Nitrofill
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 9,213
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From: Chicago, IL
It has more to do with getting good quality air from a bottle or an air compressor with a good drier installed, rather than getting low quality compressed air with moisture in it. Just like at the gas station, "fill your car with the good stuff." Same applies to high quality oil instead of the cheap stuff. But don't overpay.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 700
Likes: 12
From: Princeton, NJ
I believe the 2 things commercial compressed nitrogen have going for it are:
1) It's anhydrous (0% water vapor) so it's behavior is going to be predictable i.e. very close to an ideal gas (PV=nRT). No issues of water changing between liquid and vapor and screwing up the pressure-temperature relationship. Which is pretty important for racing tires, but not so much for day to day driving.
2) Being 78% of air, it's pretty cheap.
All the other claims are probably bogus, after all, the outside of the tire is exposed to air and moisture and other crap.
1) It's anhydrous (0% water vapor) so it's behavior is going to be predictable i.e. very close to an ideal gas (PV=nRT). No issues of water changing between liquid and vapor and screwing up the pressure-temperature relationship. Which is pretty important for racing tires, but not so much for day to day driving.
2) Being 78% of air, it's pretty cheap.
All the other claims are probably bogus, after all, the outside of the tire is exposed to air and moisture and other crap.
Last edited by smackboy1; May 17, 2007 at 11:07 AM.
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Joined: May 2002
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From: Southeast Michigan
Originally Posted by VGM911
I have nitrogen in my tires, courtesy of Princeton Porsche. While it's normally a $70 service, our region held its monthly meeting there and the service was provided free to anyone who attended and wanted to try it.
In driving my car since then, I find no perceptible difference in handling, breaking, steering, or acceleration. The tire pressure in each tire is holding steady, and perhaps that's a benefit.
So far, I don't yet see enough information on this thread for me to advocate its use, or to be skeptical about the benefits.
In driving my car since then, I find no perceptible difference in handling, breaking, steering, or acceleration. The tire pressure in each tire is holding steady, and perhaps that's a benefit.
So far, I don't yet see enough information on this thread for me to advocate its use, or to be skeptical about the benefits.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,219
Likes: 3
From: CURRENT: Audi TT / Audi A3
Originally Posted by Patrick
Really. $70?
Yes, $70. The service does take a some time, and in addition, I suppose they need to amortize their equipment investment.
The process starts with bleeding the air out of your tires, down to 3 pounds. Any less, they say, will risk the tire bead separating from the wheel.
Once the tires are down to 3 pounds, the nitrogen goes in, with the "pre-set" pressure set to whatever level you like to run in your car.
It's a service, and it takes time. For that, I suppose there should be a charge for it. Is it worth $70? That's up to the customer to decide ultimately.
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,990
Likes: 1
From: Central NJ
Originally Posted by VGM911
Yes, $70. The service does take a some time, and in addition, I suppose they need to amortize their equipment investment.
The process starts with bleeding the air out of your tires, down to 3 pounds. Any less, they say, will risk the tire bead separating from the wheel.
Once the tires are down to 3 pounds, the nitrogen goes in, with the "pre-set" pressure set to whatever level you like to run in your car.
It's a service, and it takes time. For that, I suppose there should be a charge for it. Is it worth $70? That's up to the customer to decide ultimately.
The process starts with bleeding the air out of your tires, down to 3 pounds. Any less, they say, will risk the tire bead separating from the wheel.
Once the tires are down to 3 pounds, the nitrogen goes in, with the "pre-set" pressure set to whatever level you like to run in your car.
It's a service, and it takes time. For that, I suppose there should be a charge for it. Is it worth $70? That's up to the customer to decide ultimately.
Small test follows. what would you choose...
link1
or...
link2
Funny thing is that only one of em actually serves a purpose. I often consider how much I'd be able to rake in if I weren't so ethically challenged.
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
From: NYC
In NYC area there is a place that does it for $34 bucks and they give you 1 year of free roadside assistance when you register on line. I can't say I see much difference but I got a free front wheel balance for filling up with it.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 215
Likes: 0
I can only comment from my days of paintball. The Nitrogen tanks were much less susceptible to pressure changes than the CO2 tanks. Pressures and ball velocity stayed constant with the Nitrogen whereas the temp changes really messed with the CO2.
Poseur
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From: Santa Barbara, CA
Originally Posted by BruceP
Well, I'm out of my depth, here. I only know what I've experienced, and I was prepared to believe it because I've lived for years with the fact that bikes lose air from their tires, like, every couple of days. (I realize that bike tubes are butyl, which is porous, and I only assumed that it was generally true for rubber, but never really thought about it).
Edgy, cool that you don't have to add air to your tires regularly. The constant climate of CA must help a lot. I've never owned a car that didn't need some kind of pressure adjustment every couple of months at the very least. Mind you, I'm one of those **** types that carries a tire gage in every car...
Anyhoo, file me in the unexplained phenomenon folder. Beats me, and I've never bothered using it again anyway.
Edgy, cool that you don't have to add air to your tires regularly. The constant climate of CA must help a lot. I've never owned a car that didn't need some kind of pressure adjustment every couple of months at the very least. Mind you, I'm one of those **** types that carries a tire gage in every car...
Anyhoo, file me in the unexplained phenomenon folder. Beats me, and I've never bothered using it again anyway.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,508
Likes: 36
Originally Posted by Edgy01
I'm certain that my benign weather helps me to stay on pressure. I start off the mornings at 31 and 36 and sure enough the next morning,--31 and 36 again! It's actually quite surprising that they have stayed this stable.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 155
Likes: 0
From: Bayville, NJ
Anyone want to buy my nitrogen? Dealer talked me into buying 4 boxes of it. Anyone tried helium? Perfect molecule size and less unsprung weight! And if you get a blowout, it sounds like a cartoon blowout.