Nitrogen in Tires
Hotshot
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 11,537
Likes: 27
From: Long Beach, Ms.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 128
Likes: 0
Yes, but what's the point? The reason for nitrogen is that it's inert. Meaning that with increasing temperature it won't change, or more importantly expand. With temperature air expands. Mixing air and nitrogen defeats the whole point of nitrogen in the first place.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 6,127
Likes: 6
At sea level:
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="470"><tbody><tr><td valign="top">Nitrogen </td><td>N<sub>2</sub> </td><td valign="top">78.084 %</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="3" valign="top">
</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top">Oxygen</td><td>O<sub>2</sub></td><td valign="top">20.9476 %</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="3" valign="top"></td></tr> <tr><td valign="top">Argon</td><td>Ar</td><td valign="top">0.934 %</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="3" valign="top"></td></tr> <tr><td valign="top">Carbon Dioxide</td><td>CO<sub>2</sub></td><td valign="top">0.0314 %</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="3" valign="top"></td></tr> <tr><td valign="top">Neon</td><td>Ne</td><td valign="top">0.001818 %</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="3" valign="top"></td></tr> <tr><td valign="top">Methane</td><td>CH<sub>4</sub></td><td valign="top">0.0002 %</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="3" valign="top"></td></tr> <tr><td valign="top">Helium</td><td>He</td><td valign="top">0.000524 %</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="3" valign="top"></td></tr> <tr><td valign="top">Krypton</td><td>Kr</td><td valign="top">0.000114 %</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="3" valign="top"></td></tr> <tr><td valign="top">Hydrogen</td><td>H<sub>2</sub></td><td valign="top">0.00005 %</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="3" valign="top"></td></tr> <tr><td valign="top">Xenon</td><td>Xe</td><td valign="top">0.0000087 %</td></tr></tbody></table>
</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top">Oxygen</td><td>O<sub>2</sub></td><td valign="top">20.9476 %</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="3" valign="top"></td></tr> <tr><td valign="top">Argon</td><td>Ar</td><td valign="top">0.934 %</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="3" valign="top"></td></tr> <tr><td valign="top">Carbon Dioxide</td><td>CO<sub>2</sub></td><td valign="top">0.0314 %</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="3" valign="top"></td></tr> <tr><td valign="top">Neon</td><td>Ne</td><td valign="top">0.001818 %</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="3" valign="top"></td></tr> <tr><td valign="top">Methane</td><td>CH<sub>4</sub></td><td valign="top">0.0002 %</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="3" valign="top"></td></tr> <tr><td valign="top">Helium</td><td>He</td><td valign="top">0.000524 %</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="3" valign="top"></td></tr> <tr><td valign="top">Krypton</td><td>Kr</td><td valign="top">0.000114 %</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="3" valign="top"></td></tr> <tr><td valign="top">Hydrogen</td><td>H<sub>2</sub></td><td valign="top">0.00005 %</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="3" valign="top"></td></tr> <tr><td valign="top">Xenon</td><td>Xe</td><td valign="top">0.0000087 %</td></tr></tbody></table>
The air being pumped into the tire will contain 21% Oxygen.
Nitrogen, like any gas, will expand / contract with temperature.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 128
Likes: 0
We're not talking 1000 degrees here. We're talking about the temps that tires will see in everyday operation. Nitrogen will not expand under every day driving conditions! That's the whole point behind nitrogen in tires!
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 6,127
Likes: 6
Your information is factually false.
Nitrogen gas will expand and contract with temperature under every day driving conditions.
So will air, which is 78% nitrogen.
Here are the properties of air in the gaseous phase:
Air
- Gas density (1.013 bar at boiling point) : 3.2 kg/m<sup>3</sup>
- Gas density (1.013 bar and 15 °C (59 °F)) : 1.202 kg/m<sup>3</sup>
- Compressibility Factor (Z) (1.013 bar and 15 °C (59 °F)) : 0.9992
- Specific gravity (air = 1) (1.013 bar and 21 °C (70 °F)) : 1
- Specific volume (1.013 bar and 21 °C (70 °F)) : 0.833 m<sup>3</sup>/kg
- Heat capacity at constant pressure (Cp) (1.013 bar and 21 °C (70 °F)) : 0.029 kJ/(mol.K)
- Heat capacity at constant volume (Cv) (1.013 bar and 21 °C (70 °F)) : 0.02 kJ/(mol.K)
- Ratio of specific heats (Gamma:Cp/Cv) (1.013 bar and 21 °C (70 °F)) : 1.4028
- Viscosity (1 bar and 0 °C (32 °F)) : 0.0001695 Poise
- Thermal conductivity (1.013 bar and 0 °C (32 °F)) : 23.94 mW/(m.K)
The properties of Nitrogen is virtually identical at the normal operating temperatures of tires.
