Nitrogen in the tires...
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Senior User
Joined: May 2008
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From: Americas' hat (Canada)
Nitrogen in the tires...
So after recently getting new tires and having them filled with nitrogen, I started to wonder a few things.
1. If I ever get a leak, but i can repair it, where do I fill it back up?
2. Is nitrogen really worth it? Do you actually get 100% nitrogen in your tire?
1. If I ever get a leak, but i can repair it, where do I fill it back up?
2. Is nitrogen really worth it? Do you actually get 100% nitrogen in your tire?
Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 799
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From: East L.A.
Nitrogen in automotive tires has to do with the "low tire monitoring system". Nitrogen is very stable with regard to temperature changes. It doesn't expand and contract nearly as much as "regular air", so the pressure remains more stable. Aviation has used nitrogen in tires for many years because of it's stability relating to temperature and altitude changes.
Whether or not what you get at a shop is pure nitrogen is like anything else you're supposed to get at a shop. That's an integrity issue.
If you have to make a repair and use normal air it won't hurt anything. If your tire monitoring system tells you the tire is low after a cold spell, that may be why (if no leak is present).
Whether or not what you get at a shop is pure nitrogen is like anything else you're supposed to get at a shop. That's an integrity issue.
If you have to make a repair and use normal air it won't hurt anything. If your tire monitoring system tells you the tire is low after a cold spell, that may be why (if no leak is present).
MMNC (SS)(Ret)
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 11,606
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From: SE Georgia
nitrogen is a sales gimmick for a normally driven vehicle
it is something that is only really necessary for a race vehicle to ensure a stable tire pressure.
if you are out driving and need to air her up, just use normal air. it is 79% (I think) nitrogen already
it is something that is only really necessary for a race vehicle to ensure a stable tire pressure.
if you are out driving and need to air her up, just use normal air. it is 79% (I think) nitrogen already
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From: Americas' hat (Canada)
This is what i had suspected. The tire dealer charged me $20 for the nitrogen fill. I didn't even know they were going to fill it with it, otherwise I would have told them to just use regular old air.
I thought I heard somewhere that it would help with any moisture built up inside.
I thought I heard somewhere that it would help with any moisture built up inside.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 7,698
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From: Neenah, Wisconsin
There is a benifit to nitrogen if you live in a climate that has very large temperature changes......you won't get as much pressure change from summer to winter with nitrogen.....actually you'll get very little....
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Neenah, Wisconsin
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Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2006
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From: New Castle, PA
Dont nascar teams use nitrogen in their airtools for some reason too.
i know the race car i work on doesnt use nitrogen, we are happy just to get the air compressor working long enough to put regular air in the tires.
i know the race car i work on doesnt use nitrogen, we are happy just to get the air compressor working long enough to put regular air in the tires.
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It's another one of those things that has SOME validity. And for the proper application (racecar) is a good thing ... but not something that the general public daily driver commuter needs to spend money on. As tylus stated, air is already made up of roughly 79% nitrogen. Yes you can lessen your need to check air pressure as often, but at the cost is it worth it? How much time/money do you spend checking your tires pressure ... if you do at all. Majority of drivers don't even bother checking.
I check mine weekly. And it costs me little to nothing. Many gas stations offer air free and I have a compressor in my garage.
I check mine weekly. And it costs me little to nothing. Many gas stations offer air free and I have a compressor in my garage.
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,263
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From: New Castle, PA
I did just notice recently that my local ford dealership has a sign outside advertising 100% Nitrogen Fills for tires. Waste of time and money i think.
Also to the OP, if they filled you up with nitro and charged you for it and didnt ask you and you didnt know they were going to do it, i would have said im not paying for it cause i didnt ask for it. Just my 2 cents
Also to the OP, if they filled you up with nitro and charged you for it and didnt ask you and you didnt know they were going to do it, i would have said im not paying for it cause i didnt ask for it. Just my 2 cents
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2005
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I have nitrogen in all my vehicles' tires. The dealer who put it in the tires told me that, if I get a flat, to fill with regular air and bring it back to them. The will deflate the tire and refill with nitrogen at no charge. This topic could be debated for years, but, I feel, that if each tire is at optimum pressure all the time the MPG will improve. Better ride, and peace of mind that I don't have to check the tire pressure as often. For me, I am very satisfied with the small investment nitrogen costs.
Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2009
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nitrogen is the best thing u can do for your tires, it is 100% dry as well so if u have the tpms system there will be no issues because of moisture, the core is the biggest pronlem because they are nickel plated they can some times have adverse affects with moisture. i run nitrogen in all my stuff and when i dont have to add any pressure to my motorcylcle tires after sitting all winter i think that proves something right, i would recomend checking with your seller of the nitrogen its prob a lifetime service and u can get nitro from them any time u need. even if u have a flat get it fixed then need to replace with nitro.
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,263
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From: New Castle, PA
But if you think about it, you would have to put your tire and rim in a vacuum chamber to actually get all air out and fill them in the vacuum chamber to get 100% nitrogen fill, right? Cause if they are just deflating them, even though there isnt any air pressure the air in the tire is regular atmosphere.
Correct? So if thats the procedure then you in fact are not gettin 100% nitrogen, but it is close.
Not trying to start anything, but i tend to overthink stuff.
Correct? So if thats the procedure then you in fact are not gettin 100% nitrogen, but it is close.
Not trying to start anything, but i tend to overthink stuff.
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2005
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You are correct, you never geet 100% nitrogen, but pretty close. I don't know of any dealer in this area who states you are getting 100% nitrogen. But I think it still is a good idea to put nitrogen in your tires for reasons stated in the last few posts..............