Nitrogen Tires

[Denise]

The truck we just sold had nitrogen as part of the Costco Tire package we bought.

So! That's all DH and I know about Nitrogen filled tires

Just off the cuff
-anyone with a 2016 Jay Flight know if tires are Nitrogen filled?
-any benefit to having the TV tires filled with nitrogen?

Thanks in advance

[North of 49°]

No benefit with nitrogen in road tires. It's a greater benefit to aircraft and race cars, though, so if you're going to run your trailer at 50,000 feet then land it on the road at 300 mph, then by all means. My tires from Costco also have nitrogen in them, and every time I air up to maximum pressure for towing, I just use whatever comes out of my air compressor, thereby ruining the 100% nitrogen fill. I've never noticed any difference between nitrogen and regular air.

Atmospheric air is 78% nitrogen anyway, with 20% oxygen and the rest is carbon dioxide and trace gasses, so that's good enough. The "experts" say that the benefits of running with nitrogen are that it's a drier gas, it doesn't lose pressure in cold temperatures, and a bunch of other stuff. Again, I've never noticed any difference.

And I'm definitely not going to pay the $5 per tire some places charge!

[Jagiven]

No pure nitrogen in Jayco tires.

I'm no expert, what I have read over the years, nitrogen has a lower tendency to leak out of tires than air. Air does have a high amount of nitrogen in it. My tires leak a fair amount and I do add air to my htt tires often. Having to find someone to put nitrogen in would be a pain.

[BCK]

Agree with previous comments. Nitrogen changes pressure less with temperature changes and doesn't migrates out slower than compressed air.

I think it's more of a gimmicky up sell than a real benefit. The only place it may help is for people that don't check or maintain their tires.

[canadiankid]

What my tire guy said was that they leak less and the nitrogen is dry so guaranteed not to add moisture to your tires which in turn can cause corrosion. He did it for free but I always just use my compressor at home when I add air.

[MadDad]

Fill the tires with air, wait till the oxygen leaks out and refill, etc. pretty soon you'll have almost pure nitrogen in them. Or don't fall for this money maker for the dealers and just air them up, with air.

[oz97tj]

The science behind it is nitrogen is a bigger molecule than air. Rubber tires are porous. Hence, bigger molecules don't leak as much.

The other side effects are less change in pressure vs temperature and it's dryer, as stated above.

The benefit is to those who never check tire pressures which is a huge number of people so they are less likely to be running around on under inflated tires. However if you are pulling big trailers like we all do, you better know what those pressures are.

[Seann45]

Nitrogen filled tires can be identified with the green valve caps.. NO Jayco does not fill them with Nitrogen... My tires have N in them only because Costco does it for free..

[us71na]

Originally Posted by BCK

Agree with previous comments. Nitrogen changes pressure less with temperature changes and doesn't migrates out slower than compressed air.

Originally Posted by oz97tj

The science behind it is nitrogen is a bigger molecule than air. Rubber tires are porous. Hence, bigger molecules don't leak as much.

Actually nitrogen is smaller than oxygen according to the periodic table of elements.

As stated in several responses Air is 78% nitrogen. However, unless you were to pull a complete vacuum on the tire before pressurizing it or purge the gas in a tire for a considerably long time there is still oxygen present. The only advantage of filling tires with nitrogen is the fact that it doesn't contain moisture, which is why it is used in racing and aircraft tires that see dramatic temperature changes where the presence of water can create ice or steam.

[Bassdogs]

Just another scam by tire dealers to get into you pockets. Another thing to get you into so oil changes etc can now include nit in your tires. Most of service centers and tire stores have the brochures on the counter and try to sell you the service. In my opinion it pretty much like selling extended warrantees, ends up being another way for the dealers and service centers to add a new revenue steam.

[SmokerBill]

So if you had your tires filled with helium (lighter than air), it would increase your payload capacity, right?

[DocBrown]

The science behind the claims is accurate. As said it's why nitrogen is used in racing and airplane tires.

For consumer use not so much. The benefits are minuscule at best. So if it's free, go for it. If there is a cost behind it, spend your money on something else, like magnets for your gas line so you increase your mileage by 300%. It's true, I read it on the Internet!

[SecretCoveDave]

Bill/Doc, I think we can get you guys a cable TV show, or maybe a YouTube gig.

Thanks for the morning smile, Dave.

[MadDad]

Originally Posted by Bassdogs

Just another scam by tire dealers to get into you pockets. Another thing to get you into so oil changes etc can now include nit in your tires. Most of service centers and tire stores have the brochures on the counter and try to sell you the service. In my opinion it pretty much like selling extended warrantees, ends up being another way for the dealers and service centers to add a new revenue steam.

Originally Posted by DocBrown

The science behind the claims is accurate. As said it's why nitrogen is used in racing and airplane tires.

For consumer use not so much. The benefits are minuscule at best. So if it's free, go for it. If there is a cost behind it, spend your money on something else, like magnets for your gas line so you increase your mileage by 300%. It's true, I read it on the Internet!

X2

[Denise]

Originally Posted by smokerbill

so if you had your tires filled with helium (lighter than air), it would increase your payload capacity, right?

Originally Posted by docbrown

so if it's free, go for it. If there is a cost behind it, spend your money on something else, like magnets for your gas line so you increase your mileage by 300%. It's true, i read it on the internet!

lol

[Denise]

Thanks everyone for the input!

[apr1967]

Would I pay extra for it? No. But many places (like costco) do it as part of standard service. It has a benefit due to its dryness.

[Subaru297]

It is true that the Nitrogen molecule is smaller than an oxygen molecule even though it is lower (lighter) on the periodic table.
Oxygen has more protons (positive charge) and therefore has a stronger attraction to its electrons which keeps the electron cloud pulled in closer.

Oxygen passes through rubber 3-4 times faster than nitrogen apparently.

But you can put me in the waste of money category as well. If its free go for it if not go buy something else with the money.

Cheers

[oldmanAZ]

Originally Posted by Subaru297

It is true that the Nitrogen molecule is smaller than an oxygen molecule even though it is lower (lighter) on the periodic table.
Oxygen has more protons (positive charge) and therefore has a stronger attraction to its electrons which keeps the electron cloud pulled in closer.

Oxygen passes through rubber 3-4 times faster than nitrogen apparently.

But you can put me in the waste of money category as well. If its free go for it if not go buy something else with the money.

Cheers

Ok.... now that we're taking the science road...
In another topic the issue of propane 'escaping' from the system:
Do the 'rubber' hoses (I know, they aren't really rubber) allow molecules to migrate through? I suspect, yes, like oxygen through tires.

[jmactootall]

I kinda find this an amusing thread because:
I know of 1 incident where a father gave his kid a new car(birthday present) and expected him to take care of it. After about 22 months my son checked the oil in his friends car before they took a 4 hour trip and was asked by his friend what he was doing. My son explained and found oil had never been checked or changed and air pressure never been checked in tires and never been rotated. Dip stick was dry and air down to a lot less than needed in every tire. Car was traded in when kid graduated high school a year later and they never had a problem with it. My son did explain about oil changes and checking tires. Not a recommended practice but it has been something we have laughed about for 15 years when it comes up.