Using Nitrogen in your tires?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
From: Livermore, CA, USA
Using Nitrogen in your tires?
I was told by a fellow Vetter that people are starting to use Nitrogen in the tires, (with or in addition to air), to help stabilize the temp, and therefore add to the length of wear of the tread. I've never heard of this and was wondering if anyone here has heard of this or is doing this. Appreciate your help.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,447
Likes: 6
From: Los Angeles
Air is 78% nitrogen anyway. It's a gimmick. I had the tire shop tell me that I should do it to mine because NASCAR does it to their cars. I told him I don't give a rats booty about NASCAR because I'm not doing hot laps between my home and work.
Unless you are doing laps at 180mph, I doubt the 22% difference will be noticeable whatsoever.
Unless you are doing laps at 180mph, I doubt the 22% difference will be noticeable whatsoever.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 9,899
Likes: 1,839
From: Hot Springs AR
While it's not a gimmick for the track, it's useless for the street. The main purpose is to get a gas that is DRY, because air with varying water vapor concentrations reacts to temperature at different rates.
Jet aircraft use nitrogen to keep that water vapor from condensing and freezing when the tires are cold-soaked at high altitude.
HTH, and have a good one,
Mike
Jet aircraft use nitrogen to keep that water vapor from condensing and freezing when the tires are cold-soaked at high altitude.
HTH, and have a good one,
Mike
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,325
Likes: 0
From: You can't get there from here NJ
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
I've heard about using nitrogen instead of air, but who cares? I'd rather put in nitrous oxide, and pull over while stuck in traffic every once in a while for a hit, and an attitude adjustment.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 752
Likes: 1
From: Tulsa OK
Its a big deal right now at all the tire shops. Apparently, the nitrogen molecules don't expand under heat like air so the tire pressure stays more constant. Who cares.
If your DIC didn't indicate tire pressure and you were driving on low or high pressure improperly inflates tires without knowing it you would impact the tire life and mileage.
In a C5 with tire pressure sensors let you know whats going on all the time anyway.
Just a marketing gimmick.
If your DIC didn't indicate tire pressure and you were driving on low or high pressure improperly inflates tires without knowing it you would impact the tire life and mileage.
In a C5 with tire pressure sensors let you know whats going on all the time anyway.
Just a marketing gimmick.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 494
Likes: 0
From: Dubai Mirdiff
Garage to Ralphyboy "I also have a jar of invisible dust that when mixed with your fuel adds 200hp if your interested? Comes free with this see through jumper and matching hat"
No but really I would say it depends how it is where you live? I was having some problem with the sensors. I removed all air from the tyres and replaced it with Nitrogen. Cost next to nothing. Now all tyres show the pressure put into them and flux together instead of one tyre up other down as it was with air... dont know if it is any safer but i am a symmetry type of guy :P But its 35Degrees at 7am here so worth a look i thought.
No but really I would say it depends how it is where you live? I was having some problem with the sensors. I removed all air from the tyres and replaced it with Nitrogen. Cost next to nothing. Now all tyres show the pressure put into them and flux together instead of one tyre up other down as it was with air... dont know if it is any safer but i am a symmetry type of guy :P But its 35Degrees at 7am here so worth a look i thought.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 494
Likes: 0
From: Dubai Mirdiff
Double post but just forgot to say... why you even bothered about it. It costs like 10 Dollars with free re-fills. Scrape behind the seat of your vette and you will find more 
Just get it done than you can give people the "molecules don't expand" speech lol. 
Just get it done than you can give people the "molecules don't expand" speech lol.
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
From: Livermore, CA, USA
WOW, what a great knowledge base. I'm sure glad I asked the question here, since I never heard of this. Sounds to me like another gimmick unless you're racing your car. I figured I got 32K out of my first set of tires, so I couldn't complain anyway. Thanks for the great inputs
Sounds to me like another gimmick unless you're racing your car. I figured I got 32K out of my first set of tires, so I couldn't complain anyway. Thanks for the great inputs
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,661
Likes: 67
From: Ocean Springs MS
Don't believe that nitrogen crap. Unless your tire dealer has changed the laws of physics and thermodynamics, nitrogen expands and contracts with temperature, just like every other gas known to science. It's only possible benefits are no water vapor, and larger molecule size, which over a very long time period, might mean less leakage. However, I have never had anyone explain where the air that was in the tire when it was mounted, goes when you fill it with nitrogen. Since 30PSI (the nominal vette pressure) is about 2x atmospheric pressure, it seems like at least 1/3 of what's in your tire will still be good ole air, which is already 78% nitrogen, anyway.
As mentioned above, we do use nitrogen in aviation. We use it for one main reason, and that is lack of water vapor. The reason is not due to no pressure changes. In fact, on anything that has a mandatory pressure, it is usually specified at a certain temp, typically 70F, and a chart shows the variation due to temperature change.
As mentioned above, we do use nitrogen in aviation. We use it for one main reason, and that is lack of water vapor. The reason is not due to no pressure changes. In fact, on anything that has a mandatory pressure, it is usually specified at a certain temp, typically 70F, and a chart shows the variation due to temperature change.
Last edited by fdxpilot; Apr 24, 2007 at 07:26 PM. Reason: spelling
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Not on either liberal coast.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: You can't get there from here NJ
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
I didn't mean to sound so dopey in my response, but I did read about nitrogen gas as a replacement for plain air.I believe there was something on Tire Rack about it.I thought they said that it helped to prevent deterioration of the rubber compound internally in the tire, and keep pressure more stable..My TPS seems to be pretty consistent with regular air, and it seems that this is just another overblown myth, which can be discussed ad nauseum ,but in the end, it's meaningless. I'll go with good ole NJ polluted air.Besides, maybe it will wear out my runcraps sooner, so I can get some better tires.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 763
Likes: 1
From: Oceanside Ca
Nitrogen filled tires
I bought the Michelin Pilot Sports from Costco and they filled them with the nitrogen for free. My C-5 is a garage queen so I bought a 5 gallon air tank and they filled it for me so I can keep them correct right out of the garage. The molecules are larger than regular air and I just went with it anyway, what the hell. I alsos have a battery trickle charger as teh C-5 will tap the new Costco battery in about 3 weeks.
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closing this one as it has been beat to death and usually ends up in a bunch of smartazz comments and arguing....do a search for Nitrogen....