Nitrogen
- Gas density (1.013 bar at boiling point) : 4.614 kg/m<sup>3</sup>
- Gas density (1.013 bar and 15 °C (59 °F)) : 1.185 kg/m<sup>3</sup>
- Compressibility Factor (Z) (1.013 bar and 15 °C (59 °F)) : 0.9997
- Specific gravity (air = 1) (1.013 bar and 21 °C (70 °F)) : 0.967
- Specific volume (1.013 bar and 21 °C (70 °F)) : 0.862 m<sup>3</sup>/kg
- Heat capacity at constant pressure (Cp) (1.013 bar and 25 °C (77 °F)) : 0.029 kJ/(mol.K)
- Heat capacity at constant volume (Cv) (1.013 bar and 25 °C (77 °F)) : 0.02 kJ/(mol.K)
- Ratio of specific heats (Gamma:Cp/Cv) (1.013 bar and 25 °C (77 °F)) : 1.403846
- Viscosity (1.013 bar and 0 °C (32 °F)) : 0.0001657 Poise
- Thermal conductivity (1.013 bar and 0 °C (32 °F)) : 24 mW/(m.K)
If you truly believe that Nitrogen gas do not expand with increased temperature, please post your experimental evidence showing that a trapped volume of nitrogen gas will not increase in pressure as temperature is raised.
Do that, prove it, and you will have a shot at the Nobel Prize.
Trending Topics
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,674
Likes: 2
Nitrogen will expand and contract with temperatures, however, from what I remember in science class (a long, LONG time ago) nitrogen is larger than air, and therefore contributes to less leakage through the tires which actually are not 100% airtight.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 10,101
Likes: 40
From: Pa
As said before you can top off nitrogen filled tires with plain old compressed air. Getting nitrogen put into your tires is a complete waste IMO but is a great way for dealers to wring some more cash out of the customer. I change my tire pressures too often and never had a tire go bad from the inside using air. Use dry compressed air and your good.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,674
Likes: 2
I personally don't use nitrogen because I have an air compressor. I check my truck about once a week and fill if necessary. If you want to fill the tires and not have to worry about them again for a few months, then nitrogen is a good way to go. it originally was used for race cars, and has been handed down for street use.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 116
Likes: 2
From: Flagstaff
As said before you can top off nitrogen filled tires with plain old compressed air. Getting nitrogen put into your tires is a complete waste IMO but is a great way for dealers to wring some more cash out of the customer. I change my tire pressures too often and never had a tire go bad from the inside using air. Use dry compressed air and your good.
Dave3046, ya need to read up on Boyle's Law.
And for you believers in N2 makes a difference worth maybe a penny on a 3 ton PU, I have some beachfront property for sale in AZ, please contact me with your cash offer......
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 128
Likes: 0
from Answers.com<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
fficeffice" /><o
></o>
<o></o>
An inert gas is a non-reactive gas. Inert gasses are: NITROGEN, Helium, Neon, Argon, Krypton, Xenon, and Radon. NITROGEN and Argon are frequently used to inflate tires due to their inert ability to remain consistent under rolling friction. <o></o>
<o></o>
Case closed! <o></o>
fficeffice" /><o></o><o
></o>An inert gas is a non-reactive gas. Inert gasses are: NITROGEN, Helium, Neon, Argon, Krypton, Xenon, and Radon. NITROGEN and Argon are frequently used to inflate tires due to their inert ability to remain consistent under rolling friction. <o
></o><o
></o>Case closed! <o
></o>
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,479
Likes: 742
From: Isanti, MN
adj.
1. Unable to move or act.
2. Sluggish in action or motion; lethargic. See Synonyms at inactive.
3. Chemistry Not readily reactive with other elements; forming few or no chemical compounds.
4. Having no pharmacologic or therapeutic action.
Inert has NOTHING to do with expansion! I agree with others, Nitrogen tire inflation is a waste of money. But you certainly can top it off with air!
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 116
Likes: 2
From: Flagstaff
from Answers.comfficeffice" /><O></O>
<O></O>
An inert gas is a non-reactive gas. Inert gasses are: NITROGEN, Helium, Neon, Argon, Krypton, Xenon, and Radon. NITROGEN and Argon are frequently used to inflate tires due to their inert ability to remain consistent under rolling friction. <O></O>
<O></O>
Case closed! <O></O>
ffice" /><O></O><O
></O>An inert gas is a non-reactive gas. Inert gasses are: NITROGEN, Helium, Neon, Argon, Krypton, Xenon, and Radon. NITROGEN and Argon are frequently used to inflate tires due to their inert ability to remain consistent under rolling friction. <O
></O><O
></O>Case closed! <O
></O>Haha, Inert says it isn't reactive. Not that it doesn't expand. Yes, I have a N2 tank for suspension work on my race bikes, but I sure don't waste the time filling my cars and trucks. Heck, I even race my car (Subaru WRX STi), and while I do switch to race tires for racing, I still fill them up with good ol' air.
If the oxygen in tires were'a blowing up due to its reactivity, then I might consider running an inert gas.