Nitrogen gas fill
07-28-2011 | 03:40 AM
#16
Pro
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 666
Likes: 41
From: California
Consumer Reports looked at the pressure-retaining properties of nitrogen filled tires.
http://news.consumerreports.org/cars...nitrogen-.html
They basically found that nitrogen-filled tires lost 1.3ps less pressure in 1 year when compared to air-filled tires. Their methodology is discussed here:
http://news.consumerreports.org/cars...en-tires-.html
http://news.consumerreports.org/cars...nitrogen-.html
They basically found that nitrogen-filled tires lost 1.3ps less pressure in 1 year when compared to air-filled tires. Their methodology is discussed here:
http://news.consumerreports.org/cars...en-tires-.html
07-28-2011 | 07:43 AM
#17
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,648
Likes: 91
From: NJ
Consumer Reports looked at the pressure-retaining properties of nitrogen filled tires.
http://news.consumerreports.org/cars...nitrogen-.html
They basically found that nitrogen-filled tires lost 1.3ps less pressure in 1 year when compared to air-filled tires. Their methodology is discussed here:
http://news.consumerreports.org/cars...en-tires-.html
http://news.consumerreports.org/cars...nitrogen-.html
They basically found that nitrogen-filled tires lost 1.3ps less pressure in 1 year when compared to air-filled tires. Their methodology is discussed here:
http://news.consumerreports.org/cars...en-tires-.html
07-28-2011 | 07:46 AM
#18
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,648
Likes: 91
From: NJ
The N2 molecule is quite a bit larger than O2 which is actually how they are separated industrially. It has to do with the bonding structure/electron cloud
Expansion per se isn't the issue. You are correct that all gases expand in response to temp elevation (Gas Laws, high school chemistry). However most of the expansion of a tire (actually more the pressure rise) is due to the water vapor balance. N2 keeps the tires drier and therefore the pressure change is less. On the street, especially with TPMS I think it's a pretty moot point
oh, and no flammability is not why racing teams use it, pressure changes is... further, it won't corrode their tools. But many teams just use air compressors anyway.
Expansion per se isn't the issue. You are correct that all gases expand in response to temp elevation (Gas Laws, high school chemistry). However most of the expansion of a tire (actually more the pressure rise) is due to the water vapor balance. N2 keeps the tires drier and therefore the pressure change is less. On the street, especially with TPMS I think it's a pretty moot point
oh, and no flammability is not why racing teams use it, pressure changes is... further, it won't corrode their tools. But many teams just use air compressors anyway.
07-28-2011 | 09:06 AM
#19
Racer
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 259
Likes: 7
From: Treasure Island, Florida - Home of the Wide Beach
I figure it this way: I fill my tires w/ air & it's 78% N. The "air" to leave the tire is not the N and the N increases a higher % of the "air" in the tire. Therefore with enough refills you are left with nothing but N.
A side benefit for checking the tire pressure once a month is looking at the tread for wear spots, cuts & nails which will cause a big leak even w/ N in the tire.
A side benefit for checking the tire pressure once a month is looking at the tread for wear spots, cuts & nails which will cause a big leak even w/ N in the tire.
07-28-2011 | 09:47 AM
#20
Still plays with cars.
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,078
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From: Montreal
Unless an air compressor has a very sophisticated drying system, we put a fair amount of water vapor into our tires when we will them. Nitrogen is dry - no water vapor. As a result, it expands less with heat, doesn't ice up (aircraft) and reduces corrosion. Done correctly the tire has to be purged of air before filling with nitrogen. For a street driven car, the benefits are less obvious. On a race car or jet aircraft, it is worthwhile and in the case of a jet, essential since air temps at altitude can be -74 C which is -101 fahrenheit!
07-28-2011 | 10:05 AM
#21
Nordschleife Master
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 9,274
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From: in a happy place
N2 does not attract water, O2 does. We call that "humidity" in most circles, but you can also call it vapor pressure.
I'm not sure N2 has much of a place in street applications but nonetheless to just say, "you're wrong, it doesn't exist", or "just maintain your compressor" is... incorrect.
07-28-2011 | 10:26 AM
#22
Race Car
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 4,053
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From: Houston, Texas
If you have a costco membership, you can fill your tires with nitrogen for "free" there. They use it in their tire shop and don't charge extra for it. I'm sure its designed for it but how does the water vapor effect the TPMS?
07-28-2011 | 11:01 AM
#23
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From: Temecula, CA
My local dealer put Nitrogen in my tires at no charge. I was watching how they did it and basically they have a machine which connects to all four tires and then evacuates all tires. Once the tires are evacuated to a certain point (I didn't ask how much 
) they start the Nitrogen fill process. Mine was done about 6 weeks ago and the pressures have not changed. I see about a 4 - 7 PSI pressure rise (based on TPMS) depending on how hard I'm driving the car and outside temperatures.
) they start the Nitrogen fill process. Mine was done about 6 weeks ago and the pressures have not changed. I see about a 4 - 7 PSI pressure rise (based on TPMS) depending on how hard I'm driving the car and outside temperatures.
07-28-2011 | 11:35 AM
#24
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,648
Likes: 91
From: NJ
My local dealer put Nitrogen in my tires at no charge. I was watching how they did it and basically they have a machine which connects to all four tires and then evacuates all tires. Once the tires are evacuated to a certain point (I didn't ask how much ) they start the Nitrogen fill process. Mine was done about 6 weeks ago and the pressures have not changed. I see about a 4 - 7 PSI pressure rise (based on TPMS) depending on how hard I'm driving the car and outside temperatures.
) they start the Nitrogen fill process. Mine was done about 6 weeks ago and the pressures have not changed. I see about a 4 - 7 PSI pressure rise (based on TPMS) depending on how hard I'm driving the car and outside temperatures.I am convinced that N2 falls under the same category as the deer whistles you can put on your car or the inline "fuel ionizers" to increase your MPG. One thing is for sure, folks are talking about it.......like flying saucers.
07-28-2011 | 11:46 AM
#25
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,605
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From: North Carolina
I thought no pressure changes, or very little change, with temperature was supposed to be one of the big advantages with nitrogen vs air. I personally like the German air that came in my tires from the factory. Love the smell of it! By the way, make sure you rotate the nitrogen in your tires periodically to keep it fresh.
