Nitrogen in tire?

So I know a bit about nitrogen in tires, however heard a first when getting a quote to have new wheels and duratracs mounted and balanced. The shop
which is a really good shop told me for tpms sensors to work the best one needs nitrogen filled tires. I guess it makes some sense if one is a believer in nitrogen. He is giving me a very fair price on mounting,balance, changing over tpms sensors, so I figure I will just let him fill them with it, knowing once summer comes and I drop tire pressure down at the beach I won't be filling back up with it. Really wondering more then anything what everyone's thought on nitrogen in tires is.

 

Gots to keep those tpms in peak performance!

Jk I'd buy the tires somewhere else. Whatever benefits nitrogen may have the tpms do their job just fine with regular air. Your tire guy is an idiot or a liar

 

For the average driver, it's snake oil in nitrogen gas form.

Nitrogen does have some advantages over air in that it is less apt to leak out through the rubber and its pressure varies less with changes in temperature.

These may be an advantage for a race car on a track, but on the street you're unlikely to get your tires to the temp that it will make a difference.

 

Eh I figure a typical sellsman. However he is mounting, balancing, swapping sensors, and filling with his magic air for a $100. I can't beat that in anywhere, and honestly I trust there work, they scratched a wheel I had one time. They called me, it was really minor. They on there own with out asking had already ordered a new wheel for me and did that service for free with.

 

Hmmm... air is like 78% nitrogen already.
First there was bottled water, now they are selling air.

 

If you don't choose to add nitrogen, youre still getting 78% nitrogen.

 

Tire pressure also changes with the air temp outside. Mine will vary up to 4 psi when filled with air from morning to afternoon. Since i see you are in GA like me you are no stranger to days in the 60's and night's in the 30's... my read out goes from 30 psi in the am to 34 psi in the afternoon when the tires have been sitting for 4 hours or even more. I am contemplating a nitrogen swap just to see if i can alleviate some of that!

My $.02.

 

No. It won't.

 

PV = nRT is true for both 78% nitrogen and 100% nitrogen

And keep in mind the shop doesn't pull a vacuum on the tire, so the actual nitrogen content in the tire after pressurizing to 35 psi will be ~92%. The process has a benefit in aviation, where reducing the oxygen content from 22% to ~8% significantly reduces flammability in case of blowouts. In cars, not so much.

 

Sounds like you've made up your mind then. It won't hurt, but benefits are marginal at best

 

Snake Oil in gaseous form.

 

The ideal gas law is true, however pure nitrogen specific heat is lower than atmosphere. So it technically would have a rise in presssure thats lower than a comparable atmosphere filled tire during a heat up, but its going to be so small that you couldn't measure it with a TPMS or regular gauge you buy at an auto parts store. Chances are, the gauge inaccuracy is more than the actual change in pressure it'll result in.

 

Unnecessary. Just check your tires with a decent gauge and tire pump. I think you can get nitro free at Costco, but who's going to Costco just to air their tires?

 

This means for a given amount of heat added, the temperature (and pressure) goes up a bit less for pure nitrogen. If the heat is coming from the tire rubber (tire warming up on a racetrack), this would mean slightly less pressure variation with the nitrogen-filled tire. If the heat is coming from the ambient environment (e.g. overnight soak), there would be no difference between air-filled and nitrogen-filled tires.

 

if you'll be airing down, not worth it.

 

I think the best option to put in your tires is a is a 78% nitrogen / 21% oxygen mix.

 

There is added heat from the tire rubber

 

Nitrogen is pretty usless unless you are racing and causing your tires to heat and cool regularly causing your tire pressure to change. Thats it.

 

You're getting a good deal on your install. Is he charging more for the nitrogen, or just including it? If charging more, tell him, nicely, you'll pass, and get an even better deal.

My Tacoma tires are nitrogen filled, because that's just part of Costco's install package. So I didn't care.

Even when I was racing monthly in a little sports car, I didn't bother with nitrogen. I just adjusted the tire pressures between rounds to compensate for heat build up, track conditions, etc. Some folks swear by it; I was happy to ignore it and just run in the top 10. Which is where I'd still have been with the effort of nitrogen.

And those green valve stem caps are so tacky.

 

Costco tires...

I have an air compressor in my garage, NOT a Nitrogen generator. That's at work for maintaining aircraft struts.