Nitrogen filled tires
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 904
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From: Austin, Texas
Nitrogen filled tires
Ok - some uneducated questions about nitrogen filled tires...
I just noticed that the tires on my 2017 are nitrogen filled. I have never run nitrogen in my tires before. I assume there is no problem if I want to top them off with O2 other than loosing the benefits of NO2.
What are you guys running in your tires?
Thanks!
I just noticed that the tires on my 2017 are nitrogen filled. I have never run nitrogen in my tires before. I assume there is no problem if I want to top them off with O2 other than loosing the benefits of NO2.
What are you guys running in your tires?
Thanks!
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 135
Likes: 1
Yes, you can top off with O2...no problem mixing. Remember we breathe a 78% nitrogen 21% oxygen mix.
Nitrogen fill is typically a dealer add on and not from the factory. I'm sure many have their opinions on it's benefits or lack there of. Personally, I would spend the money on a quality tire gauge and check my pressure regularly. I retired from 23+ years in the aviation business and I will readily admit to the advantages of nitrogen fill in extreme conditions (aircraft tires that routinely see +/- 120 degree F fluctuations several time a day). Personally, not worth the hassle/cost even for our rigs.
Here's a good reference from Edmunds and has links to some independent studies regarding nitrogen fill in the automotive industry.
Should You Fill Your Car's Tires With Nitrogen?
If you want to go with nitrogen, I highly recommend you ask your salesperson to take you to the service department and ask to see their nitrogen fill tanks and find out what the concentration level is. Anything lower than 93% pure nitrogen is a wash.
Nitrogen fill is typically a dealer add on and not from the factory. I'm sure many have their opinions on it's benefits or lack there of. Personally, I would spend the money on a quality tire gauge and check my pressure regularly. I retired from 23+ years in the aviation business and I will readily admit to the advantages of nitrogen fill in extreme conditions (aircraft tires that routinely see +/- 120 degree F fluctuations several time a day). Personally, not worth the hassle/cost even for our rigs.
Here's a good reference from Edmunds and has links to some independent studies regarding nitrogen fill in the automotive industry.
Should You Fill Your Car's Tires With Nitrogen?
If you want to go with nitrogen, I highly recommend you ask your salesperson to take you to the service department and ask to see their nitrogen fill tanks and find out what the concentration level is. Anything lower than 93% pure nitrogen is a wash.
Frmr Ford Trans Engr
Joined: Aug 1999
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From: SE Florida
The only real benefit to running pure N2 (NO2 is nitrogen dioxide, I'm certain you're not running that in your tires) is to the place that sells N2. They make a lot of money on that. You get little to no benefit regardless of the sales hype they give you.
Last edited by Mark Kovalsky; Oct 22, 2016 at 03:21 PM. Reason: Changed nirtous oxide to nitrogen dioxide per hsb1993
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2016
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I made the assumption that the OP's reference to "O2" meant ambient air, not pure oxygen.
For the record...NO2 is nitrogen dioxide, NOT nitrous oxide, there is a molecular difference between the two. Just sayin...if you're gonna split hairs, words mean things. :-)
For the record...NO2 is nitrogen dioxide, NOT nitrous oxide, there is a molecular difference between the two. Just sayin...if you're gonna split hairs, words mean things. :-)
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2011
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IMO, some of the claimed benefits of N2 are outright false. Other properties are of some benefit in specialized applications (e.g., aviation), but in our trucks/cars the benefits are so minuscule that they aren't worth the initial/ongoing cost or hassle.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2013
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IMO, some of the claimed benefits of N2 are outright false. Other properties are of some benefit in specialized applications (e.g., aviation), but in our trucks/cars the benefits are so minuscule that they aren't worth the initial/ongoing cost or hassle.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCnWvMleVD0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCnWvMleVD0
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Senior User
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I look at it like this most high end European sports cars come with it so it must do something positive my wife's m2 has it stock and all the other m cars Porsche etc use it. So I put in in my trucks from the get go
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2010
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From: Ouray, CO
Let's think about this, and see if we can agree it has to be a scam.
Normal air is 78%-ish nitrogen. So, they claim N2 won't leak out over time. Thus, if/when you loose a few PSI it must be the non-nitrogen molecules that leak out. So you refill, and now you have a higher percentage of nitrogen than normal air in your tire (s ). Repeat a few times and essentially you have (mostly) nitrogen filled tires! :-)
Normal air is 78%-ish nitrogen. So, they claim N2 won't leak out over time. Thus, if/when you loose a few PSI it must be the non-nitrogen molecules that leak out. So you refill, and now you have a higher percentage of nitrogen than normal air in your tire (s ). Repeat a few times and essentially you have (mostly) nitrogen filled tires! :-)
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2016
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I wouldn't call it a scam per se, more a marketing ploy to relieve you of a few more dollars. There are some benefits to using nitrogen, but for the average consumer they are not cost effective.
Anyone who is serious about racing cars or motorcycles uses nitrogen in their tires as it provides a predictable pressure rise for a given heat rise. I don't know what the coefficient of expansion is versus regular air, but the biggest reason is it's dry. Any suspended moisture that is pumped into a tire is going to to give an unpredictable pressure rise. Those Qwiky-Mart pumps are the worst; they are practically a water hose!
Another consideration is volume. A wide, short sidewall tire will have a bigger pressure rise than a narrow, tall sidewall tire as the heat generated by acceleration, braking, and cornering events would cause more heat, thus more pressure, etc.
If I had a high performance car and drove it as intended I would consider using nitrogen for the reasons mentioned above. But I don't. I'm old, I'm slow, and I ran out of talent a long time ago. I'm perfectly happy to use the air from my compressor.
Anyone who is serious about racing cars or motorcycles uses nitrogen in their tires as it provides a predictable pressure rise for a given heat rise. I don't know what the coefficient of expansion is versus regular air, but the biggest reason is it's dry. Any suspended moisture that is pumped into a tire is going to to give an unpredictable pressure rise. Those Qwiky-Mart pumps are the worst; they are practically a water hose!
Another consideration is volume. A wide, short sidewall tire will have a bigger pressure rise than a narrow, tall sidewall tire as the heat generated by acceleration, braking, and cornering events would cause more heat, thus more pressure, etc.
If I had a high performance car and drove it as intended I would consider using nitrogen for the reasons mentioned above. But I don't. I'm old, I'm slow, and I ran out of talent a long time ago. I'm perfectly happy to use the air from my compressor.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2016
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The last vehicle I bought had "dealer optioned" nitrogen fill on every car on the lot. Almost walked out because they refused to delete the charge. After educating the salesman/sales manager on the actual science (I spent 23+ years flying in the USAF and trust me, I know the the advantages of nitrogen in high performance/zero tolerance applications.) they deducted the charge...frustrating process when all I want to do is buy a vehicle and be on my merry way.
Bottom Line: It has absolutely NO benefit for any vehicle out on any public road. But, there are still those that insist...so more power to you, its your money spend it how you want. I just try to help educate. There certainly is no negative aspect of nitrogen other than people may not check their pressures as often as they should.
Perhaps I should look at starting up a "mobile nitrogen refill" service...no, I can't do that because I have integrity, morals and believe in ethical business transactions.
Off my soap box...
Bottom Line: It has absolutely NO benefit for any vehicle out on any public road. But, there are still those that insist...so more power to you, its your money spend it how you want. I just try to help educate. There certainly is no negative aspect of nitrogen other than people may not check their pressures as often as they should.
Perhaps I should look at starting up a "mobile nitrogen refill" service...no, I can't do that because I have integrity, morals and believe in ethical business transactions.
Off my soap box...