Nitrogen...

[onecrazydog]

Yes/No?

[CH53Driver]

Yes. Some say it is a waste of money. Personally, I think it's worth it especially if you live in an area with wide temperature swings and high humidity. They use it in aviation, enough said. On the other hand, if you are a track junkie and are constantly adjusting air pressure then plain old fashioned air is probably the ticket. I ran it in my car from day 1 and loved it.

[Birdman]

I use it but it is a pain because you have to always have a supply of it in case you want to add some. I keep a pressurzed tank filled with about 100lbs worth just for that reason.

[Alloy Dave]

No.

IMO, the only benefit to nitrogen is that it's non-reactive. WHat does this mean? It means that over many years, your wheels won't rust where the bead of the tire sits on them. On steel wheels (also on aluminum...even though aluminum doesn't rust, it does "corrode", albeit MUCH more slowly), the air you put in them carries moisture, and over many years the wheels will rust, and you'll start to see minor air leaks. I worked at a brake/tire shop for 8 years and saw hundreds of these. The fix? We'd use a wire wheel, sand down the wheel, then put a liquid on the area that was like goopy bondo...that would fill the pitted areas...and remount the tire. It worked great. These wheels were typically 12-20 years old. So if you're willing to pay extra for Nitrogen to avoid a "once every 12 years" cost...then go ahead.d

That's my opinion....with some real world experience thrown in.:tease2:

Dave

[CH53Driver]

No.

IMO, the only benefit to nitrogen is that it's non-reactive. WHat does this mean? It means that over many years, your wheels won't rust where the bead of the tire sits on them. On steel wheels (also on aluminum...even though aluminum doesn't rust, it does "corrode", albeit MUCH more slowly), the air you put in them carries moisture, and over many years the wheels will rust, and you'll start to see minor air leaks. I worked at a brake/tire shop for 8 years and saw hundreds of these. The fix? We'd use a wire wheel, sand down the wheel, then put a liquid on the area that was like goopy bondo...that would fill the pitted areas...and remount the tire. It worked great. These wheels were typically 12-20 years old. So if you're willing to pay extra for Nitrogen to avoid a "once every 12 years" cost...then go ahead.d

That's my opinion....with some real world experience thrown in.:tease2:

Dave

It's also less susceptible to temperature variations, which is one of the reasons why it is used in aviation. If you live somewhere where there are wide temperature swings, it can be a nice to have. It's nice not to go out to your car in the morning and get the TPMS warning light when you start your car. It will also help prevent having too high a PSI in your tires because some people will add air to get rid of the warning light, problem is that late afternoon when it's hot you may end up with over pressurization (many people never think to re-check their tires when the temps go up). Like I said, if it's good for aviation it's good for me. Speaking from real world experience.:tease2:

[Tommy Gun]

I use it but it is a pain because you have to always have a supply of it in case you want to add some. I keep a pressurzed tank filled with about 100lbs worth just for that reason.



You can still top of w/ regular air.

I have nitrogen in my track car tires.

I rarely have to adjust pressures.

I have added regular air here or there, but I believe the pressures stay pretty constant.

The only difference seems to be the outside air.

All in all I think it works well.

On the other side.....I have never paid extra to have nitrogen in my tires so I couldn't say if it is worth it because I get it for free so far.


.

[onecrazydog]

:tiphat2:

[68fastback]

Nitrogen also doesn't permeate *through* the rubber itself as the oxygen in air does becuase nitrogen is much larger molecule. Air filled tires can lose several pounds over a year (yes, even with zero rim seepage). Nitrogen also doesn't attack the rubber whereas the oxygen in air wants to oxidize and harden over extended periods and make it more brittle (this also occurs as it permeates through the rubber tire). Perm rate is a function of the gas and also the pressure differential so it matters even more for planes ...which also typically have high-pressure tires and fly at high elevation where atmoshperic pressure is lower too.

[Dad's72Mach]

Isn't plain old air 78% nitrogen?


:pimp:

[CH53Driver]

Isn't plain old air 78% nitrogen?


:pimp:

Yes and roughly 21% oxygen at sea level which is part of the problem. :doh2:

[Birdman]

You can still top of w/ regular air. I have nitrogen in my track car tires.

I rarely have to adjust pressures.

I have added regular air here or there, but I believe the pressures stay pretty constant.
The only difference seems to be the outside air.

All in all I think it works well.

On the other side.....I have never paid extra to have nitrogen in my tires so I couldn't say if it is worth it because I get it for free so far.


.

Yes you can but it defets the purpose of using Nitrogen as it compromises the benefits of Nitrogen only in the tires. :shades: (see post's by Dan and Matt)

[overtime]

Just don't use metal valve stem caps with nitrogen. If they stay on for any length of time they will become bonded to the valve stem. Don't ask how I know this. Dremel tool is my friend.

OT

[Joe G]

Isn't plain old air 78% nitrogen?

:pimp:

:goodpost:


IMO it's a gimmick that that tire places make 1000% margin on selling to drivers that most don't need. It does have some minor benefits as have been posted, but the cost/benefit ratio is not worth it to most owners.

