[Z06] Nitrogen vs Air
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 588
Likes: 1
From: Santa Ynez Ca.
Nitrogen vs Air
What's up with the nitrogen vs air debate? Cosco wants to put nitrogen in my new Michelins and charge me for it but I read in Car & Driver that you shouldn't mix air with the nitrogen. So how do I add air to keep the pressure correct using my air compressor? My Z never sees the tract or especially high speeds. Is this just a fad or what? I've been putting compressed air in my Z since '01 with no effects that I've noticed. Somehow I think some desk jockey has just dreamed this up!
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
From: Costa Mesa CA
I work at a tire store, and so I am supposed to be "pro-nitrogen." Most places that offer nitrogen fill will also offer nitrogen "top-offs" to maintain proper tire pressure. The idea behind nitro is that the molecules are supposed to be bigger than "air" molecules and are less prone to pressure changes by temperature changes.
Based on my experience, nitrogen filled tires will lose pressure just as fast and often as regular air. Atmospheric air, if I remember correctly, is approximately 70 percent nitrogen anyway. I have run nitro in my 02 Z06 before, with neither positive or negative results.
Based on my experience, nitrogen filled tires will lose pressure just as fast and often as regular air. Atmospheric air, if I remember correctly, is approximately 70 percent nitrogen anyway. I have run nitro in my 02 Z06 before, with neither positive or negative results.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 43,084
Likes: 33
From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
nitrogen or N2 contains less moisture then normal air. tire temperature fluctuation are marginal at best when using Nitrogen.
is N2 needed for passenger cars? IMO NO. for race cars? YES most definitively
is N2 needed for passenger cars? IMO NO. for race cars? YES most definitively
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 14,406
Likes: 3
From: Cypress TX
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,150
Likes: 6
From: NS
My job is to know a thing or two about tires. Two things...
1. Pure nitrogen out of a bottle contains no water vapor. Air does. Water vapor has a high expansion ratio so if it's inside your tires when they get warm the pressure will build more. Does this apply to a street tire? NO!! It's used in racing because tire temperatures get quite high so it makes sense there. It helps control the pressure build-up in race tires and therefore the tire's spring rate. Street use... just trying to rip ya off.
2. Air contains oxygen which over time will oxidize rubber causing it to harden, weaken, and crack. Filling the tires with pure nitrogen reduces the amount of oxygen migration in the tire which makes the carcasse last longer. Does this apply to passenger car tires? NO!! Yeah the theory is true but you'll never run your tires long enough for oxidation to become a problem. It does apply to big rig tires because they are recapped multiple times so carcasse life is important. They may have a couple million miles on the carcasse before it's scrapped.
In summary, you're wasting your money by using nitrogen unless you drive a semi-truck. Just a total sales farce. Save your money.
1. Pure nitrogen out of a bottle contains no water vapor. Air does. Water vapor has a high expansion ratio so if it's inside your tires when they get warm the pressure will build more. Does this apply to a street tire? NO!! It's used in racing because tire temperatures get quite high so it makes sense there. It helps control the pressure build-up in race tires and therefore the tire's spring rate. Street use... just trying to rip ya off.
2. Air contains oxygen which over time will oxidize rubber causing it to harden, weaken, and crack. Filling the tires with pure nitrogen reduces the amount of oxygen migration in the tire which makes the carcasse last longer. Does this apply to passenger car tires? NO!! Yeah the theory is true but you'll never run your tires long enough for oxidation to become a problem. It does apply to big rig tires because they are recapped multiple times so carcasse life is important. They may have a couple million miles on the carcasse before it's scrapped.
In summary, you're wasting your money by using nitrogen unless you drive a semi-truck. Just a total sales farce. Save your money.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
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
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 14,639
Likes: 39
From: Winston-Salem North Carolina
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
I ran nitro filled tires last Mon/Tue at Watkins Glen, and I was pretty amazed by the fact that the air increase after every session was exactly the same. Front left/back to front, all of the tires gained exactly 10lbs. Normally, I'd adjust pressure after every session with air.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,251
Likes: 16
From: Phoenix Arizona
I ran nitro filled tires last Mon/Tue at Watkins Glen, and I was pretty amazed by the fact that the air increase after every session was exactly the same. Front left/back to front, all of the tires gained exactly 10lbs. Normally, I'd adjust pressure after every session with air.
its always a gusseing game with daytime and track surface temps changing throught out the day. i have to adjust and hope 
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 144
Likes: 0
From: Castle Rock Colorado
It is worth using. As others have said it gets H2O out of the air and removes most of the other gasses that are not nitrogen. In Colorado we may get a foot of snow and be 60 degrees the next day. All newer cars have tpms. With nitrogen your light will be on a lot less. The truth about nitrogen for passenger vehicles is probably somewhere in the middle of the two sides of the argument. It has no negative effects and some positive ones.
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
From: Cedar Rapids Iowa
You can probably run N2 in a passenger car, but it ain't worth the effort. The only folks who should run N2 are racers. As the tires heat during a race the N2 won't expand as much, so you can better control your air pressure during the race. In a race with the vehicle and tires at it's limit, slight unexpected variations in tire pressure can dramatically affect how the car handles, and may render it unmanageable (i.e. unmanageable under-steer/over-steer).
Yes, I think it's just a way to bilk customers for more money.
Yes, I think it's just a way to bilk customers for more money.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,251
Likes: 16
From: Phoenix Arizona
You can probably run N2 in a passenger car, but it ain't worth the effort. The only folks who should run N2 are racers. As the tires heat during a race the N2 won't expand as much, so you can better control your air pressure during the race. In a race with the vehicle and tires at it's limit, slight unexpected variations in tire pressure can dramatically affect how the car handles, and may render it unmanageable (i.e. unmanageable under-steer/over-steer).
Yes, I think it's just a way to bilk customers for more money.
Yes, I think it's just a way to bilk customers for more money.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 588
Likes: 1
From: Santa Ynez Ca.
You're correct. I checked the quote and its free with lifetime checkups. It was BigBrand that charges $2.00 per wheel. I'm OK with using it but just wondered if it made any difference. Thanks to all who replied as I learned a lot about the issue.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 727
Likes: 6
From: Media Pennsylvania
We had the rep come in the dealer I work at and try to sell us the Nitrogen machine, I got him to demo it on my Trailblazer SS and another tech got it done on his Z51 Silverado. It does seem to keep the pressures a little more stable, and I noticed the ride was a tiny bit "rougher", I thought that might be in my head until the other tech mentioned the same thing to me. Bottom line I wouldn't pay for it but if its free it can't hurt. We ended up not getting the machine.
