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maxwell11's avatar
maxwell11
Explorer
Jul 27, 2014

nitrogen in tires

we bought a used 2013 Toyota Sienna van, 39K miles, a few months ago and it has the green valve stem caps, so I assume it has nitrogen in the tires. Still has the original equipment Michelin tires on the vehicle.

do any of you guys run nitrogen in your truck tires, if so where do you get the tires filled, if you need to top off a few #'s from time to time?

what happens if I place a few #'s of air from my home air compressor,
say from 30 to 32 #'s in these tires?

Thanks for any input.

Have not checked tire pressure in the tires, but need too.
tires do not appear to have lost any air since we have owned the vehicle, but who knows as I had no way to add more nitrogen, if needed.
Tow Vehicles
  • MitchF150's avatar
    MitchF150
    Explorer III
    Jul 27, 2014
    My wifes Rav4 had the green caps on it when we bought it used in 2006 (it's a 2003) and I had to top it off with 78% nitrogen from then on... After a few times of topping off and then getting new tires not too long ago, I found I didn't have to "top off" as often..

    To me, it seemed the "nitrogen" filled tires lost PSI faster than it does with just "air" in it...

    Dunno what the deal is with paying extra for the green caps when regular compressed air works just as well and I don't seem to lose as much PSI a month either....

    If it was me, I'd just use my compressor... ;)

    Good luck!

    Mitch
  • agesilaus's avatar
    agesilaus
    Explorer III
    Jul 27, 2014
    The nitrogen fad has been debunked so far as I know. As Mitch above points out air has 78% Nitrogen in it already.

    BK
  • RAS43's avatar
    RAS43
    Explorer III
    Jul 27, 2014
    If I can get nitrogen for free and don't have to go out of my way then I'd get it. Costco fills all tires with nitrogen when they mount them so my new tires on the truck and 5'er have nitrogen in them. If I need to adjust the pressures I use my home compressor. I really haven't seen any difference in pressures in the two years the tires have had nitrogen in them. Maybe for race cars and airplanes it is worth it!
  • Dog_Folks's avatar
    Dog_Folks
    Explorer
    Jul 27, 2014
    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.
  • Fast_Mopar's avatar
    Fast_Mopar
    Explorer
    Jul 28, 2014
    Just move to Houston. The air coming out of my compressor is 79% nitrogen. It works great.
  • wilber1's avatar
    wilber1
    Explorer
    Jul 28, 2014
    Nitrogen does nothing, that's the point. It's the lack of oxygen that counts and it doesn't count for much in road vehicles.
  • chasmatt45's avatar
    chasmatt45
    Explorer
    Jul 28, 2014
    Nitrogen in tires is all fluff. ALL gases conform to the combined gas laws of physics which means they all react to changes in temperature and volume in the same manner. If you don't believe it, look it up. The lack of oxygen will slow corrosion on the wheels at the bead. The corrosion might be a problem after 10 or 12 years, but you will probably change tires before that and the beads will be cleaned when new tires are mounted.

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