How to keep nitrogen air in tires?

The test was an extreme example to illustrate the concept.

The air is not like a sponge, it does not instantly squeeze out the water when it is compressed. So a tankless compressor is going to pump humid air. Actually, they will usually spit the condensed water out the end of those hose and into your tire.

We can go back and forth on the caveats all day, but the principle holds: Dry is technically better.

The technicalities depend on temperature and humidity at the time of the fill up. If it matters depends on your tolerance for underinflated or variably inflated tires.

 

it's the same procedure as when the summer air is exchanged for winter air. quite simple and only takes about 10 minutes per wheel. don't forget the spare! there's hundreds of youtubelesses showing how to do it.

 

Costco will check and fill your tires with nitrogen at no cost. Just a FYI

 

do they have free Swedish meatballs?

 

Not quite accurate. Warm air holds more moisture than cool air. When compressing air it heats up and it’s moisture holding ability goes up. When it cools the moisture drops out. Commercial air dryer systems are essentially refrigeration systems. They cool the air and when the moisture drops out they filter it. In a stand alone compressor the air heats up when compressed and then cools in the attached tank which once again allows the moisture to drop out. That is why it collects moisture and why we drain it as it will amount to a substantial amount over time depending on usuage.

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In racing tire pressure is everything. 1/2 a pound of air pressure can make a substantial difference for the positive or negative. So in the highest levels of competition something like nitrogen vs air removes a variable. On the road I will never even know the difference of 1-2 psi so I just add air as it approaches winter and possibly air down slightly as it warms up as the seasons change to keep in the recommended pressures.

 

I was keeping it simple. Been 20 years since my last psychrometrics class.