Using nitrogen vs air in tires

[SmartGuy916]

I've heard that nitrogen does actually make a difference... I work at a shop that has the nitrogen machine... I filled my tires with it.... noticed no change in mpg and no difference in the ride... but I still put it in my tires because its free. I would suggest spending your money on fuzzy slippers or invest it in an oil company.

[marck]

OK, we know oxygen is bad for tires, so we pay to put N2 inside.

So what's on the outside?

Using N2 for tire inflation seems like a solution looking for a problem. I won't buy it.

My tires wear out..they don't fail due to attack by O2!

[xcrew229x]

The unwashed masses are easily impressed. They also don't frequently check their tire pressures. If they did, Explorers would only flip because of driver stupidity, not the total inability of same driver to control his vehicle following a blowout. I've had blowouts, it's not that hard to stop a vehicle if you have some idea how to do it. Anybody who can sign their name (and some who can't) can get an operators license in the USA. That's the crime.

[lowndex]

Originally Posted by MichaelJ

I'd feel a LOT more convinced if you would come up with a source that wasn't selling nitrogen inflation systems.

1.) http://www.straightdope.com/columns/070216.html
NHTSA says less than 60 percent of U.S. motorists actually do.

Which is why it is recommended and SAFER!

2.) http://ezinearticles.com/?Selling-Ni...-Air?&id=38142
Remove The Oxygen And Stop The Rot
Nitrogen In Tires

3. )http://blogs.chron.com/carsandtrucks/2008/02/nitrogen_for_tires_an_inflated_1.html
Nitrogen is a superior material for tire inflation because it diffuses through tire rubber about 40 percent more slowly than air, helping the tire maintain proper pressure longer. When driving on properly inflated tires, drivers can see significant performance, safety and cost benefits.

Nitrogen tire inflation can significantly improve fuel efficiency over air inflation - even in fleets with tire pressure maintenance programs.
Nitrogen helps reduce the aging process inside the tire that's caused by oxidation with oxygen in air filled tires.

With nitrogen inflation, consumers don't need to top-off their tires as frequently, saving time and giving peace of mind that their tires are properly inflated. Plus, in cases where a tire runs flat, a spare-tire inflated with nitrogen will better retain its pressure for emergency situations.

Bootom line: Fill up at Costco for free or pay $5.00 at Big O Tires, Les Schwabb, Goodyear, ,...., etc. It's safer, reduces tread wear and may save gas.

[SmartGuy916]

Originally Posted by lowndex

1.) The Straight Dope: Is it better to fill your tires with nitrogen instead of air?
NHTSA says less than 60 percent of U.S. motorists actually do.

Which is why it is recommended and SAFER!

2.) Possible Error Detected
Remove The Oxygen And Stop The Rot
Nitrogen In Tires

3. )http://blogs.chron.com/carsandtrucks/2008/02/nitrogen_for_tires_an_inflated_1.html
Nitrogen is a superior material for tire inflation because it diffuses through tire rubber about 40 percent more slowly than air, helping the tire maintain proper pressure longer. When driving on properly inflated tires, drivers can see significant performance, safety and cost benefits.

Nitrogen tire inflation can significantly improve fuel efficiency over air inflation - even in fleets with tire pressure maintenance programs.
Nitrogen helps reduce the aging process inside the tire that's caused by oxidation with oxygen in air filled tires.

With nitrogen inflation, consumers don't need to top-off their tires as frequently, saving time and giving peace of mind that their tires are properly inflated. Plus, in cases where a tire runs flat, a spare-tire inflated with nitrogen will better retain its pressure for emergency situations.

Bootom line: Fill up at Costco for free or pay $5.00 at Big O Tires, Les Schwabb, Goodyear, ,...., etc. It's safer, reduces tread wear and may save gas.

Anyone can put some random crap on a blog site or forum site..... I guess we should trust all content on Wikipedia too... I trust in what I have seen... which is nitrogen is a waste of time. The 3 Stooges once invented a pen that could write under whipped cream...

[Hauser]

I was told that the tire will not heat up as much with the nitrogen. (?) They use it in race cars so that makes sense to reduce heat build up.

[timhood]

Heat is a whole different problem when your car is doing 200 MPH. The tires are rated Temperature A which means they resist heat build-up just fine with ordinary oxygen.

Anyone who wants to be sold will convince themselves that there are "valuable" benefits to nitrogen. However, the fact of the matter is that modern tires do not rot on cars that get used even moderately. Nor will your tires overheat riding in the Vegas desert in August. Nor will your properly-inflated tires filled with oxygen get any less MPG than your properly-inflated tires filled with nitrogen.

If someone needs to pay $20 so they don't have to check their tires as often**fine. I'd rather save the $20 and put it toward an alignment when needed. Mis-aligned tires will do far more damage more quickly to tires than slightly under-inflated tires.

[Kysmart]

If you come into the pit and crew uses Nomex to remove the tires then you will appreciate the difference. The expansion ratios are different and you can predict pressures much more accurately on the track based on speed, turns and braking. You would like lap 1 and lap 20 pressures to be the same and nitrogen helps. We are all on the edge. My edge is pretty pathetic compared to professionals but it is my edge just the same.

Around town the larger molecule is easier to keep inside the tire. That is about it.

O2 degradation is no a big factor for me.

If you check pressures every other day or so, it is not an issue.

Google this topic and you will be besieged by the half-correct barked at full crescendo. Caveat emptor applies always.

We have not been so blessed as to have taken delivery. That said, I am not sure that a smart can even heat up its tires. It remains to be seen. Maybe late this summer. But we are with you in spirit.

[bobnyuma]

Nitrogen has some benifits, but not worth the effort for regular auto use. It is used in race tires but mostly in air planes. It dissipates heat better but mostly it does not expand or contract like air so the tire on the air plane stay mostly the same pressure at altitude as on land. Keeps from getting flats at 35000 ft. It is mostly a marketing thing so, dont waste your money.

[Kysmart]

Hmm, the plane at altitude makes such sense but I never gave it any thought. They would drop to low, low temps and then resist heating on descent because they are in the wells. Anything at 35k probably has wells. That could be a real problem. Frankly, that dwarfs the race car issue IMHO.

Is nitrogen less prone to water problems as well? Is it inherently dry? In has no molecules of H or O.