So where do I get racing nitrogen??
Then I would have the edge on those guys with just racing air in the tires......Then I can drift race my 06 F-150 Fast and furious style!!
Nitrogen in tires
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Even though there is some thruth to that, and probably only beneficial when racing, you can easily have very low moisture content in compressed air fior every day use. Much like what is used for spraying paint finishes on cars, they use a filter dryer setup which provides almost virtually no moisture to the outgoing compressed air.
Last edited by KevinM; Aug 28, 2007 at 03:38 PM.
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From: Escondido, Ca
According to what I remember reading somewhere, nitrogen molecules are larger than oxygen molecules. So....nitrogen doesn't leak through the tire carcass as easily as oxygen does. So...fewer slow leaks, so tire pressure remains constant. Less moisture is a bonus. Better mileage? Nope. Better ride? Nope. Both of those things are directly related to correct tire pressure. and the tire doesn't know or care what it uses to maintain correct pressure.
I put new tires on our 04 Focus at Costco, and the blue valve stem caps signify nitrogen filled tires. I don't know if I paid extra for it without digging up the receipt, but Costco sells tires at an all inclusive price...mounting, new valve stems, balance, road hazard warranty, disposal fee...
This post was necessary to remove that lame "Don't be afraid to post!!!" crack at the top of my screen...!!!
I put new tires on our 04 Focus at Costco, and the blue valve stem caps signify nitrogen filled tires. I don't know if I paid extra for it without digging up the receipt, but Costco sells tires at an all inclusive price...mounting, new valve stems, balance, road hazard warranty, disposal fee...
This post was necessary to remove that lame "Don't be afraid to post!!!" crack at the top of my screen...!!!
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From: Escondido, Ca
Originally Posted by KevinM
Well lets see I had new tires put on about 3 months ago, inflated to 35lbs of compressed air, check them every week, and still 35lbs! Hmmm!
Maybe your guage is stuck...!!!
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Cajun Country
Originally Posted by Redtires019
Any welding supply store will have it. You may have to buy the bottle and a regulator to use it. That is where I get mine
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I will fill your tires with nitrogen for only $2 per tire!!! ***
I can't believe people are actually falling for this. Nitrogen and oxygen are almost EXACTLY the same size. Nitrogen is actually lighter, so it would leak MORE. Every gas is susceptible to the gas laws (Boyles law, ideal gas law, etc.) and will experience increased pressure with temperature given a fixed volume. Nitrogen's pressure raises slightly slower than oxygen, but not noticeably! There are only 3 reasons why nitrogen is ever used in a tire:
1.) Nitrogen is inert and will not support combustion like oxygen (but rubber sure will).
2.) Nitrogen doesn't attract moisture like oxygen. The moisture is what evaporates at high temperatures in racecars to slightly increase pressure. Sure, moisture and oxygen may cause oxidation, but what about the OUTSIDE of the tire/rim?!
3.) Some high school drop-out at the local tire shop convinced you to buy it.
Think about it... if these tire shops were right and oxygen is being filtered out of your tires, wouldn't nitrogen be nearly all that's left after a few refills anyway?
***Inflated tires may also contain oxygen and other gases.
I can't believe people are actually falling for this. Nitrogen and oxygen are almost EXACTLY the same size. Nitrogen is actually lighter, so it would leak MORE. Every gas is susceptible to the gas laws (Boyles law, ideal gas law, etc.) and will experience increased pressure with temperature given a fixed volume. Nitrogen's pressure raises slightly slower than oxygen, but not noticeably! There are only 3 reasons why nitrogen is ever used in a tire:
1.) Nitrogen is inert and will not support combustion like oxygen (but rubber sure will).
2.) Nitrogen doesn't attract moisture like oxygen. The moisture is what evaporates at high temperatures in racecars to slightly increase pressure. Sure, moisture and oxygen may cause oxidation, but what about the OUTSIDE of the tire/rim?!
3.) Some high school drop-out at the local tire shop convinced you to buy it.
Think about it... if these tire shops were right and oxygen is being filtered out of your tires, wouldn't nitrogen be nearly all that's left after a few refills anyway?
***Inflated tires may also contain oxygen and other gases.
Last edited by xltman; Aug 30, 2007 at 01:22 PM.
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Joined: Apr 2006
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From: Escondido, Ca
Originally Posted by xltman
I will fill your tires with nitrogen for only $2 per tire!!! ***
I can't believe people are actually falling for this. Nitrogen and oxygen are almost EXACTLY the same size. Nitrogen is actually lighter, so it would leak MORE. Every gas is susceptible to the gas laws (Boyles law, ideal gas law, etc.) and will experience increased pressure with temperature given a fixed volume. Nitrogen's pressure raises slightly slower than oxygen, but not noticeably! There are only 3 reasons why nitrogen is ever used in a tire:
1.) Nitrogen is inert and will not support combustion like oxygen (but rubber sure will).
2.) Nitrogen doesn't attract moisture like oxygen. The moisture is what evaporates at high temperatures in racecars to slightly increase pressure. Sure, moisture and oxygen may cause oxidation, but what about the OUTSIDE of the tire/rim?!
3.) Some high school drop-out at the local tire shop convinced you to buy it.
