Nitrogen in tires

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

Anybody have experience with using nitrogen in tires?

[Scott K]

Sure do, what do you want to know?

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

Sure do, what do you want to know?

Is it worth it?

[Scott K]

It all depends how much the shop is trying to get for it, and if you have aluminum wheels. If you have aluminum wheels and have had issues with small leaks in the past, I would pay an extra $5 a tire to not have to worry about it. Also if your car has TPMS and you dont normally bring your car into the shop for maint. I would get it. Otherwise I would save my money.

I have seen some shops fil them for as low as $2 a tire, up to $10 per tire, but I wouldnt pay more then $5, even then you could shop around to find it cheaper some where.

If you are buying 4 new tires, ask them to add it for free since you bought the tires their. Most places will.

[Da Beak]

So what does Nitrogen give you that air does not? I guess I don't understand.

[Scott K]

Nitrogen has larger molucles, and also a few other benifits.

[Northlander]

Ill stick with good old fasion free air. Never had any issues with just plain old air.

[Jim Uran]

c'mon that can't be the reason, a nitrogen atom is smaller than an oxygen atom. unless it's a mixed with something else?!??!?!

[Ralph Wiggum]

Consider the fact that atmospheric air is about 78% nitrogen anyways.

[DTro]

Nitrogen is more stable and tolerant to temperature changes. You know how you have to put more air in every fall and let some out in the spring. You don’t have to worry about it as much with Nitrogen. It doesn’t fluctuate as much.

Air pressure in your tires is one of the biggest factors in MPG’s. That alone might be worth the $ to change over to Nitrogen.

[Da Beak]

Thanks DTRO. I never knew Nitrogen was an option. I'd never heard of it being used this way before.

[Tyler23]

the larger molucles not seep out of the tire like just plain air will over time so the pressure will not have so much change. if you dont have a air compressor will in reach i would go with the nitrogen. i got a air compressor at my house so i dont use nitrogen since it takes me all of 5 minutes to check my pressure. like dtro said air pressure is a major factor in MPG

[Tom7227]

Back when I was in the Guard a guy wanted to put nitrogen into his bike tires. We had been told that nitrogen causes less decompossition of the rubber. Well anyway he hooked it up to the nitro cart. He told me to set the regulator and somehow I managed to set it for 3000 lbs rather than the 30 lbs he was looking for. That baby blew like it was a shotgun and the guy about hit the roof when that happened.

I still chuckle about it and wonder what Art Christopherson does with his bike tires nowdays.

[Whoaru99]

IMO, the potential benefits don't outweigh the cost or extra (to me, anyway) hassle to seek out a nitrogen-equipped service center.

Sure, plain old air can be added in a pinch, but then you've just negated the pure nitrogen fill.

[PerchPounder]

We use nitrogen in our race tires so they dont build air pressure. It works prety well, but you do have to cycle the tires to get the water out otherwise it wont help much if at all.

[Jeremy airjer W]

I under stand the concept which is good but I am not convinced it is the latest and greatest.

One issue I have is how the tire is inflated. All of the "air" is not removed before it is filled with nitrogen. When the tire is mounted, depending on what and how much lube they use there will be a lot of water in the tire, how will this affect the stability of the nitrogen?

Somebody already mentioned aluminum wheels and I agree!

Cheep tires, maybe because there are more of them out there but it sure does seem like the majority of bead leaks repairs are done on cheap off brand tires?

I have yet this winter to have the proper tire pressure in any vehicle that has the green caps (which indicate that the tire has been filled with nitrogen).

[jwhjr]

I have yet this winter to have the proper tire pressure in any vehicle that has the green caps (which indicate that the tire has been filled with nitrogen).

Both of our trucks were filled with nitrogen when we got new tires (got it free with the tires) and I had to add air to both vehicles when it got cold. Makes me wonder 2 things -

1. Did they really fill it with nitrogen ( I complained when they tried charging me)

2. If they did fill it with nitrogen, does it hold the pressure in temp changes? It dropped enough that I would say no.

I'll keep checking air pressure as I always have no matter what's in there I guess

[DTro]

I have yet this winter to have the proper tire pressure in any vehicle that has the green caps (which indicate that the tire has been filled with nitrogen).

I would trust this statement more than anything I've read or been told. I guess I won't be wasting my money.

[PerchPounder]

We run our tires through atleast three heat cycles before we get the water out of them after mounting them with air. Im sure that most places selling people nitrogen aren't going to go through all of that just to get a few extra dollars out of people. the labor cost far outweighs the profit if they were to do this.

[fishing tech]

Waste of money. If you have your oil changed and they check your tire psi and it is low. What do you do if they don't have nitrogen? Drive to a place that does? Pay again? Just another gimmick. Racers use it to because the pressures are easier to maintain with the increase in tire temp.

[Scott Stein]

Waste of money.

I agree,whats wrong with the good ole free air?

[Whoaru99]

I agree,whats wrong with the good ole free air?

There's no money in free...

[Capt. Don*]

I prefer helium, I put it in the Kenworth tractor tires and trailer tires. When I crossed the scale it was 4000 lbs lighter, I can carry that much more now every load, 10 loads is like getting paid for 11. I now have it in my one ton pick up as well, the ride is great, the truck just seems to float down the road.

[Nutty Fisherman]

How do you keep it on the road when empty?

[Jeremy airjer W]

When I crossed the scale it was 4000 lbs lighter

222 lbs per tire? I don't think so since a wheel and tire weigh about a couple hundred pounds and the tire itself about a hundred pounds?