Nitrogen filled tires?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 165
Likes: 1
From: rowlett tx
Nitrogen filled tires?
I just learned that some tire shops offer this option. I know air is already 78% nitrogen, but apparently things like water vapor is also eliminated when filled with pure nitrogen. Anyone had any experience with this? Is it worth it?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,753
Likes: 15
From: backwoods upstate ny
we are about 400 ft above sea level here--that means that the ''boiling point'' of water is 210* F....we race supermods on an asphalt surface and our tire temps get over 210* on warm evenings...when the ''water'' inside the tire changes state and becomes ''steam'' it expands to 1600 times its ''water'' state and altho its a small amount of water, that volume change has an undesireable effect on the handling of the car as it kicks up the tire pressure....while we have a smart bunch of turnips in our crew and could work around this , it is easier to simply use a ''dry'' gas--compressed ''nit'' is a cheap commodity and is easier to carry than an air compressor as a side benefit.
for street use?--just a gimmick.
for street use?--just a gimmick.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 13,348
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From: SCMR Rat Pack'r Charter Member..Great Bend KS
Originally Posted by raisinbran
I just learned that some tire shops offer this option. I know air is already 78% nitrogen, but apparently things like water vapor is also eliminated when filled with pure nitrogen. Anyone had any experience with this? Is it worth it?
Originally Posted by redrose
that means that the ''boiling point'' of water is 210* F....we race supermods on an asphalt surface and our tire temps get over 210* on warm evenings...when the ''water'' inside the tire changes state and becomes ''steam'' it expands to 1600 times its ''water'' state
Ya' havta' consider everything.....
Larry
code5coupe
Last edited by rocco16; Sep 9, 2006 at 09:47 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,783
Likes: 15
From: Northern California
The Nitrogen molecules are larger and more dense than air molecules and will not leak from the tire.
If you fill your tires with Nitrogen to say 35 psi, and check the tire pressure in a month, the tire pressure will still be 35 psi. That's the advantage for passenger cars.
If you fill your tires with Nitrogen to say 35 psi, and check the tire pressure in a month, the tire pressure will still be 35 psi. That's the advantage for passenger cars.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 5,713
Likes: 105
From: Manassas VA
Originally Posted by GKK
The Nitrogen molecules are larger and more dense than air molecules and will not leak from the tire.
If you fill your tires with Nitrogen to say 35 psi, and check the tire pressure in a month, the tire pressure will still be 35 psi. That's the advantage for passenger cars.
If you fill your tires with Nitrogen to say 35 psi, and check the tire pressure in a month, the tire pressure will still be 35 psi. That's the advantage for passenger cars.
That is what I have been told as well. I know costco is offering it and there is no charge for it. I would like to add, in AC work we use it for leak testing. It is dry, so there is no acid problems with using it and it is very stable. Tempatures do not cause it to change pressures.
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Race Director
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 13,348
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From: SCMR Rat Pack'r Charter Member..Great Bend KS
Originally Posted by 93 ragtop
Tempatures do not cause it to change pressures.
Racers can use this characteristic, street drivers won't.
The ONLY benefit from filling your tires with nitrogen is more stable pressures..slightly. Frankly, how many of us can tell the difference between 34 and 36 psi in our tires, anyway?
Larry
code5coupe
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
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From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Unless you evacuate all the atmospheric air from your tire before you inflate it with nitrogen, your tire will still have water vapor in it and the benefits from nitrogen will not be there. Compressors that use an intercooler will have water free compressed air and at a cost much much lower than dry nitrogen.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,218
Likes: 7
From: Burleson Texas
i have a second job at costco tire center....i put it in my car...didnt notice a damn difference. supposedly leaks slower...totaled my vette 3 days later...maybe it was the nitrogen...? lol, it wasnt, but yea the stuff is just a marketing tool!
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
I have been driving for 43 years, driven in excess of 1/2 million miles, wore out and replaced many sets of tires, owned one at a time, 4 vettes, not one tire of mine nor have I ever heard of anyones tires oxidizing on the inside and causing a problem. Also, nitrogen is chemically inert at normal atmospheric temperatures and it does not scavange anything except money out of your wallet when you buy into the ,"benefits", of it inflating your tires.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 5,713
Likes: 105
From: Manassas VA
Originally Posted by rocco16
"Tempatures" will, indeed, cause it to expand and contract...just not quite as much as air will.
Racers can use this characteristic, street drivers won't.
The ONLY benefit from filling your tires with nitrogen is more stable pressures..slightly. Frankly, how many of us can tell the difference between 34 and 36 psi in our tires, anyway?
Larry
code5coupe
Racers can use this characteristic, street drivers won't.
The ONLY benefit from filling your tires with nitrogen is more stable pressures..slightly. Frankly, how many of us can tell the difference between 34 and 36 psi in our tires, anyway?
Larry
code5coupe
to a degree. (no pun intended 
) I would like to see someone take the time to fill 2 tires with nitrogen and 2 with air. Check pressures cold and hot and see how much difference it makes. I believe it would be less with nitrogen but who knows. Again, I have it in my truck due to the fact when costco put the tires on that is what they use. By the way, they put these green valve stem covers on when they change the tires. 
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,905
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From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
Originally Posted by rocco16
"Tempatures" will, indeed, cause it to expand and contract...just not quite as much as air will.
Racers can use this characteristic, street drivers won't.
The ONLY benefit from filling your tires with nitrogen is more stable pressures..slightly. Frankly, how many of us can tell the difference between 34 and 36 psi in our tires, anyway?
Larry
code5coupe
Racers can use this characteristic, street drivers won't.
The ONLY benefit from filling your tires with nitrogen is more stable pressures..slightly. Frankly, how many of us can tell the difference between 34 and 36 psi in our tires, anyway?
Larry
code5coupe
I'm with Larry on this. All gasses expand or rise in pressure when heated (PV=nRT). IIRC, nitrogen has a slightly higher specific heat than oxygen (the other major component of air), so pure nitrogen should show a slightly smaller pressure rise than an air filled tire, but I'm guessing most of us racer wannabees wouldn't notice the difference.
Additionally, JFB has a good point about it all being pointless if the tire isn't first purged of air and moisture.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
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From: The Top of Utah
Originally Posted by toptechx6
Nitrogen? Hell, that's old technology, I use helium in mine, reduces unsprung weight and cut 2 tenths off my ET and if you think they ride good filled with nitrogen, wait till you try helium!
Shhh!
I've been trying to keep a lid on that info, so I can maintain an edge over the competition. BTW, hydrogen is even lighter still. Remember the Hindenburg? Shhh!RACE ON!!!