Nitrogen
AMP Racing
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 10,754
Likes: 589
From: Washington TWP NJ
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2017 C5 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12
It wont harm your sensors.
A lot of people have different opinions on this subject.
Mine is;
Nitrogen is a waste on a car if you dont race it. The purpose of nitrogen is to replace the oxygen. Oxygen holds water molecules and reacts to temperature changes in an undesireable way - therefore nitrogen would be better. However, IMHO the typical driver will never notice the difference.
A lot of people have different opinions on this subject.
Mine is;
Nitrogen is a waste on a car if you dont race it. The purpose of nitrogen is to replace the oxygen. Oxygen holds water molecules and reacts to temperature changes in an undesireable way - therefore nitrogen would be better. However, IMHO the typical driver will never notice the difference.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 11,133
Likes: 1
From: ~The DARKSIDE Group~
I want to replace the air as nitrogen molecules are larger, causing less loss of pressure, resulting in less irritation with low tire pressure notices on cold mornings.
Nitrogen on costs $5 a tire, NBD.
Nitrogen on costs $5 a tire, NBD.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 124,339
Likes: 283
From: .... NJ
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05 thru '19
You have 78 percent nitrogen already, so it won't damage anything but your wallet. If you can get it for free get it. This subject has been beaten to death, best to do a search. 
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 12,599
Likes: 1
From: Texas
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,533
Likes: 1
From: North Aurora IL
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 763
Likes: 1
From: Oceanside Ca
Nitrogen
You will also get 21.5% more horsepower.......Remember, if you should have an erection that last longer than four hours.......call all of your best friends or Doctor.....I can never remember which.....
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 58,498
Likes: 1,822
From: Oklahoma City OK
C6 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 25,050
Likes: 1,265
From: Virginia
St. Jude Donor '11
Heres my experience with the nitrogen in the tires theory>>>
3 weeks ago I got new tires (Michelins)on one of my vehicles at Costco. Costco now uses nitrogen exclusively in tires. I was told that I could keep 30 psi and even after driving on the highway in the summer that it would not expand...I have tested the tire psi for the last 3 weeks many times and cold it reads 30...then I go driving for an hour or so in 85-95 degree temp on the highway and city driving mixed and then take the reading and everytime I have tested it this way the hot reading shows 34.5 psi...I tested it with 3 different good guages...same reading.
So in conclusion after "scientifically" testing cold then hot Costcos information that the nitrogen in the tires does not expand is pure BULLCHITT
As far as I can tell it is a gimmic to sell more tires.....but this is just a semi-educated guess on my part
NOTE:...Buyer of the "Nitrogen being way better than regular air "theory beware
P.S.>>>the Michelins ride Great!
3 weeks ago I got new tires (Michelins)on one of my vehicles at Costco. Costco now uses nitrogen exclusively in tires. I was told that I could keep 30 psi and even after driving on the highway in the summer that it would not expand...I have tested the tire psi for the last 3 weeks many times and cold it reads 30...then I go driving for an hour or so in 85-95 degree temp on the highway and city driving mixed and then take the reading and everytime I have tested it this way the hot reading shows 34.5 psi...I tested it with 3 different good guages...same reading.
So in conclusion after "scientifically" testing cold then hot Costcos information that the nitrogen in the tires does not expand is pure BULLCHITT
As far as I can tell it is a gimmic to sell more tires.....but this is just a semi-educated guess on my part
NOTE:...Buyer of the "Nitrogen being way better than regular air "theory beware
P.S.>>>the Michelins ride Great!
Last edited by Yello95; Sep 12, 2007 at 12:31 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,340
Likes: 35
From: Folsom Lake CA
You must be me! I just put new tires on at Costco 3 weeks ago, with nitrogen, too!
Although I had them set at 33 psi cold, I've noticed they hit 36 psi when hot. Before you go thinking that they hit that high because I started with a higher pressure than 30 cold, it's been 3 weeks and my pressures have dropped to 28 and 29 psi in the mornings, and it's 80 degrees in the mornings here, right now, and they STILL ramp up to 36.
Bottom line is that I'm seeing MUCH higher swings now than I did before with regular air!
Although I had them set at 33 psi cold, I've noticed they hit 36 psi when hot. Before you go thinking that they hit that high because I started with a higher pressure than 30 cold, it's been 3 weeks and my pressures have dropped to 28 and 29 psi in the mornings, and it's 80 degrees in the mornings here, right now, and they STILL ramp up to 36.
Bottom line is that I'm seeing MUCH higher swings now than I did before with regular air!
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 35,617
Likes: 167
Tech Contributor
Cruise-In 11 Veteran
NCM Ambassador
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'10
To answer your question it won't hurt your tire pressure sensors. The only real advantage to nitrogen fill is if you are planning long term storage of the car. The rest is simply a way to separate you from your money.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,997
Likes: 1
From: Life is a game/Golf is serious. IA
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 850
Likes: 10
From: Athens OH
Used to fill the tires on the aircraft when I serviced them in the military with nitrogen. Doesn't fluctuate like regular air would at different altitude and temperature extremes or there would be no tires to land on.