So I bought got a new set of tires the other day and the sales guy asked me if I wanted to pay an additional $20 to fill the tires with Nitrogen. He started explaining why I should do this but I just told him I'm not interested so I wouldn't have to listen to his speech or give him more money. Anyone ever heard of this? Is this some sorta scam to make more money?
The Nitrogen doesn't flucuate air pressure based on heat. Regular air in a tire will vary in pressure by 6 to 8 pounds from cold to hot. I know a lot of racers that run Nitrogen, but they have their own tank. Then you don't have rear tire pressure changes when they heat up. Sure the tire people make money on it, but it does what they say it will, if that has any value for you. No value for me, but good idea for the race car.
I reped a line of nitrogen generators for the automotive trade,(RTI). I filled the tires in my 90 Regal GS I had at the time. Well I don't want to make out like a snake oil salesman but, I picked up my milage by 10% and the car road nicer. Now I always kept my tires properly inflated and regarly rotated, so it wasn't because they finaly got some maintaince. The other guys that I did thier tires had the same thing to say, better milage and better ride. Safeway stores put there entire fleet on nitrogen filled tires, the fuel savings was over 100k in reduced full consumption. The other upside was the tire casings lasted longer, no O2 to rot them. Toyota had a problem with thier pressure monitor system, the fix was to inflate the tires with nitrogen, no O2 and it is inert so not effected by temprature or humidity. Tires with nitogen last longer to, no effects of O2 and they maintain pressure better. So to answer your question is it worth $20.00, well if it saves you money one fuel and your tires last longer? I would have to say yes.
I think it's called "new and improved" air for your tires... I don't doubt there are advantages to having little to no oxygen content, but I haven't seen scientific studies proving the cost effectivness of this idea either. o No:
They argue that the molecules are larger as well so you do not get the "slow" air leak common in tires filled with air. Unless you have an actual leak, the tires should never need to be topped off or adjusted each seasonal change. With consistent correct tire pressure, you will see better mileage and handling. I see COSTCO fills their tires with nitrogen and does not charge extra... - Bill
we got a notice from GM stating no noticable difference.if there was,all the car companies would be using it on thier new vehicles.
As stated above air is 80% nitrogen. so as the smaller oxygen molecules leak out just top up with regular air. To make it simple, lets say all the oxygen leaks out and you top up with regular air. you now have the 80% nitrogen from the first fill up, and have added 80% of the 20% top up as nitrogen again. so you have 96% nitrogen. I know that's very simplified and it doesn't work exactly like that but you get where I'm going with this. - if its the smaller molecules of oxygen that leak out, if you kept filling up with regular air eventually you'd have close to 100% nitrogen
Now that makes sense! You may see some difference in fluctuation of pressure with the temperature, I don't know, but I find it hard to imagine a ten percent mileage improvement. With the current gas saving scramble I would think this would be all the rage if it were even a two percent improvement. Heck, I would expect to hear bills proposed that require it if it saved even two percent!! If it does save on seasonal fluctuation of pressure, I suppose that's a good thing for people who don't own a compressor and check the tires from time to time. Anyone ever hear of them using it in funny cars? Those boys see some temp change in their tires!!! Although at the low pressure of their rear tires maybe it wouldn't make much difference.
LOL :TU: Really, how have we lived all these years without nitrogen in our tires? ou: Imagine, having to add air or adjust the pressure in our tires every 2 months. :error: Tell the guy to keep the nitrogen and feed it to his house plants.
Thats Carbon Dioxide for plants. Here is the geeky explaination. http://www.getnitrogen.org/pdf/graham.pdf
My bro worked at a ford dealership last year that offered this option. He put some in his 83 camaro and 83 grand prix tires for free. The grand prix seemed to like it better, with the 50 aspect ratio tire (245/50/16), than the camaro with the 60 aspect ratio (225/60/15). Not a whole lot of difference from normal air, except we noticed that we didnt have to pump up the tires in the fall. No real changes in ride quality, but it would probably make a difference if you use slicks on a race track. (its kind of a yearly ritual in Ottawa. Weather gets cold, tire pressure goes down, you pump it back up to 30-35...). You decide if its worth the extra $$$.
Well, I was talking more about feeding the roots. Nitrogen rich soil etc. Although, you'd have to figure out how to feed it in gas form to a plant. :error:
here's a mechanics opinion. many of our customers cars we work on have nitrogen. in cold weather, a car with aluminum wheels will go low on air even with nitrogen. we fill them back up with air. get a nail in a tire, there goes the nitrogen. good old fashion air for all my vehicles.
Yes, the nitrites are nitrified (sounds like a Bushism) by the nitrifying bacteria, and the nitroGEN is DEnitrified by bacteria, creating nitrates which are assimilated through the roots. Amazing. :eek2: If only the tires were this efficient in nitrogen assimilation it might be worth the dough. o No: :beers2: I kill myself.
Well, since we are talking about paying extra to put something that helps plants grow into our tires....... I got a new money making plan. Nitrogen fertilizer helps plants, Nitrogen gas is being sold as a cure all for tires. I don't have a source for nitrogen so.... Horse crap is good for plants, I have LOTS of horse crap around here. Now all I have to do is figure out how to get it into a tire, then it's just marketing!! I can about guarantee that horse poop will have a harder time leaking from a tire than nitrogen! If this works I may branch into dog poop.
We used nitrogen in the F4 phantom tires the last few years I worked on them but their wheel speed was somewhat faster then the normal passenger car. We were told the air pressure did not increase (as much) like when using just air. I'm sure we all agree the military would not tell the troops any porky's.
