Nitrogen Filled Tires

Nitrogen has benefits in tires used for air craft or race cars. For a vehicle at normal speeds, it serves no practical purpose. It is a profit center for the tire seller.

If it makes you feel better, spend the money on it. It won’t hurt, but remember that it is not as easy to find 100% Nitrogen for bring tires up to pressure.

Normal air contains 78% Nitrogen, so is it worth it for an extra 22%? I think not.

The next time I tow my trailer at 200 MPH or it has the name “Boeing” on it, I will use nitrogen.

For previous posts on this subject search this Forum for `nitrogen' and read on and on.

Golden_HVAC wrote:
...
So those few drops of moisture in a not so well maintained air compressor can make a difference on the tire pressure when running on a hot day, or using the brakes down a hill.

...

How does the moisture in compressed air affect the brakes?

And you thought a trailer tire was stressed! The last thing an airplane needs is a tire fire at landing (or takeoff).

Well, I don't know about you, but I use LT tires on my airplane...;)

The whole nitrogen-in-car-tires thing started from the use of nitrogen in aircraft tires. Probably the manufacturers of the nitrogen generators for aircraft saw an opportunity to sell their equipment to car dealers and service garages.

The main reason they use nitrogen in aircraft tires is that it doesn't support combustion (no oxygen)in case the tire explodes on takeoff/landing. Landing speeds for airliners are generally 150+ mph, and the tire is suddenly accelerated from zero rotational speed to full speed as soon as the tire touches the runway. Watch a plane landing closely and often you can see the puff of smoke from the tires. And you thought a trailer tire was stressed! The last thing an airplane needs is a tire fire at landing (or takeoff). Also, without oxygen in the tire, it will not corrode the wheel from the inside.

When they fill a new tire/wheel with nitrogen, there will still be some "regular" air in it unless they use a vacuum pump first, because of the ambient unpressurized air it started with.

Yes, it's true that nitrogen will permeate a little slower through the tire, but if you check the pressure regularly you don't have to worry. This is a case where they are not lying about the benefits of nitrogen, but how much do the benefits actually mean (for a car/trailer)?

Steve

Golden_HVAC wrote:
Hi,

Any 'problem' with using compressed air to fill your tires is that it might contain some moisture. It will not directly damage the tires, however when a cubic centermeter (10cc) of water is heated to 212 F and turns to steam, it will expand to 1.6 liter of steam! So it expands 1600:1.

So those few drops of moisture in a not so well maintained air compressor can make a difference on the tire pressure when running on a hot day, or using the brakes down a hill.

Normal well maintained compressors, with a filter / dryer on the outlet to control moisture, you will be fine. Normally they empty the air compressors of water every week or so.

So fill it with normal compressed air, that is what I do.

Fred.

I use a TPMS to monitor my tire pressure and temperature. I live in Tucson, and pull my FW on some extraordinarily hot days. Even when the ambient air temp is 110 degrees F, the temperature of my tires rarely exceeds 120 degrees! I don't know of any tire that wouldn't fail between 160-180 degrees. Hitting the steam point of 212 would be impossible in my opinion.

Hi,

Any 'problem' with using compressed air to fill your tires is that it might contain some moisture. It will not directly damage the tires, however when a cubic centermeter (10cc) of water is heated to 212 F and turns to steam, it will expand to 1.6 liter of steam! So it expands 1600:1.

So those few drops of moisture in a not so well maintained air compressor can make a difference on the tire pressure when running on a hot day, or using the brakes down a hill.

Normal well maintained compressors, with a filter / dryer on the outlet to control moisture, you will be fine. Normally they empty the air compressors of water every week or so.

So fill it with normal compressed air, that is what I do.

Fred.

Nitrogen in tires is a marketing gimmick. I would and do use regular compressed air in all my tires and they work just fine.

AS you noted regular air is 78% N2........so use regular air.

Now with that said this thread will turn into pages and pages of why N2 is used, where it is used, differences in molecule sizes, how N2 is dryer/better, use it if it is provided free/don't use it if charged for it blah, blah. blah

As you already know.regular air is 78% N2.........so use regular air.

The IMPORTANT thing is 'check' air pressure COLD and routinely

Go ahead and use regular air. If you were driving a NASCAR or Formula 1 car it may make a small difference. For the rest of us no measurable benefits.