Nitrogen in tires

**Sarge** · 10-10-2008, 02:13 PM

They did all 4 at once...purge and refill 3 times to get all the air/moisture out.
Why? Why not

**thearborbarber** · 10-10-2008, 02:50 PM

I was under the impression that benefits of nitrogen were that the molecules were larger than the gaps in the rubber molecules so they retain pressure longer. And the other reason was that nitrogen was less affect by heat.

http://www.getnitrogen.org/

rednari · 10-11-2008, 12:27 AM

Thats right, nitrogen is less affected by heat because it does not pick up water like air. Air filled tires always have some water because the air fill becomes saturated with water from either atmospheric conditions or from air compressors. As the tire heats up, the water turns to steam which inturn affects handling and performance. Air also weighs more than nitrogen.

As to saving fuel, I think those statements are PC because the savings are marginal at best.

**Sarge** · 10-11-2008, 01:52 AM

And it was free

**chuckie669** · 10-11-2008, 02:04 AM

I had never heard of this before. Boy am I outta the loop.

**Sarge** · 10-11-2008, 02:38 AM

Does seem to drive....well I dunno....."smoother" if that makes sense....

rednari · 10-11-2008, 07:52 AM

For Chuckie. Indy and Daytona cars have used nitrogen for decades. At constant speeds in excess of 200, I probably do not need to say race tires, and the air fill, gets extremely hot as in over 140 degrees. This of course turns the water in air fill to steam which affects handling and can cause the tire to prematuely blow. You do not want to lose a tire at 200.

Interesting, Sarge, you feel the ride is smoother??

**Sarge** · 10-12-2008, 04:40 PM

I know I know...the placebo effect....but I swear it is smoother....then I did some checking and sure as shit...nitrogen compresses and releases much differently then air/water mixture...so yes it makes sense it is smoother....

**0rion** · 10-13-2008, 03:30 PM

the only problem I have with it is availability and price. It's hard to drive somewhere to put air in a tire when I have a bought and paid for compressor in the garage. Nitrogen does have it's positives over air.....just not enough for me to go through the hassle of running it.

**chuckie669** · 10-13-2008, 03:34 PM

What Orion said...

How much of a pita is it if your tire's 3 lbs low?

**Sarge** · 10-13-2008, 06:34 PM

I have a 120lb portable air tank I take to the track....they filled it with Nitrogen for me....but you can mix air/nitrogen no problems if in a bind.

**Hot Black Trans-Am** · 10-13-2008, 07:12 PM

Anyone know where you can get a home nitrogen tire filler from? Cheapest I could find is 5K!

**Tide** · 10-13-2008, 08:14 PM

Originally Posted by rednari

As to saving fuel, I think those statements are PC because the savings are marginal at best.

Marginal individually, but the savings would be massive if done on a global scale.

Of course, there's the whole 'fill your tires with nitrogen' cost thing which is essentially trading one cost (fuel) for another (nitrogen). But globally, or even just across the US, the savings would be significant on the whole.

It's one of those 'see the forrest and the trees' things.

man_of_steel83 · 10-13-2008, 08:38 PM

where can you get your tires filled with nitrogen, cause i dont think the big chains have it... do they?

**TyeMug** · 10-13-2008, 10:14 PM

My uncle whom I work with talks about this nitrogen in his tires and his new Cadillac CTS he just bought that really "wakes up when he goes into the manual mode" I'm eagerly awaiting when I meet him on the bypass or the highway. Nothing like a 3rd gear pull from 65 in the Goat

**Hot Black Trans-Am** · 10-14-2008, 06:04 AM

Originally Posted by man_of_steel83

where can you get your tires filled with nitrogen, cause i dont think the big chains have it... do they?

My local Saturn dealer had it for years. I don't know if they all do or not.

rednari · 10-14-2008, 09:29 PM

If you guys are serious about filling tires with nitrogen at home, there is a cheap and easy source, to wit: the local welding supply. Nitrogen is used for TIG welding and other shielded gas production welding. It is distributed in a brown bottle. The same type and size as the green oxygen bottle you are probably familiar with.

It is more expensive than oxygen, but you should be able get a full bottle, the standard torch cart size, for about $50. That type of bottle will fill hundreds of tires. They hold 2200 lbs pressure. You should be able to hook up an oxygen gauge and set it at 90 lbs for instance. Then with appropriate fittings, attach a length of air hose with air chuck and fill the tires.

**PatrizioD** · 10-15-2008, 12:35 PM

Sounds like a good idea, Red. Some Paintball supply stores have it too... I used to fill up my M4 Paintball Marker (gun) with it. What I'd like to know is, what is the weight difference between a tire with nitrogen and a tire with air (at the same pressure, obviously). Anyone have any info on this?