Anyone running Nitrogen Tires?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 320
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From: Harrisburg PA
Anyone running Nitrogen Tires?
I was reading that NASCAR tires are filled with nitrogen instead of regular air in order to keep the moisture out. It seems that at high temps, the small amount of water, present in air, vaporizes at high temps, which increases tire pressure. Is this only for NASCAR or is anyone out there running nitro-tires?
Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 12,438
Likes: 919
From: CONCORD NC
Re: Anyone running Nitrogen Tires? (LTD)
All racers do it, but it is totally unnecessary in street cars. For racing, you need to be able to predict exactly how much pressure your tires will gain when hot, and the only way to do this is to minimize the fluid in your tires. Not only does using Nitrogen reduce water content, but Nitrogen also has a lower specific heat than "air".
By lowering the specific heat, you simply allow the tires to absorb more heat for each psi of pressure growth.
However, as street tires never get the least bit warm, this is totally unnecessary for street use.
Dave
By lowering the specific heat, you simply allow the tires to absorb more heat for each psi of pressure growth.
However, as street tires never get the least bit warm, this is totally unnecessary for street use.
Dave
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 117
Likes: 0
Re: Anyone running Nitrogen Tires? (LTD)
I never ran nitrogen in tires, but we used it for filling shocks in drag racing for many years. when shocks compress with oil and air the mosture will foam up and with a loss of viscosity. Nitrogen can be purchesed at any welding supply shop.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 2,192
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Re: Anyone running Nitrogen Tires? (y2khardtop)
All racers do it, but it is totally unnecessary in street cars. { WELL I LIKE IT } For racing, you need to be able to predict exactly how much pressure your tires will gain when hot, and the only way to do this is to minimize the fluid in your tires. Not only does using Nitrogen reduce water content, but Nitrogen also has a lower specific heat { ???} than "air".
By lowering the specific heat, you simply allow the tires to absorb more heat for each psi of pressure growth.
However, as street tires never get the least bit warm, this is totally unnecessary for street use. { MINE GET UP TO 200 DEGREES!}
Dave
By lowering the specific heat, you simply allow the tires to absorb more heat for each psi of pressure growth.
However, as street tires never get the least bit warm, this is totally unnecessary for street use. { MINE GET UP TO 200 DEGREES!}
Dave
Well I do. I use this as a tool to control tire wear mostly though.
