Well, being a tire guy I'm not disagreeing with what was said. Yes, nitrogen is better but there are some key things to keep in mind:

Most people will check their tires at least once per year. So this difference is insignificant for normal road car use.

Racing tires, main reason is to remove moisture which has an extreme influence on pressure variation. Aircraft tire because there is lots of steel in the carcasse and they run at very high pressure - typically ~200psi. High pressure = more oxygen migration = more oxidation = tire failure so the solution is to remove the oxygen. Same holds true for heavy truck tires.

Very true BUT all passenger car tires will wear out long before oxidation is an issue. Unless you store them for a very long time which answers the question the OP had. Personally, for long term storage, I would use nitrogen. Normal everyday driving - waste of money.

Very unlikely for a passenger car tire. For a truck tire, 100% true because they are retreaded. Carcasse life is important.

Absolutely true BUT the tire tread will wear out long before you have a belt separation unless the tire is severely abused - i.e. very low pressure and very high load for long periods of time in Arizona. Unless, you store the tires inflated for a very long time. Back to the OP question... long term storage I would use nitrogen. Normal passenger car usage it is a waste of money.

>>> “the oxidation of the steel-belt rubber" and cable and carasse wire.
This is the primary reason it is used in truck tires. Truck tires not only have steel belts, they have steel carcasse plies. Oxygen will deteriorate the carcasse very quickly making the retread life of a truck tire much shorter. Nitrogen makes sense for truck or aircraft tires.

See above. Racing primarily to reduce moisture content.

This is where I have the biggest problem. General comments like "makes a big difference" I believe is totally false. It does make a difference but I believe the difference is insignificant. You'll save much more money keeping a good air filter on your engine. Although the 0.3% general claim is true. Varies tire to tire.

Marketing and Sales at its best.

 

I put the link in at the bottom. I am not a sales man but I did recently change to nitrogen because my chrome rims(2 of them) developed corrosion leaks around the bead. Maybe the installer's filter dryer for the air compressors was bad or non existent but I was told it was a common problem with chrome rims. I went somewhere else after they cleaned and bead sealed my tires and got a nitrogen fill. One guy said you could not tell if it rode better well my butt'o'meter says it does a little more firm and less squirrelly. as the weather changed from 90's to 70's my cold start pressure dropped 4psi before changing over. I filled them to 30psi with N and during the next 90 to 70 degree swing there was 1 lb difference. With air I would get a 5lb change as the tires warmed up on a hot day the most I have seen now is 4 lbs on a long hot drive. Small changes add up and I hope the added MPG and lack of corrosion leaks justifies the $20 I spent.

 

You took all that time, and responded to a cut/paste from the internet.

 

What is you point Lucky? You took all your time to read it
Nothing wrong with a debate on something I haven't seen mentioned very often and providing useful info for people to make a decision on. I made mine and know it will solve my corrosion issues and the rest of the benefits are just gravy.,

 

No, I didn't take the time to read it. Why? Because advanced thermodynamics was a course requirement for my engineering degree.....which means.....I already know that nitrogen follows ideal gas law (for the purposes of car tire pressures/temperatures). Since I was working on aircraft when AD 87-08-09 was implemented, I also know why the FAA mandated aircraft tires(mounted on wheels with brakes) are only allowed to have 5% air by volume........and oxygen migration had nothing to do with the directive.

 

Moisture content is the only variable that makes a lot of difference for regular street applications and only then if we're talking a lot of water (i.e. 100% relative humidity at room temp) and when the temperature gets well above room temp such that that the partial pressure of water becomes significant enough to add much to the tire pressure. when that happens the tire pressure goes up a good bit faster than an ideal gas as a function of temperature...

 

I use argon gas in my tires. It is way more exotic compared to plain old run of the mill nitrogen! Argon has eight electrons, making it exceedingly stable and, thus, chemically inert. Nitrogen only has seven electrons. Nitrogen is just too inferior to go in my tires.

 

Could you please explain that total BS in more detail?

 

I'm sticking with nitrogen cause it makes the tires lighter and reduces the cars weight getting better gas mileage. That with my magnets will make my car soooo much better!

And it only costs $19.95 and if you call now, they'll through in a free tire gauge (valued at $40), and if you act now, we'll also through in another batch of nitrogen for another 4 tires Free! Yes you heard right! That's an $80.00 VALUE for $19.95!!!

People are gullible...it's their nature!

 

I think we can stop now. I feel pretty sure the lady isn't reading this any more. She got her answer and she's move on.

 

A smart driver checks their tires once a week. Many do that in their garage. We've all checked tire pressure and we know that occasionally we leak a bit out in the process. Until the average Joe can refill his/her tires in the garage with Nitorgen I'd say it's only for those that have all their tire service, including weekly pressure checks, done at a nitrogen service station.

Perhaps the average Joe would be wise to install a water separator or dryer on the compressor in their garage.

Personally I use a bicycle pump, totally portable and exercise to boot!

 

Both anecdotal and from the above engineering reference indicate this is a fact. Nitrogen expands and contracts less than air.

 

I think your corrosion problem is more linked to where you live than what you put inside your tires.It is the salt air!I live in the deep south with 90% humidity all year round and have had chrome wheels on practically every car and truck I have ever owned and never had a corrosion problem using air.

 

Pure scam. Air at gas stations USED TO BE FREE now its quarter a minute time. Why not use mercury? Might give you some needed traction and would sound cool sloshing around at 100 MPH.

Stick with AIR which is 80% nitrogen.

 

I use coolaid in my tires and my fuel.gained 18 hp

 

Good one!

 

It also happens to diffuse much more slowly through the tire rubber than Nitrogen... However, you're behind the times. Xenon is the latest hot ticket. Get with the program.

 

To the OP - sorry for your loss and yes Nitrogen will be fine in your tires.


And that right there is why your tires stopped leaking, nothing to do with the nitrogen fill. Nitrogen is a 'good idea' for the lack of o2 and slightly less pressure change with temps but don't make it into magic snake oil that somehow stops bead leaks.

 

Oh but the corrosion that caused the leak was caused by the H2O in the air which is not in the nitrogen so quit trying to make it look like I am saying something I did not. I do not expect any more corrosion to occur on my front rims which were not cleaned as they had not started leaking yet. Anyone with chrome rims should think about not using air is all I am saying. I feel so lucky to be surrounded by geniuses who cannot understand a post and must take it in a totally different (and stupid ) direction. I am done argueing with morons it will only bring you down to their level and allow them to beat you with their experience.

 

How do you keep the oxygen on the outside from getting to your chrome wheels?