nitrogen filled tires

[tony066]

My new 5th wheel coach has nitrogen filled tires. If I need to add pressure do I need to find a service center that can supply nitrogen or is there a way to carry a nitrogen tank for the purpose? I know I can add air from my compressor but it does dilute the nitrogen and sort of defeats the purpose.

[tony066]

To SMKETTNER - thanks for the useful response - I knew it was out there somewhere.

[gitane59]

Tell me it ain't so, you mean I can't believe the RV dealer that told me that since they switched to nitrogen inflated tires I would never have to check my tire pressure or fill my tires every if I bought a new trailer from him..:W

That must be why we have all these ST tires failing that some people say is all operator error. Darn owners believing their sales people.:R

[bobsallyh]

Been pricing new tires for the dually in the Montana area. When I go in, "I tell them the size, it already has steel valve stems and I don't want nitrogen". 6 out of 7 tire retailers, so far, have said "we don't do nitrogen". Having worked tires for a number of years on a professional racing outfit using nitrogen and knowing airplanes of course use it, I sure don't need it to run the dually and fiver up and down the super slabs.

[camperpaul]

2oldman wrote:

Francesca Knowles wrote:
You'll probably think I'm kidding, but I've honestly wondered about carrying a tank of liquid nitrogen

That's actually possible? Or safe?

Possible - Yes

Practical - No

Safe - No

See:


From this graph, we see:

The vapor pressure is 3.3MPa (478 PSI) at -145° (-318°F).

- The critical point is the temperature above which Nitrogen can not exist as a liquid.

LN is shipped and stored in vented Dewar flasks (think Thermos® bottles).

[BeerCan]

Use Helium. It improves MPG because it is lighter. Also increases payload because the lighter then air properties of Helium help counter act the downward force of the load. Finally it is not flammable like Hydrogen, so you don't have to worry about your 5er going all Hindenburg on you. 😉

[full_mosey]

tony066 wrote:

...
The real problem is the oxygen in the tires tends to oxidize tires from the inside out.
...

What about the oxygen outside of the tires?

HTH;
John

[720Deere]

joebedford wrote:
Remember the Hindenberg! GDR

Wrong gas! Hindenburg was Hydrogen.

[CapriRacer]

tony066 wrote:
......The real problem is the oxygen in the tires tends to oxidize tires from the inside out.......

Except that no one has been able to find a correlation to tire failures.

Plus, oxygen will find its way INTO the air chamber, even if the air chamber starts with 100% nitrogen. The process is called the "Partial Pressure of Gases" - which states that you can treat a mixture of gases but looking at each independently. That means the oxygen in the atmosphere will leak into the air chamber.

The conclusion within the tire engineering community is that the use of nitrogen as an inflation medium doesn't appreciably change the oxygenation effect and can be ignored.

[1492]

Moved from Forum Technical Support

[time2roll]

http://www.harborfreight.com/nitrogen-tire-inflation-kit-with-20-cubic-ft-tank-97061.html

[Old-Biscuit]

IF you can find a nitrogen station and it is FREE..great!
Nitrogen is a benefit (small) for use in regular tires due to it being drier.

Compressed air can have moisture.....lots if compressor doesn't have a water separator or dryer. But on the other hand..how many rims have you had that rusted out due to moisture inside the tire. I haven't had any.

Costco does (did) have free nitrogen.

Free & convenient nitrogen.........yes I would use it.

[tony066]

In response to OLD BISCUIT - yeah I know our atmosphere is 78% nitrogen and I have always thought as you did: what's the point? The more I read though, the more I am beginning to understand the issue. As it turns out, the issue of leaking oxygen molecules is the least of the problems with atmospheric air - although that is why Nascar uses nitrogen. The real problem is the oxygen in the tires tends to oxidize tires from the inside out. Beside the fact that nitrogen is (for all practical purposes) inert it also tends to hold and contain less water vapor than atmospheric air. At least that's the explaination I have read for it's use. Having said all that - I still agree that it's hardly worth the effort to drag a 13000 lb trailer around with low tires looking for a nitrogen fill. I thought that just maybe somebody knew of a convenient method of maintaining the original nitrogen fill. Thanks anyway for your thoughts.

[donach]

I have the same in my car. do you have a costco in your town. if
they will fill your tires for free at their tire shop.
good luck.

[2oldman]

Francesca Knowles wrote:
You'll probably think I'm kidding, but I've honestly wondered about carrying a tank of liquid nitrogen

That's actually possible? Or safe?