Filling tires with nitrogen?

[ArticRider]

I've noticed recently that a lot of tire shops and dealerships are using the Nitrofill nitrogen system to inflate tires. They say some of the benefits include less leaking and longer life for the tires, as opposed to filling it with regular air. Of course it costs quite a bit more than air(free) to fill your tires with nitrogen. I was wondering if anyone here has tried this yet or if it is as good as they say.

[V6Bob]

Re: Filling tires with nitrogen?

Race cars have used nitrogen for years. The main reason is that it's dry.

Small amounts of water can alter tire pressure as the tire heats up. Since you don't know exactly how much water is in the air from your compressor, this means hot tire pressure will vary a bit. Since a few tenths of a psi makes a real difference in how a race car handles, that's bad.

It's easier for a race team to carry a few high pressure bottles of dry nitrogen than it is for them to dry the air from a compressor.

In street cars? Personally, I wouldn't pay for it.

[Arctc Wolf]

Re: Filling tires with nitrogen?

it's also a way of reducing weight. nitrogen weighs less than oxygen and air. It's not enough to notice on a street car, but when a race car is going 150+, the reduction in weight makes a small difference, a tenth or 2 a lap, which could mean the difference between winning and losing.

[V6Bob]

Re: Filling tires with nitrogen?

it's also a way of reducing weight. nitrogen weighs less than oxygen and air. It's not enough to notice on a street car, but when a race car is going 150+, the reduction in weight makes a small difference, a tenth or 2 a lap, which could mean the difference between winning and losing.

Nope. The difference is less (much less) than a tenth of an ounce per tire. No way that's even a thousandth of a second.

[BobbyZ72]

Re: Filling tires with nitrogen?

There are no noticable benifits. And it wont extend the life of them or give you better milage.

[zlexiss]

Re: Filling tires with nitrogen?

Step 1: Convince soccer moms they need teh NITROGENZZ!!!11!11!!
Step 2: Profit!

Of course, the tire lube they use better be baked dry and purged if you really want the whole benefit - why not ask them if they do that? ;)

[rt1]

Re: Filling tires with nitrogen?

LOL! Soccer Moms. But seriously, I do see that nitrogen is better than regular air from a compressor. Race teams use nitrogen bottles for their air guns to change tires in NASCAR. You can get a bottle for less than it would be to get a compressor to get it to that kind of PSI. The more PSI the faster the guns spin. They use it in the tires to regulate tire pressure better.

I have also heard something about the molecules of nitrogen are larger and don't leak as much as air would. I really don't see how it would help street tires, maybe drier air in the tire would help not rotting the tire from the inside... but I wouldn't want to leave my tires on that long anyway.

Sounds like a fad to me. Not for Mini Vans, and SUVs.

Rob

[CDNFB]

Re: Filling tires with nitrogen?

Been filling tires with nitrogen on large transport aircraft for decades now. The real benifits on aircraft are:
1) reduces corrosion in(on) the wheel assemblies,
2) the nitrogen will not feed a brake fire when the wheel assembly fuse plugs melt out (which allows the tire to deflate and not explode!)

[V6Bob]

Re: Filling tires with nitrogen?

I have also heard something about the molecules of nitrogen are larger and don't leak as much as air would.

Nope. Other way around. Oxygen leaks slower than nitrogen (there's not enough other gases in dry air to matter).

But seriously, I do see that nitrogen is better than regular air from a compressor. Race teams use nitrogen bottles for their air guns to change tires in NASCAR. You can get a bottle for less than it would be to get a compressor to get it to that kind of PSI. The more PSI the faster the guns spin.

Nope.

"Nitrogen is used because compressed air contains moisture that would damage the air gun."

http://www.racing.ups.com/racing/tea...criptions.html

"Nitrogen is currently used because of its low moisture content."

http://www.hendrickmotorsports.com/t...pitcrew&bhcp=1

There are a lot of stories out there, but tanks of nitrogen are just a simple and reliable way for race teams to get dry compressed gas for filling tires and operating air tools.

[zlexiss]

Re: Filling tires with nitrogen?

And think, with plain old air you're getting 80% nitrogen for free! :D