inflating tires on rv with nitrogen, good idea?
I'm interested in hearing comments on using nitrogen in tires on my rv, supposed to run cooler and maintain air pressure better. Any comments would be appreciated. Tom
Forum Discussion
Sport 45 wrote:
Are we supposed to think air inside the tire is more corrosive than the air outside the tire?
Yes, sort of. AT 30 lbs of tire pressure, compared to 15 lbs of atmospheric pressure, the oxygen concentration is 3X higher. IF the tire is degraded by oxygen, the rate of degradation would be 3X greater. In real life this is not much of a factor for the tire's lifespan - treadwear and exposure to sunlight are much more significant.
Arizona Kid wrote:
This from Bridgestone:
"Why do brand-new tires lose air pressure?
Air molecules are very small. And rubber, though it looks very solid, is, at the microscopic level, a sort of tangled, fishnet-like mass of long, stringy molecules.
Over time, air molecules can make their way through the maze of molecular chains and escape to the outside world. Basically, they go right through the sidewalls.
A truck tire can lose 2 psi per month, even when brand-new and properly mounted. That’s 24 psi a year, which would take any tire way below the run flat level. It’s another reason we place so much emphasis on regular inflation pressure maintenance."
I've never noticed that much loss in tire pressure and my Sprinter tires are inflated to 80 lbs in the rear and 60 lbs in the front.
