Nitrogen in tires ??
Junior User
Joined: Sep 2007
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Nitrogen
Nitrogen is used in acft tires because it doesn't have oxygen in it. The oxygen combines with the rubber in the tires and causes them to break down. It can create a flamable mixture.
Nitrogen probably won't make any difference in your truck tires but in the long run it is better for them.
Note the cracking in the sidewalls caused by oxygen in the atmosphere.
Nitrogen probably won't make any difference in your truck tires but in the long run it is better for them.
Note the cracking in the sidewalls caused by oxygen in the atmosphere.
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Joined: May 2002
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Compressed nitrogen, the way it's purchased, is bone dry ... zero water or vapor.
It's used in aircraft so that the water vapor won't freeze while at altitude. Landing with a chunk of ice inside of a tire would create an imbalance that would shake the plane to death.
It's used in car tires to reduce the amount of pressure change. As mentioned earlier, the molecules are larger and the atmosphere inside the tire is drier. So as the tire heats up, the molecules aren't as "excited" nor is the water vapor beginning to form water droplets.
Because it's drier, there is less risk of rim deterioration due to rust or corrosion. It's great for trailers and RVs, which sit for long periods of time.
It's used in aircraft so that the water vapor won't freeze while at altitude. Landing with a chunk of ice inside of a tire would create an imbalance that would shake the plane to death.
It's used in car tires to reduce the amount of pressure change. As mentioned earlier, the molecules are larger and the atmosphere inside the tire is drier. So as the tire heats up, the molecules aren't as "excited" nor is the water vapor beginning to form water droplets.
Because it's drier, there is less risk of rim deterioration due to rust or corrosion. It's great for trailers and RVs, which sit for long periods of time.
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Originally Posted by cartmanea
All Nitrogen does is make it so your tire pressure doesn't change with temperature as much.
I'm in agreement with Mark Kovalsky.... I run 78% Nitrogen (Air). I'm not sure, but I think the Nitrogen they put in the tires comes over the internet from Nigeria.
And the water..... if you have a dryer in your compressed air system, it also becomes a non-issue. It's quite easy to get the partial pressure of the water low enough to prevent dew point down to well below zero.
Lead Driver
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From: Corvallis, OR
Originally Posted by wwb
Ummmm...... I'd suggest you look up what is called the "Ideal Gas law"... for any engineers or scientists out there, think "PV=nRT". The difference in increase/decrease in pressure with temperature between Nitrogen and Air is..... ZERO.
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Originally Posted by cartmanea
Nobody likes a smart ***. Besides, air is not an ideal monoatomic gas, so the Ideal Gas Law doesn't really apply.
Lead Driver
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From: Corvallis, OR
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Senior User
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Originally Posted by cartmanea
The water vapor in air makes a huge difference in comparison with pure Nitrogen.
And, over the range of temperatures and pressures that light truck tires operate, unless you filled your tires from a zero-pressure start, with undried air on a 90 degree day with 90% relative humidity, it's becomes another non-issue.
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Better pressure stabilization with varying temps.
*Somewhat* important if you live in a climate like Colorado, where plains Summer temps will hit 100+, and Winter mountain temps might be -20, AND you rarely check your tire pressure.
Can loose over ten pounds with that type of temperature swing!
*Somewhat* important if you live in a climate like Colorado, where plains Summer temps will hit 100+, and Winter mountain temps might be -20, AND you rarely check your tire pressure.
Can loose over ten pounds with that type of temperature swing!
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 156
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Better pressure stabilization with varying temps.
*Somewhat* important if you live in a climate like Colorado, where plains Summer temps will hit 100+, and Winter mountain temps might be -20, AND you rarely check your tire pressure.
Can loose over ten pounds with that type of temperature swing!
*Somewhat* important if you live in a climate like Colorado, where plains Summer temps will hit 100+, and Winter mountain temps might be -20, AND you rarely check your tire pressure.
Can loose over ten pounds with that type of temperature swing!
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 10,101
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From: Pa
I read a test in consumer reports on nitrogen in tires. They took identical tires filled them to the same pressure and let them sit for a year. After the year Nitrogen lost like 1.7psi and reg ole air lost 3psi. I usually ignore consumer reports but that was one of the few mags to read where I was.
IMO forget nitrogen its a waste of $$$. If you need to top off your tires with nitrogen they'll charge you $5 a tire at the stealership and its a PITA to run somewhere just to fill your tires.
IMO forget nitrogen its a waste of $$$. If you need to top off your tires with nitrogen they'll charge you $5 a tire at the stealership and its a PITA to run somewhere just to fill your tires.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2007
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Better pressure stabilization with varying temps.
*Somewhat* important if you live in a climate like Colorado, where plains Summer temps will hit 100+, and Winter mountain temps might be -20, AND you rarely check your tire pressure.
Can loose over ten pounds with that type of temperature swing!
*Somewhat* important if you live in a climate like Colorado, where plains Summer temps will hit 100+, and Winter mountain temps might be -20, AND you rarely check your tire pressure.
Can loose over ten pounds with that type of temperature swing!
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2006
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Originally Posted by pfb
Better pressure stabilization with varying temps......
Tire pressures will increase or decrease with the temperature change regardless of what gas it's filled with.... but over a temperature change of 100 degrees F, the difference in pressure change between air and nitrogen will be less than 1 psi.
If you're designing a chemical plant to produce something on a commercial scale, precise control of reactions is important.... and something like the difference in gas behavior between air and N2 may be significant. But, fellas, when you're talkin' about inflating your tires, it's a bad joke..... and a moneymaker for the guy selling it to you.