[Tommy Gun]

Just don't use metal valve stem caps with nitrogen. If they stay on for any length of time they will become bonded to the valve stem. Don't ask how I know this. Dremel tool is my friend.

OT



Really?



I better check my track turd. :look:

.

[Alloy Dave]

Nitrogen also doesn't permeate *through* the rubber itself as the oxygen in air does becuase nitrogen is much larger molecule. Air filled tires can lose several pounds over a year (yes, even with zero rim seepage). Nitrogen also doesn't attack the rubber whereas the oxygen in air wants to oxidize and harden over extended periods and make it more brittle (this also occurs as it permeates through the rubber tire). Perm rate is a function of the gas and also the pressure differential so it matters even more for planes ...which also typically have high-pressure tires and fly at high elevation where atmoshperic pressure is lower too.

I had the same tires on my Camaro for 26 years...no dry rot and no flat spots even though it sat on concrete for long periods. Granted it is garaged and sees very few miles.

Know why I changed the tires? The white letters were dirty.

[Tommy Gun]

Yes/No?


So what did you decide? :popcorn:

.

[68fastback]

...big molecules rule :shades:

[onecrazydog]

So what did you decide? :popcorn:

.


I didn't...

[Carnut]

I had the same tires on my Camaro for 26 years...no dry rot and no flat spots even though it sat on concrete for long periods. Granted it is garaged and sees very few miles.

Know why I changed the tires? The white letters were dirty.

I'd be afraid of speeds higher than about 25 mph.

[The Bone]

I have some tires on my 68 that have been on there a long time and it scares me to drive it on the highway now so i don't.
I will be buying tires this summer

[onecrazydog]

Oh, I'm a postwhore.


I know...


I went with air, they wanted money for nitrogen... As if...

[Tommy Gun]

I know...


I went with air, they wanted money for nitrogen... As if...

Yeah, it's dumb.

I get it free, or else it would be plain old fashioned air. :look:

[Tommy Gun]

Does the additional CO2 in plain old air from global warming affect this? :giggle:

:hide:


I have the air distilled before adding it to my tires. :look:

.

[twobjshelbys]

I personally think nitrogen is of no real benefit, especially for what some places charge. But our Costco has two free tire air filling stations that seem to dispense nitrogen... Does it hurt? Probably not. Does it help? Who knows. But if it doesn't cost anything, and it's one of the only places I know of that doesn't charge to fill tires, why not? It does say it won't operate if below 15psi so no empty/refill but a go down to 15 a couple of times and you get 1/2 or so every time.

30528

[Tommy Gun]

Wow, first I’ve never seen a self serve nitrogen?




Only thing I know that is better about Nitrogen is that it’s cells (whatever) is larger than Oxygen so less likely to leak out in holes or cracks.

.

[Highwayman]

Wow, first I’ve never seen a self serve nitrogen?




Only thing I know that is better about Nitrogen is that it’s cells (whatever) is larger than Oxygen so less likely to leak out in holes or cracks.

.

That is what I heard too. It's the only benefit but not one worth running with nitrogen.

[twobjshelbys]

That is what I heard too. It's the only benefit but not one worth running with nitrogen.


Holes the size of an atom? Like I said, it's mostly snake oil but if it's free...

[Tommy Gun]

Yep.


Just dont get atom sized leaks :haha:


.

[Alloy Dave]

I personally think nitrogen is of no real benefit, especially for what some places charge. But our Costco has two free tire air filling stations that seem to dispense nitrogen... Does it hurt? Probably not. Does it help? Who knows. But if it doesn't cost anything, and it's one of the only places I know of that doesn't charge to fill tires, why not? It does say it won't operate if below 15psi so no empty/refill but a go down to 15 a couple of times and you get 1/2 or so every time.

30528Here's my take...

On aluminum wheels, probably zero impact. but on steel wheels....

Air is about 23% oxygen. Oxygen causes steel to rust. A tire will flex enough while driven that gas inside the tire will touch parts of the rim along the bead that don't get touched as the car is sitting still...we're talking movements of a few thousandths of an inch. Over long periods of time (3-4 years), the rubbing of the bead combined with the oxygen in the air will cause rust along the bead. This will lead to tiny amounts of air leakage at the bead, which is why new cars usually don't need air added to their tires when they are new, but on very old cars (especially with steel wheels) you usually have to add a few psi each year.

I saw this HUNDREDS of times when I was a brake/alignment tech. A customer would come in for new tires, and when we dismounted the wheel, we'd see large amounts of rust on the bead area. Usually we would offer the customer (for a price) a "cleanup" procedure where we'd wire brush the rim to remove most rust, then apply a "bead sealer" to remedy this. This was a good solution and would last years.


https://www.amazon.com/Xtra-14-101-Seal-Bead-Sealer/dp/B000GKD722/ref=asc_df_B000GKD722/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312158556601&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10872875893122547488&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9016480&hvtargid=pla-568875586262&psc=1

Therefore, IMO, on an older car with steel wheels, Nitrogen may provide a "slight" benefit over the long term by minimizing bead rust and resultant tire leakage.