inflating tires on rv with nitrogen, good idea?

azdryheat wrote:
Regular air is 78% nitrogen. On that note, 100% nitrogen won't leak out of your tires as fast as air as the nitrogen molecules are larger.

So, theoretically as the air leaks out and is replaced with a regular compressor you are getting more and more nitrogen each time. Eventually you will have almost 100% nitrogen if your tires leak fast enough...;)

Maybe I am just lucky, but I have only topped off my tires in the spring and they stay at constant pressure for the rest of the year... For $70 I can use the compressor once a year for the trailer.

My last two family cars (new) came with nitrogen filled tires. Before I sold the first one, I'm pretty sure all 4 tires were back to normal air. They say nitrogen tires are not suppose to leak or be subject to temperature changes as much as normal air filled tires. Personally, as Colonel Sherman Potter would say in M*A*S*H .... "Hocky Puck!"

EASY.RIDER wrote:
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

About as worthwhile as filling tires with Helium!..:R

Been beat to death on here many times.

If it's free, OK - wonderful.....;)
Costco fills tires with Nitrogen.

However, if you need N2 on the road - now you must search for a *free* fill - or pay for it (complete waste of your time & $$).

BTW - Real PITA when you buy tires (at Costco) and the guy doing the mounting is interrupted every few minutes by some dufus wanting his tire pressure checked or topped off..:(
I just tell Costco to skip the N2 for *my* tires - 'cause if the pressure is down, I'll use the 78% variety (plain 'ol "air") at home..
and......my "compressor" on the road is a CO2 tank!..;)

Check out - Powertank High performance Air Systems - "Air" is a misnomer - it's CO2 (but they will be happy to sell you N2 systems also, LOL!)

Then, if you understand & it makes sense - make your own for about 1/2 the price..;)



~

azdryheat wrote:
Regular air is 78% nitrogen. On that note, 100% nitrogen won't leak out of your tires as fast as air as the nitrogen molecules are larger. Nitrogen will also maintain a constant pressure regardless of temperature or elevation. I have no experience with nitrogen in my tires, I just carry an air compressor with me.

I am often surprised at the number of people saying air leaks out of their tires. I can see over time loosing air pressure do to constantly checking the pressure, or seeing the pressure decrease on a cool day, but I just can't buy into it leaking out through the tire. I just put new tires on the motorhome 2 years ago and have never added any since installed. Tires before that were 6 years old and never had air added after install. Can someone point me to a place where it states brand new tires leak air? I have seen a lot of folks checking the tires that seem to let a lot of air out trying to get the chuck straight on the valve.

Can't hurt (except your pocket book), probably will not help either.

ed6713 wrote:
I don't use nitrogen.
I just change the air in my tires once a year. Works for me. :B

Help me out here...I don't understand the reason for changing air in the tires.

ed6713 wrote:
I don't use nitrogen.
I just change the air in my tires once a year. Works for me. :B

yep, deflating and re inflating is part of the standard tire rotation. just looked at a new vehicle and in the dealer add ons they had nitrogen, I think it was $70 added on. :s
bumpy

Nitrogen is used in aircraft tires and struts for a few reasons.
1. It is processed and dry and will not contribute to rot.
2. Ozone has been removed unlike compressed air and ozone is bad for rubber.
3. Nitrogen is non-flammable, if an aircraft tire were to shred or a have a brake fire and the tires are consumed in the fire, the "air" or nitrogen will not contribute to the fire.
4. Nitrogen (I am told and have not researched this) has a larger molecule and will not leak as readily as compressed air.

I see no advantage to using it as it will not increase the life of tire since we as an RV community replace our tires far earlier than them exhibiting any interior rot. Also as mentioned before your speed is negligible.

My tires have nitrogen when installed because that is what the tire dealer used, otherwise I will be using compressed air when topping them off. Having nitrogen most likely will not increase the life of the tires but having it in the tires is fine. Either way I would not pay extra for nitrogen.

EASY.RIDER wrote:
I'm interested in hearing comments on using nitrogen in tires on my rv,

Go ahead and put 'nitrogen' in the search box. Would take a few days to read.

I don't use nitrogen.
I just change the air in my tires once a year. Works for me. :B