Nitrogen in Tires?

[rayjgold]

I went for new first oil change yesterday and the dealership was going on and on about the nitrogen they were offering and how good it was for the tires, etc.... I was in a big rush and told him to just shut up and put the stuff in the tires!

Now!....I would like to know if i made a mistake! Is it really good for your tires???? will it blow up on me when i try to fill it with regular air when it gets low? does it really increase the life of the tire?

[Warped161]

it doesn't really do anything for the tire itself, its a pressure issue. nitrogen is less affected by heat so your tire pressure will stay more constant. also it is a larger molecule so it is less likely to leak from the tire over time.

[axel10]

We have a large tire chain in Western Canada who refuse to offer nitrogen because it is a gimmick to lessen the weight of your wallet before you leave their premises. It is the trend nowadays - nothing is free anymore. I have been driving since 16, and have own vehicles since the same age and do not recall problems with air seeping out of my tires because the molecule was small

[Warped161]

We have a large tire chain in Western Canada who refuse to offer nitrogen because it is a gimmick to lessen the weight of your wallet before you leave their premises. It is the trend nowadays - nothing is free anymore. I have been driving since 16, and have own vehicles since the same age and do not recall problems with air seeping out of my tires because the molecule was small

you should lose about half a psi over the course of a year, with nitrogen.

[philipa_240sx]

you should lose about half a psi over the course of a year, with nitrogen.

That's one of Nitrogen's biggest benefits, reduced air loss over time. But it should not replace regular checking of your tire pressures.

Agreed, it's a great sales gimmick. If it's offered for free, fine. Otherwise I would not be bothered with it.

[Mainiac]

Being that air is 78% Nitrogen and 21% Oxygen with the Nitrogen atom being just slightly larger than the Oxygen atom, the Oxygen should leak out before the Nitrogen does, thereby increasing the ratio left in your tires.

Consider this, when they mount the tire on the wheel it already has air in it, adding Nitrogen to increase the pressure does not remove the air that is already there.

As others have said, it's nothing but snake oil.

Stick with the 78% stuff (air) unless it's free.

[Pescakl1]

Consider this, when they mount the tire on the wheel it already has air in it, adding Nitrogen to increase the pressure does not remove the air that is already there.

As others have said, it's nothing but snake oil.

I think you did not understand the process: They don't add Nitrogen, they remove the air then put Nitrogen instead.

I explain several times the benefits of having Nitrogen instead of air in tires, but I am getting tired of repeating myself over and over.
So, if you want my view on that part, do a search.

I am really happy to have Nitrogen in my both sets of tires.

[philipa_240sx]

From what I understand, they simply purge the tire (deflate to under 3 psi) and refill it. Supposedly after the process is repeated several times, you can dilute the existing air enough to get the nitrogen content above 90%. It's near impossible to get it 100% nitrogen. This is what gets me though... who verifies the Nitrogen content?

I know in HVAC/Refrigeration they purge lines to remove oxygen & water vapor prior to charging. But this usually requires drawing a vacuum in the system, something that really cannot be easily done with a tire as it was never designed to operate in a vacuum.

[Mainiac]

Oh, I understand the process, that's why my tires have air in them.