Think about it... if these tire shops were right and oxygen is being filtered out of your tires, wouldn't nitrogen be nearly all that's left after a few refills anyway?
***Inflated tires may also contain oxygen and other gases.
I can't believe people are actually falling for this. Nitrogen and oxygen are almost EXACTLY the same size. Nitrogen is actually lighter, so it would leak MORE. Every gas is susceptible to the gas laws (Boyles law, ideal gas law, etc.) and will experience increased pressure with temperature given a fixed volume. Nitrogen's pressure raises slightly slower than oxygen, but not noticeably! There are only 3 reasons why nitrogen is ever used in a tire:
1.) Nitrogen is inert and will not support combustion like oxygen (but rubber sure will).
2.) Nitrogen doesn't attract moisture like oxygen. The moisture is what evaporates at high temperatures in racecars to slightly increase pressure. Sure, moisture and oxygen may cause oxidation, but what about the OUTSIDE of the tire/rim?!
3.) Some high school drop-out at the local tire shop convinced you to buy it.
Think about it... if these tire shops were right and oxygen is being filtered out of your tires, wouldn't nitrogen be nearly all that's left after a few refills anyway?
***Inflated tires may also contain oxygen and other gases.
To sorta paraphrase your first sentence..I can't believe you're so upset...!!!
A "38" and a "357' are ALMOST the same size, and they both can perform the same task.
Being lighter has nothing to do with what we are talking about...it's SIZE that matters...!!!
(molecules)!. Nothing will burn without oxygen being present...not even rubber.
2. The last time I checked, whatever you prefer to put in your tire goes INSIDE the tire.
3. A Costco employee did it ( I had no idea he did it...it's part of their service program, I suppose.) I have no idea how far he went from an educational standpoint, but he never said DUH once.
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Hey... don't get so defensive. I was more aggravated by the tire industry's use of marketing gimmicks to sell or "give" consumers something they don't need (not that they're the first) than the fact you have nitrogen in your tires, so don't take it personally.
I'm just saying the size difference between oxygen and nitrogen is not enough to warrant the diffusion that is claimed. Oxygen, though it is heavier, is only about 5% smaller than nitrogen (<.01 nm). These nitrogen generating machines can only produce nitrogen that is about 90% pure, so people are paying for an extra 12% of nitrogen. I think the only reason it lasts longer in the tire is because people feel they have to check it less, thus less is lost trying to seal the gauge to the valve stem.
My comment about the inside of the tire was directed at another bogus marketing claim about nitrogen. Supposedly this extra 12% of nitrogen is going to help your tire and wheel last longer because of oxidation. The largest surface of your tire and wheel is on the OUTSIDE, where the "bad" regular air is.
Airlines and racecars use nitrogen tanks as a quick way to limit the chance of moisture in the tire. Just use a decent filter on a compressed air line and be done with it. It's just another way for companies to charge you for something that's supposed to be free (radio, water, etc.).
I'm just saying the size difference between oxygen and nitrogen is not enough to warrant the diffusion that is claimed. Oxygen, though it is heavier, is only about 5% smaller than nitrogen (<.01 nm). These nitrogen generating machines can only produce nitrogen that is about 90% pure, so people are paying for an extra 12% of nitrogen. I think the only reason it lasts longer in the tire is because people feel they have to check it less, thus less is lost trying to seal the gauge to the valve stem.
My comment about the inside of the tire was directed at another bogus marketing claim about nitrogen. Supposedly this extra 12% of nitrogen is going to help your tire and wheel last longer because of oxidation. The largest surface of your tire and wheel is on the OUTSIDE, where the "bad" regular air is.
Airlines and racecars use nitrogen tanks as a quick way to limit the chance of moisture in the tire. Just use a decent filter on a compressed air line and be done with it. It's just another way for companies to charge you for something that's supposed to be free (radio, water, etc.).
Last edited by xltman; Aug 31, 2007 at 10:16 AM.
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From: Escondido, Ca
I'm not being defensive...it's not in my nature. I was having some good natured fun at your expense. I never take anything personally on the internet.
I could care less one way or the other about whether using nitrogen is good, bad bogus, a waste of money...
You have your opinion, I have mine...no one is right or wrong here, and I do see your point about charging for things that have no real benefit. I feel the same way.
Just curious...Where are you from? I live in California.
I could care less one way or the other about whether using nitrogen is good, bad bogus, a waste of money...
You have your opinion, I have mine...no one is right or wrong here, and I do see your point about charging for things that have no real benefit. I feel the same way.
Just curious...Where are you from? I live in California.
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From: Virgin Islands
I am a pilot and we use nitrogen in our tires for the same reasons described in this post. HOWEVER in passenger vehicles it does not really matter very much unless you drive your car like a pilot and go from sea level to 12500 feet several times a day... I do however have nitrogen in my truck but the only reason is because after i filled my scuba tank with nitrox i decided that I needed to have it inspected and used the air in it to fill my tires.
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From: nevada
So I guess Nascar doesnt allow nitrogen in their tires, why is that? Maybe in the snow I could fill them with antifreeze/water, lots of weighttraction there. Why not, the farmers put liquid in their tractor tires.