Nitrogen or air in tires?

[Johnny Dangerously]

Originally Posted by JTB Consulting

I've never understood the concept as it is only available at dealers.

What if your down a tad on the right front and your on a road trip?

Does one just put normal air in with the Nitrogen?

And last but not least, the idea of paying (up to 10 bucks a corner) for "Air" no matter what is it's molecular make-up is, to me, is like throwing cash into the fireplace.

Hell, you can by a good size bottle of JD instead with 40 bucks!

The Costcos by us fill all the tires they install with nitrogen.

I use a mixture that is 78% nitrogen


`

[Birdman]

I do use nitrogen in all my vehicles because it is much more stable with the big change in temps we experience here in the NE. It could go from 20* to 60* throughout the day not to mention how much the tire temp increases after driving on a hot day causing the air pressures to raise and lower considerably depending on the temp.

I have to laugh when you guys complain about it being an excess waste of money ...think about what we all spend on some of the mods we do to our cars. How much were those billet radio knobs ,shorty antennae, shifter knob ....well you get the point.

BTW it cost me $34 for 4 wheels ,hardly extravagant for the better tire wear and performance I get from it.

Is it necessary no ,is there a benifit from it yes, is it worth it well that depends on each person's point of view .

When it comes to the GT500 I especially want the best things available I can get for the car even the air in the tires. LOL

[sportscars]

Problem is many people dont have a good H20 seperator. Moisture in your tire is a bad thing. Is it overkill? Probably. I look at it as insurance. Nitrogen molecules are larger and therefore you are less prone to a low tire. I have it in all my tires (but I got it for free). I guess the thing I like best is that if I have a low tire I know there is something wrong, not just seepage. Plus I tend to slightly over-inflate (for mpg) and nitrogen is more temp stable.
Again, not sure I'd actually pay 5 or 10 bucks per tire for it, but for free, you cant go wrong....

[TOMMY GUN]

Originally Posted by Birdman

When it comes to the GT500 I especially want the best things available I can get for the car....

Then why did you chose blue?



.

[Orf]

Originally Posted by TOMMY GUN

Then why did you chose blue?

'Cause it's faster than red.

[rpretzel]

Originally Posted by sportscars

Problem is many people dont have a good H20 seperator. Moisture in your tire is a bad thing. Is it overkill? Probably. I look at it as insurance. Nitrogen molecules are larger and therefore you are less prone to a low tire. I have it in all my tires (but I got it for free). I guess the thing I like best is that if I have a low tire I know there is something wrong, not just seepage. Plus I tend to slightly over-inflate (for mpg) and nitrogen is more temp stable.
Again, not sure I'd actually pay 5 or 10 bucks per tire for it, but for free, you cant go wrong....

Actually, Oxygen molecules are larger than nitrogen weight-wise (atomic weight of N=14.0067, atomic weight of O=15.9994), and their physical size is essentially identical (electron configuration for N = 1s2 2s2 2p3, and the configuration for O = 1s2 2s2 2p4). Oxygen is just Nitrogen with one more electron, one more proton, and one more neutron. Either way, the difference is so minuscule, there is absolutely no measurable difference in "seepage" between Oxygen and Nitrogen.

Moisture is another issue. Why is it bad? Because water vapor can corrode steel. If you have alloy wheels, moisture isn't an issue.

As for N being more temp stable than O, I'm no chemist, but I have a feeling the difference is negligible, particularly in everyday street applications. The boiling points, critical points, specific heat capacities, etc. are all so close, I can't see there being much a difference.

[Orf]

Originally Posted by rpretzel

Actually, Oxygen molecules are larger than nitrogen weight-wise (atomic weight of N=14.0067, atomic weight of O=15.9994), and their physical size is essentially identical (electronic configuration for N = 1s2 2s2 2p3, and the configuration for O = 1s2 2s2 2p4). Oxygen is just Nitrogen with one more electron, one more proton, and one more neutron. Either way, the difference is so minuscule, there is absolutely no measurable difference in "seepage" between Oxygen and Nitrogen.

Moisture is another issue. Why is it bad? Because water vapor can corrode steel. If you have alloy wheels, moisture isn't an issue.

As for N being more temp stable than O, I'm no chemist, but I have a feeling the difference is negligible, particularly in everyday street applications. The boiling points, critical points, specific heat capacities, etc. are all so close, I can't see there being much a difference.

