benefit of nitrogen filling
However, when my wife had the tires rotated on that car while I was out of town the shop decided that presence of the green-tipped caps were a good reason to charge an extra $15 or something like that for the rotation without consulting the Mrs first. I was highly unimpressed by this.
I wouldn't pay extra for N2, as quality valve stem caps by themselves can usually be found for significantly cheaper.
Watch how a tubeless tire goes on the rim.
Then tell me it's pure N2. Sorry, I'll stick with 78%.
A simple dryer on my air compressor keeps the moisture out.
Like 440 said, biggest scam since the 100 mpg carburetor!
Then tell me it's pure N2. Sorry, I'll stick with 78%.
A simple dryer on my air compressor keeps the moisture out.
Like 440 said, biggest scam since the 100 mpg carburetor!
Originally Posted By: A_Harman
What's next? Helium tire inflation to make your car lighter?
Now that's an idea!
What's next? Helium tire inflation to make your car lighter?
Now that's an idea!
nitrogen is used on aircraft wheels because it won't explode. I used to rebuild aircraft wheels and we had inflation cages; 747 wheels got like 300psi IIRC (it's been awhile), and there are also specs for allowable pressure loss.
anyway, I don't see a need on passenger vehicles, because a car doesn't have the same needs as an aircraft.
anyway, I don't see a need on passenger vehicles, because a car doesn't have the same needs as an aircraft.
Originally Posted By: mpvue
nitrogen is used on aircraft wheels because it won't explode. I used to rebuild aircraft wheels and we had inflation cages; 747 wheels got like 300psi IIRC (it's been awhile), and there are also specs for allowable pressure loss.
anyway, I don't see a need on passenger vehicles, because a car doesn't have the same needs as an aircraft.
I can see a need for aircraft like you say, and agree with you that car use it is not needed.
nitrogen is used on aircraft wheels because it won't explode. I used to rebuild aircraft wheels and we had inflation cages; 747 wheels got like 300psi IIRC (it's been awhile), and there are also specs for allowable pressure loss.
anyway, I don't see a need on passenger vehicles, because a car doesn't have the same needs as an aircraft.
I can see a need for aircraft like you say, and agree with you that car use it is not needed.
I cannot tell a bit of difference with pure nitrogen in my tires, and this is at the track. No difference in grip, warm up time, braking, handling, or lap times...
I have always wondered about helium though... Maybe a way to lose 0.5lb unsprung weight! Lol
I have always wondered about helium though... Maybe a way to lose 0.5lb unsprung weight! Lol
Kestas
Staff member
I thought aircraft wheels used nitrogen because you can't get an air compressor to deliver 300 psi like you can from a cylinder of nitrogen. And unlike an air compressor, the cylinder can be brought to the aircraft.
Originally Posted By: Kestas
I thought aircraft wheels used nitrogen because you can't get an air compressor to deliver 300 psi like you can from a cylinder of nitrogen. And unlike an air compressor, the cylinder can be brought to the aircraft.
I'm just going by the FAA Airworthiness Directive (AD) that was issued like in '87 I think; I used to be able to quote the AD# when an FAA inspector came around.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080526081915AAeLdwN
I thought aircraft wheels used nitrogen because you can't get an air compressor to deliver 300 psi like you can from a cylinder of nitrogen. And unlike an air compressor, the cylinder can be brought to the aircraft.
I'm just going by the FAA Airworthiness Directive (AD) that was issued like in '87 I think; I used to be able to quote the AD# when an FAA inspector came around.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080526081915AAeLdwN
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