Nitrogen filled tires and summer heat

[bigfoot]

Originally Posted by Camping Couple

Nitrogen is an inert gas. It will not expand or contract. ...

This is totally wrong. First, nitrogen in NOT an inert gas. The inert gasses are helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, and radon. They are considered inert in the sense that they are chemically unreactive. Nitrogen is definitely reactive...if it was not, we would not need some of the emission control equipment on our cars & trucks. Secondly, ALL gasses expand and contract depending on temperature. Some more than others but they ALL do. If you don't see any changes in pressure with temperature in your nitrogen filled tires, you need a better gauge.

There are valid reasons to use pure nitrogen in some applications, i.e. aircraft tires and high end racing tires, but in our cars, trucks and trailers there's just about zero benefit. It's mostly a marketing ploy. And as some have pointed out, air is 78% nitrogen anyway.

[Camping Couple]

Originally Posted by bigfoot

This is totally wrong. First, nitrogen in NOT an inert gas. The inert gasses are helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, and radon. They are considered inert in the sense that they are chemically unreactive. Nitrogen is definitely reactive...if it was not, we would not need some of the emission control equipment on our cars & trucks. Secondly, ALL gasses expand and contract depending on temperature. Some more than others but they ALL do. If you don't see any changes in pressure with temperature in your nitrogen filled tires, you need a better gauge.

There are valid reasons to use pure nitrogen in some applications, i.e. aircraft tires and high end racing tires, but in our cars, trucks and trailers there's just about zero benefit. It's mostly a marketing ploy. And as some have pointed out, air is 78% nitrogen anyway.

Ok, maybe I used the wrong term. I use nitrogen a lot in my field of work. Pressure testing and flowing in refrigeration piping systems while brazing. I do know using nitrogen to pressure test a refrigeration system, over a 24 hr period my pressure will not budge even with large temperature changes.

[etex211]

If you're really serious about running nitrogen in your tires, then you need one of these...

Tanner Racing Products 20950, Tanner Racing Products Extreme Tire Management System | Tanner Racing Products

[eldermike]

Originally Posted by etex211

If you're really serious about running nitrogen in your tires, then you need one of these...

Tanner Racing Products 20950, Tanner Racing Products Extreme Tire Management System | Tanner Racing Products

without this you are wasting time and money.

[Macrosill]

Originally Posted by Jagiven

If you need to top them off, you can just add regular old air. No big deal.

I much prefer new air. I do not like using old air unless I am stuck in a jam.

[edatlanta]

I only use 78% nitrogen in my tires. The price is right and available everywhere.

[norty1]

Originally Posted by edatlanta

I only use 78% nitrogen in my tires. The price is right and available everywhere.

...and free!

[nylyon]

On my TV I have Nitrogen inflated tires and they do seem to hold the pressure longer. On the TT, regular old air. Whether or not you use Nitrogen or air, the important thing is to keep your tires filled to the recommended pressure. *Most* of the rubber you see on the road is from tires which were under inflated and peeled, and according to the retread industry, they are NOT retreads, but new tires.

My tires are checked before EVERY trip, regardless of how long, and often the trailer tires require 3 or 4 LBS to fill them up which I do with regular ole air. So use air, nitrogen or helium, but check the pressures often which will be a far greater benefit than what gas you use to inflate them with.

[charles_cincy]

Just a bit of a difference between a tire doing 150mph around a curve every minute or so and your car doing 85.

Originally Posted by Roadwarrior56

Well since EVERY racing team uses it in their tires to maintain a consistent pressure during a race, I guess you could call it a scam on the unknowing public....

[havnfun]

So many experts...so little time to understand. LOL
Happy RVing,
Jeff

[Flapper]

Originally Posted by Camping Couple

Nitrogen is an inert gas. It will not expand or contract. If you need to add air, go for it. At this point you should keep an eye on your pressures as adding air will now affect the the pressures with heat.

Of course it will expand and contract! Just like air - which as pointed out is 78% nitrogen! Being an inert gas means it normally doesn't react with things, as opposed to say oxygen, which tries to combine with almost anything!

There is absolutely NO reason to use nitrogen in normal consumer vehicles, and mixing it and regular air makes no difference. The only good thing to say about using it, is that it does no harm.