I always wondered what happened to Bill Nye, the Science Guy.

[rpretzel]

Originally Posted by Orf

I always wondered what happened to Bill Nye, the Science Guy.

Actually, Bill Nye lives in SoCal right next door to Ed Begley Jr. Evidently, they really don't like each other and there's quite the neighborhood feud between the two.

[JTB]

Originally Posted by rpretzel

Actually, Oxygen molecules are larger than nitrogen weight-wise (atomic weight of N=14.0067, atomic weight of O=15.9994), and their physical size is essentially identical (electronic configuration for N = 1s2 2s2 2p3, and the configuration for O = 1s2 2s2 2p4). Oxygen is just Nitrogen with one more electron, one more proton, and one more neutron. Either way, the difference is so minuscule, there is absolutely no measurable difference in "seepage" between Oxygen and Nitrogen.

Moisture is another issue. Why is it bad? Because water vapor can corrode steel. If you have alloy wheels, moisture isn't an issue.

As for N being more temp stable than O, I'm no chemist, but I have a feeling the difference is negligible, particularly in everyday street applications. The boiling points, critical points, specific heat capacities, etc. are all so close, I can't see there being much a difference.

Great info.

[Orf]

Originally Posted by rpretzel

Actually, Bill Nye lives in SoCal right next door to Ed Begley Jr. Evidently, they really don't like each other and there's quite the neighborhood feud between the two.

From Bill Nye to Liz Smith. You are quite the font. Font of what, I don't know.

[2COKEMAN]

Originally Posted by black vert ss

I use nitrous oxide

That way if I get a flat I can at least laugh while I change it

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

[CH53Driver]

The first year I lived in Norfolk I had air in my truck tires. With the constant temp changes I would invariably get the tire pressure monitoring light in the cold mornings or when we would get a cold front come through. Then I would have to go add air to my tires. Later that week it would warm up again. Did I ever let air out to relieve the pressure? No, and as a result I was probably driving around at times with too much pressure in the tires.

When I bought the GT500, I decided to try the Nitrogen out since I got a special at the Ford dealership in Wilmington ($20 total or $5 a tire) and it came with a "1 year warranty". It's been a year now and even with all the temperature fluctuations since last March I have not had one tire pressure monitor warning nor have I had to add or let out "air" in my tires with the temp swings, so to me it was worth the $20. It is probably time for a service since they maybe a couple pounds low now, but I still have no light. So to me it was worth it.

By the way, I believe if you are a member of Costco or Sams that they do the service for free.

[MMcGuirk]

Will nitrogen maintain an even pressure over time?

[iceman]

I use air becaus of the constant changing in pressur at the strip...althugh I could us nitrogn in the rear street tires I suppose...but I doubt I will

[JTB]

Originally Posted by Orf

Liz Smith. .

[JTB]

Originally Posted by CH53Driver

The first year I lived in Norfolk I had air in my truck tires. With the constant temp changes I would invariably get the tire pressure monitoring light in the cold mornings or when we would get a cold front come through. Then I would have to go add air to my tires. Later that week it would warm up again. Did I ever let air out to relieve the pressure? No, and as a result I was probably driving around at times with too much pressure in the tires.

When I bought the GT500, I decided to try the Nitrogen out since I got a special at the Ford dealership in Wilmington ($20 total or $5 a tire) and it came with a "1 year warranty". It's been a year now and even with all the temperature fluctuations since last March I have not had one tire pressure monitor warning nor have I had to add or let out "air" in my tires with the temp swings, so to me it was worth the $20. It is probably time for a service since they maybe a couple pounds low now, but I still have no light. So to me it was worth it.

By the way, I believe if you are a member of Costco or Sams that they do the service for free.

You're right about the Nitrogen at Costco, problem is I wouldn't let any of those yahoos in the back of a Costco, touch my SHELBY.

[CH53Driver]

Originally Posted by JTB Consulting

You're right about the Nitrogen at Costco, problem is I wouldn't let any of those yahoos in the back of a Costco, touch my SHELBY.

True. You can always buy your own supply of nitrogen though, if you pay to have the service done enough I'm sure it would pay for itself quickly enough. I remember seeing the different size containers you can buy on Horsepower TV or some show like that.