Yeah, and tape some magnets around your fuel line.

So are you guys implying the airline industry, the amry, and every other large organization that uses nitrogen filled tires are "inaccurate"?

Please!

D-Rod, Loren's link above to the Consumer Report's study is worth reading. Personally, if you are conscientious enough to check your tire pressure once a month or so, I think you are wasting money to pay for nitrogen fill-ups.

Like the man says, air is 78% nitrogen to start with...

And may I remind you all, if you are ever in a situation where you suddenly find yourself in a massive, uncontrolled vacuum, or you are trapped underwater with nothing but a P255/70R/18 Goodyear on a Ford alloy rim, tires filled with genuine air may save your life.

Which is a lot less than 95 or 98%...

Law of stoichiometric relations .... it's a HUGE difference, like, I can't even begin to explain how drastic the difference is!

I really don't think the "biggest" benefit is slower natural deflation. I'm switching for the resistance to heat and reduced weight (better economy)...plus it's not combustible.

No, I'm saying those organizations have the people, funding, and other resources to use it effectively. If I owned an airplane and was already spending thousands per year on maintenance, I'm sure I'd have it used there. I do not have time to make a trip to the tire shop just to have my car tires' inflation checked or topped off. I just think it's incompatible with practical everyday vehicle use over the long term for most people. And, utterly unnecessary.

Gotcha.

'Course, I'm coming at this from the viewpoint of a dad with 3 teenagers. I feel pretty lucky to have a running vehicle with 4 tires that aren't bald. So, I may be somewhere out beyond left field on this one.

When a tire is fitted to a rim there is pretty tight seal before it's inflated so when the Nitrogen is added aren't they just mixing it with the Oxygen that is already in there? I'm sure they don't put it in a vacuum chamber to ensure all the oxygen is expelled.

Excellent question TEG. ALl those days of sitting inside the house, due to the lack of sunshine in England, have made you a very thoughtful fellow, indeed!

If I had the luxury of being able to go 'cross town to refill/top off my tires at Costco every time they needed to have that done I'd do it. Since I'm at Costco twice a month anyway, maybe I should just do it then if they have the time. I bought my tires there and they told me that anytime I needed them refilled to come on in. I'm more apt to hook up my compressor at home though and refill them there with regular air.

They purge a couple of times.

Isn't that called Bulimia?

The reality is that most of the population do not give a hoot about what is in their tires. If someone they think is more knowledgeable, tells them a item is better for their vehicle, they are apt to go along with it until it is disproven. You will also get a lot of the "I only use nitrogen in my tires." types that want to make it seem like they belong in the vaulted ranks of the professionals.

We do not drive our cars 500 miles in three hours, nor do we travel into the stratosphere with them. We have no need for the special fuels and lubricants that those vehicles require. We may use some of their technologies as they become within the budgetary restraints and mass availability that the daily driver requires. Our plebeian tastes are more towards the execution of getting from point A to point B at the least cost and hassle, but with the fullest level of comfort that is possible. We cannot afford a mechanic that will rotate tires and check every little thing as soon as we come to a stop. And we are too busy to do a thorough inspection before we get in. For those who have the ability and inclination to devote time to that type of care of their car, I applaud their dedication. But until it becomes mandatory that we use nitrogen, I will accept whatever is available.

Fair enough. I just don't think it's fair to say the technology is a spoof. It obviously is not. Also $15-$20 for a car is relatively cheap and if you choose to have your oil changed at a location that has nitrogen, you're not out any "inconvenience". Just making note.

Technology for the sake of technology is a spoof. Just tell me where the ROI is (for me) for the $20. $20 worth of extended tire life? I don't think so. So, what else TANGIBLE is there?