I just got a brochure on my desk for Getnitrogen.org . Supposedly a lot of tire installation facilities are now inflating tires with pure nitrogen rather than "plain air" (which is 80% nitrogen).

Our dealership is doing it, and a few national tire store chains are as well.

I think it sounds like pure horse apples, but maybe I'm wrong. What do you think?

It's not phewy...but I think that site is a bit optimistic with it's claim.

Pure nitrogen will have no suspended water (humidity) in it, which is why/how the tires maintain a more constant pressure, the oxygen and water attack the rubber sidewalls. Nitrogen does have less mass than air mixture. Less mass means less energy needed to rotate the tire, saving fuel. Oh, and nitrogen is not combustible... BUT...aren't folks only going with 95 or 98% nitrogen? That's something I just learned from your website link...

At least that's my take. I think half of the stuff is overrated, but there is some legitimacy.

I think your tires are going to end up with normal air in them over time anyway, as a practical matter.

In theory, that should not happen. The pressure inside the tires is positive, greater than atmospheric, therefore regular air should not creep in until internal pressure drops below atmospheric pressure (which isn't happening...)

I think they meant as you re fill the tires from your local gas station, they will have "normal' air

That's when you go back to a nitrogen dealer if you need to add air. If it's an emergency, then so be it. However, the nitrogen, in theory, should not leave the tire as quickly, therefore it should only be a twice a year fling....

I should note, I have been thinking about this for a while. I need to get new front tires on my car. I decided whenever that happens, I would switch to nitrogen filled. I don't run it yet but there's enough science to connivence me to spend the ~$5 a tire to do it.

The benefits are greater for heavier loads. Boat trailers are GREATTTT candidates....

From my daze in the Air Force I can say that Nitrogen is used exclusively in all military aircraft tires for the reasons noted above and on the linked web site. I would imagine that it is also used exclusively in commercial aviation but have no direct knowledge of that.

Nitrogen is also used in many industrial applications in place of normal compressed air.

I did not read into all the claims that site asserts, but there are advantages to using Nitrogen and if it were easy to come by and inexpensive, you would definitely be better off using it in your auto and trailer tires.

Costco uses it. They put green caps on the stems.

Yup, it works great. And if you need a couple pounds topped off the store you got the tires from will generally do that for you.

They have been useing it in race car tires for years since it makes more predictable pressure gains from heat loading.

I would use it in trailer tires as well.

This could be horsepuckey, but I've heard N2 molecules are bigger than a majority of air molecules, so there are supposed to be fewer 'slow leaks'. Also, oxygen causes oxidization, so pumping compressed (concentrated) air into a tire increases the number of O2 molecules per square inch, in the tire. We all know oxygen causes oxidization, so I would hypothesize that by limiting/excluding the oxygen from contacting the inside of the tire, any wear related to O2 exposure would thereby be reduced by 50%.

Bigger molecule size, oxidization reduction, or whatever, I run N2 in the Michelins on the Titan. It came with the tires.

Ordinary air is 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and 1% argon. Both has its advantages, but also has disadvantages. For people like me that have their own compressors they use to fill tires with, it is not real practical to run to town just to fill up with nitrogen. There is no doubt that an inert gas like nitrogen is more advantages for critical applications, but I believe that just maintaining the proper air pressure is by far the most important issue. If I was to find an easy way to produce or store nitrogen to add to my tires, I would have no qualms about using it exclusively, but that may be years away.

Have my 'burb filled with nitrogen. No noticeable pressure loss and relative even wear (with rotations).

I would go with nitrogen again, if given a choice, and probably will when I have the Jag rotated and balanced.

Big old + 1

Bunch of noise to get more money out of us. I'll try to find the article, but what I was reading is that after a time most of the oxygen depletes anyhow leaving a high concentration of nitrogen naturally. The behind the scenes reality is that people become more aware of there tire pressure so start checking more often giving every better economy due to tire inflation being the number 1 cause for poor economy. Here is consumer reports article about it.
http://blogs.consumerreports.org/cars/2007/10/nitrogen-tires-.html

Their primary claim is that nitrogen molecules are bigger than O2 molecules, so that they take longer to migrate through the tire material, so there is minimal pressure loss.

So check your air pressure more regularly and get the same results?


Maybe if I fill 'em up with helium there will be less weight on the road and I will get better mileage. Pontoon tubes should benefit from that as well....

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.