Just out of curiousity, what do you all think about using N2 for your tires?

Nitrogen:

o Improves Fuel Economy
o Increases Tire Life
o Less Loss of Tire Pressure
o Helps Prevent Uneven Tire Wear
o Reduces Wheel Corrosion
o Tires Run Cooler Adding Tire Life


Any of you guys specifically ask for N2 when you get new tires?

 

after spending $1100 on new tires, I asked for nitrogen, but Costco puts that in standard now fo phreeee

 

Not sure where you got this information. Theoretically there might be less corrosion inside the wheel because the nitrogen can be dryer than air and less oxidation.
The larger nitrogen molecules can theoretically reduce pressure loss (very slightly). The rest of the list is fairy tales.

Nitrogen is used in racing tires because there is less pressure change as the temperature increases.
In street tires, the biggest advantage is that it gets people thinking about their tire pressures.

 

agreeed but if you can get it for free why not

 

Because N2 doesn't expand and contract like Air + Moisture, you will have less deviation in tire pressure. With less deviation in tire pressure, you will have a constant 35psi. Air + moisture deviates + or - 3psi every day. Therefor, with N2 you should get better gas mileage and longer tread life.

True?

 

^Thats probably up to speculation and how you drive your car.

This site i found sells these machines to gas stations and it has claims that for your customers they will get better gas mileage. Ill have to find one of these stations and try it out for myself to believe it.

http://www.nitrogendirect.com/

 

Costco makes a big deal out of using nitrogen rather than good old air. They will tell you that your tires will last longer and that air pressures stay more stable. Personally, I can't see much difference in using nitrogen as opposed to air. If it is free, like at Costco, then I would use it. If you have to pay to have your tires purged and then refilled with nitrogen, I wouldn't do it. The bottom line is that a person should be routinely checking air pressures. If you do that, you will be fine.

I found several interesting articles about the topic. The first is in favor of nitrogen usage and the second is more skeptical.

http://www.parker.com/ead/cm2.asp?cmid=9087&
The Benefits to Using Nitrogen
Consistent inflation pressure over longer periods
- Nitrogen permeates through the tire at a rate of 35% slower that oxygen (air)
- Under inflated tires flex and build up heat, breaking down the rubber over time
- 60% of blowouts are caused by under inflation
- Consistent inflation improves tread life
- Vehicle handling is improved
Longer Tire Life
- Nitrogen is a dry gas which disperses heat more rapidly resulting in cooler running tires. This preserves the integrity of the rubber, belts, and bead
- This inert gas also significantly slows the chemical aging process associated with oxygen and moisture (air)
Improved fuel efficiency
- Passenger cars realize 2-3 miles per gallon gains (4% on average*)
- Trucks realize gains of 2+%
At 4% fuel efficiency enhancement, the savings are significant to the car owner
- At 4% on a vehicle with 20 mpg rating, this saves approximately 2.5 gallons per week based on 40 miles per day @ $1.90 per gallon that adds up to $228 savings per year

Source: Tire Review, July 2004

2. http://www.sptimes.com/2005/09/28/Ta...our_tire.shtml

 

Unless you pull a vacuum on the tire before filling with N2, won't you have about 14 psi air pressure, normal atmospheric pressure?

 

This discussion seems to miss the fact that air is 78% nitrogen already (with 21% oxygen and 1% other gases). I don't think there's any effect of using nitrogen only in your tires, except that it fattens the bottom line of the servicing facility and equipment manufacturers like Parker and Nitrogen Direct.

 

I am a DM for the Techmate (Nissan / Infiniti) Dealer Equipment Program and we have three manufactures of Nitrogen Generators approved for our dealers. There is an automatic inflator that can be connected to your nitrogen source that will simultaneously deflate then inflate all four tires. It takes the tire down to 4 PSI then inflates it with Nitrogen. It then repeats this process one more time so that you end up with 97% nitrogen in the tire. Some of the other OE's believe that this is just snake oil and will not promote the equipment to their dealers. At this point Nissan does not promote but also does not condone it.

 

I guess that the biggest benefit is that N2 is dry air, no moisture...

 

That is the biggest benefit, less leakage over time the 2nd advantage.
If it was more convenient to fill up, more folks would do it I think.

I thought the N2 at Costco was only free for their tire customers, not just anyone shopping there.

 

i wonder the same thing... why isnt nitrogen highly popular 'State' side... its pretty popular in Europe... its that its benefits out weigh the cons... so then why not.

 

its OT, but in NASCAR they use nitrogen on their tires.

 

i bought my car used with N2 in the tires, and have no idea where to get them topped off. where do you all get N2 to top your tires off?