Nitrogen in tires, instead of air.

[Fly320s]

What says the hive?

A local oil change place was having a deal on nitrogen-fill, so I gave it a try. Of course now I have to go to them or other special places to get the air checked and topped as needed.  I did this two months ago and the tires look to be holding pressure well, but I don't really want to check them because then I have to pay to get the N2 topped off.

Anyone run N2 in their tires?  Worth it?  Waste of money?

[Nick1911]

On a street car, I don't really see the point.

What's the advantage?

[wmenorr67]

On a street car, I don't really see the point.

What's the advantage?

This

[AJ Dual]

I use a special blend with 78% Nitrogen, instead of 100%.  

Okay... okay... I keed. But someone has to say it every time a "N2" in tires? thread comes up.

In theory, the other 20% of lighter Oxygen could leak out faster, and there's a certain percentage of water vapor in an atmospheric compressor's source. While collected N2 is 'dry' etc. And it has a different/better expansion coefficient when heated/cooled meaning tire pressure will vary less.

So yes, it's "better", however, it's rare that it's X amount "better" as compared to the price you pay for an N2 fill, and the increased life of the tire due to it deflating more slowly, and not oxidizing on the inside as much due to no O2 or moisture being in there.

I'm skeptical. I suspect that N2 fills alone probably extend the life of your tire by a few months, statistically speaking. I'd only do it if it was free, or the same price as a for-pay air-compressor, like $.50 etc.

[Northwoods]

I know a lot of race cars use N2 instead of normal air.  Main reason is the non-N2 components of air (ar is ~79% N2, ~19%O2, ~2% misc.) have a much higher coefficient of thermal expansion, so there's less of a difference in tire pressure between cold and hot conditions.

On a street car, driven by a (more or less) normal person?  You'll probably never notice a difference.  I'd say it's not worth the expense.

[Perd Hapley]

That's crazy! What if it blows up?!     

[Harold Tuttle]

you can convince a weight weenie triathlon bike dork that a He fill will lighten his bicycle

[Nick1911]

In theory, the other 20% of lighter Oxygen could leak out faster, and there's a certain percentage of water vapor in an atmospheric compressor's source. While collected N2 is 'dry' etc. And it has a different/better expansion coefficient when heated/cooled meaning tire pressure will vary less.

This is always the sell.  I contend that anyone who is driving there car to those limits on the street where such a minor change would matter has no business driving on the street.  Pushing a passenger car to it's performance limit in an uncontrolled environment is extremely hazardous for both the driver and everyone else on the road.

The other sell I hear on the internet has to do with it "not oxidizing the rubber, so the tires last longer"  or "if you have a blowout, it won't catch on fire".  I dismiss both these arguments as irreverent to street driving as well.

[Monkeyleg]

irreverent to street driving as well

I didn't know street driving was deserving of reverence.

The supposed benefits above--temperature consistency, less leakage--are benefits to race drivers, who are trying to exact every last 1/100th of performance from their cars. Once you get past basic modifications to fuel delivery (carbs, fuel injection, blower), cams and exhaust, the cost per horsepower realized increases dramatically.

[Harold Tuttle]

people like numbers and factoids that make them seem cool and smarter

you really don't need a quad core i7 to run farmville in facebook
and you don't need special mixtures in your car tires
but PT Barnum will profit from selling them

OMG the new iphone has a 87 megapixel imager!!!!!!
In some regards, the Amish are a lot more sane

[Perd Hapley]

you can convince a weight weenie triathlon bike dork that a He fill will lighten his bicycle

Quit doing stuff like that to mtnbkr. He's a nice guy, bless his heart.

Save that stuff for Jamis.

[Fly320s]

I sense a trend here. 

So, can I top-off with regular compressed air as needed then? 

[HankB]

you can convince a weight weenie triathlon bike dork that a He fill will lighten his bicycle

A hydrogen fill would be even lighter, but it's still in 2nd place behind a vacuum fill.

[Jamie B]

He

[Tallpine]

I sense a trend here. 

So, can I top-off with regular compressed air as needed then? 

No, that would contaminate the pure nitrogen.

Let all the nitrogen out first, and then inflate to recommended pressure with compressed air.

[Lee]

Ha ha.

My Nissan Truck came with nitrogen in the tires.
I have noticed that it is the only vehicle we have (1 of 6) that the tire pressure light doesn't come on in when the weather changes...or maybe the lights broke. 

[Monkeyleg]

He's a nice guy, bless his heart.

I don't know how the phrase "bless his (or her) heart" is used in Missouri, but here in AL it seems to be a polite way of saying "what an idiot".

[wmenorr67]

I don't know how the phrase "bless his (or her) heart" is used in Missouri, but here in AL it seems to be a polite way of saying "what an idiot".

Same thing.

[CNYCacher]

What says the hive?

Load of crap

A local oil change place was having a deal on nitrogen-fill, so I gave it a try.

Hope it was free

Of course now I have to go to them or other special places to get the air checked and topped as needed.

No you do NOT and if someone told you that, kick him in the toodles

I did this two months ago and the tires look to be holding pressure well, but I don't really want to check them because then I have to pay to get the N2 topped off.

No you don't, and sounds like it wasn't free.

Anyone run N2 in their tires?  Worth it?  Waste of money?

No. No. Yes.

[Tallpine]

Ever ask one of the A&P guys[gals] what they run in the tires on your "bus" ?

 

[Jamisjockey]

The advantage is that your tire pressure will stay consistent between oil changes.  I check mine every so often on my truck, especially after wild temperature swings, yet it never changes.

[Fly320s]

Ever ask one of the A&P guys[gals] what they run in the tires on your "bus" ?

 

N2.

[Tallpine]

N2.

Well then maybe you should go with that if you are going to be doing Evil Knievel stuff 

The advantage is that your tire pressure will stay consistent between oil changes.  I check mine every so often on my truck, especially after wild temperature swings, yet it never changes.

Yeah, except for flats from driving on gravel roads 

[zahc]

Air is only 78% nitrogen, so I use plain air, but overfill my tires by about 20% to get the same amount of nitrogen in them.

[Tallpine]

Air is only 78% nitrogen, so I use plain air, but overfill my tires by about 20% to get the same amount of nitrogen in them.

And then after a while the oxygen will all leak out