Switched From Air In The Tyres To Nitrogen

[Thrawn60]

Hey all,

Just got my tires changed to run on nitrogen instead of air, so no more hassle with refilling the tires again, at least for the next 6 months, when it needs to get the gas replaced.

Anyone else using this?

I found that the road noise id reduced a lot, plus it seems to be smoother on the road, even when riding on rocky roads.

Oh and that fact it was so cheap to do, and didn't take long, 6 mins in total and costed me 2 quid....

Michael

[Chris Dance]

I havre not heard that it is available in the UK. Sounds a great idea at that price.

[johalareewi]

Keep us updated! You might be interested in...

http://news.consumer...-nitrogen-.html

[Mistermena]

If you buy tyres from Costco they always fill with Nitrogen for free... Most places charge an extra £3 a tyre if they even do it...

[Grumpy Cabbie]

I'm sure it's one of those things that make you feel better or happier. But the tyre still loses 'air' and needs topping up.

The other thing I noticed was that the system is actually 95% nitrogen, compared to normal, free air which already contains 78% nitrogen! So you pay your £2 a tyre for a 17% increase. The outside wall of the tyre is still going to get a hammering from the environment and you are more likely to wear the tyre out than it be destroyed by oxidation (or whatever it is that attacks the rubber) or whatever it is you hope the nitrogen will protect you from.

Also, as and when you do check the pressures you inadvertantly let some out and unless you top up with pure nitrogen you'll be diluting it every time you add some air.

I believe my last tyres were filled with nitrogen but I didn't pay extra for it and I can't notice any differences. Is the smoother running because of the new tyres or the nitrogen or even the road you testing it on?

Personally I think adding nitrogen to tyres is a gimmick and akin to saying polishing your car gives you better economy as you go through the air easier. It might, but any benefits are outweighed by the cost/time involved.

[johalareewi]

Just got my tires changed to run on nitrogen instead of air, so no more hassle with refilling the tires again, at least for the next 6 months, when it needs to get the gas replaced.

You still need to check tyre pressures regularly. Just because they are filled with nitrogen doesn't mean you can forget about your tyres for 6 months.

Also, why does the gas (I assume you mean the nitrogen) need to be replaced after 6 months? Nitrogen is an inert gas. Nothing is going to happen to it (other than it leaking out a bit).

[Cyker]

It's because it leaks out :P

The only benefit nitrogen gives afaik is that it leaks out slower but it still leaks out.

It would be useless for me due to the road hump obsessions of the areas I work :(

[Chris Dance]

Having read the article johalareei posted, nitrogen is not such a good idea. Tyres still need checking and temperature affects tyre pressures so you would need to top up that makes nitrogen expensive compared to air.

[Chris Dance]

Having read the article johalareewi posted, nitrogen is not such a good idea. Tyres still need checking and temperature affects tyre pressures so you would need to top up that makes nitrogen expensive compared to air.

[Sagitar]

no more hassle with refilling the tires again, at least for the next 6 months,

It may conceivably migrate through the tyre wall a little less quickly than air (though I have my doubts) but its behaviour with a leaky inflation valve will not be any different than air and it certainly will not make your tyres puncture proof and the tyre pressure will vary just as much with changes in ambient temperature. So a weekly check of tyre pressures is still needed and that inevitably means a regular top up.

Read what any car manufacturer says about the usefulness of nitrogen in the tyres of domestic vehicles and you will quickly conclude that its just a gimmick. Nice inflation valve covers though . . . . . .

[Thrawn60]

Well, some of my friends are running with nitrogen in a Toyota Hilux, Nissan Cefiro, Lexus suv, and so far none had to top off the tires, and they have been running months at time.

The 2 pounds were for all four wheels in total, Thailand is cheap when it comes to this kind of stuff.

I didn't get new tires, just the replacement of "air" and I ran on the same roads as I have been doing for years, and I do notise a difference.

Now since there is no refill cap any more, since they replace that one with a stopper to ensure that there is no leaking valve, I will keep my eyes out for changes in the looks of the wheels.

I don't know if Thailand is better suited for nitrogen in the wheels than Europe, since we have more or less stable temperature year round.

But one think for sure there is less road noise, and it's smoother driving, so even I have to top off the wheels at the shop, it's still a more pleseant drive :)

[Cyker]

...the tyre pressure will vary just as much with changes in ambient temperature...

IIRC nitrogen is more temperature-stable than plain air so the PSI shouldn't change as much; This is the main reason it's popular in motorsports.

[junebug1701]

My Toyota dealer is promoting the nitrogen heavily since last year. They seem to be fitting it to all their new vehicles with special nitrogen labeled valve stem caps. And the promotional materials I'm getting from them suggest that they can do the nitrogen thing on my RAV4 for only $49.95! I'm going to be sticking with the good old 78% nitrogen, thank you very much.

[johalareewi]

So if the caps are sealed, you are stuck with that PSi? Do you get to specify the pressures you want? Could be that your smoother ride is due to the pressures being a bit lower than you would normally have so you get a less bumpy ride?

I know that nitrogen can be beneficial in tyres for certain applications but am not convinced for domestic use, especially at a premium over air. On the other hand, it isn't going to hurt.

[Sagitar]

...the tyre pressure will vary just as much with changes in ambient temperature...

IIRC nitrogen is more temperature-stable than plain air so the PSI shouldn't change as much; This is the main reason it's popular in motorsports.

Not so I'm afraid. Both air and nitrogen are perfect gases and obey exactly the same gas laws. If you take a tyre full of "plain air" as you call it and another identical tyre full of nitrogen, both at the same initial pressure and temperature; then change the temperature of both by the same amount, the change of pressure will also be identical.

The problem with air is that it is often put into the tyre via a compressor with inadequate water separation. So you not only pump air into the tyre but, if it's a moist day and humidity is high, water vapour also. Water vapour is not a perfect gas and it is this that changes the temperature/pressure coefficient.

The effect is trivial in domestic vehicle tyres, especially when compared with the huge variations in operating conditions (load, speed, road surface condition, steering demands, road surface temperature, ambient air temperature, humidity, wet or dry road surface) that affect the working pressure of a road tyre.

It's much more important on a track where all the parameters are more closely controlled and where it worth spending money for even very small advantages. Add to that the fact that nitrogen is inert and therefore safer in a crash or a fire and you have the reasons why it is used in racing.

If you look up the statistics of tyre failure, a major cause is under-inflation. Every sensible safety consideration says check your tyre pressures frequently. Encouraging people to believe that they do not need to check their tyres for six months is, in my view, quite idiotic. Sadly, much of the new technology being introduced in this area (notably, tyre pressure monitors and run-flat tyres) is actually stepping backwards in performance terms, but is a price that the authorities have decided it is worth paying to remove responsibility from the driver.

[Sagitar]

some of my friends are running with nitrogen in a Toyota Hilux, Nissan Cefiro, Lexus suv, and so far none had to top off the tires, and they have been running months at time.

That's interesting. If they are not checking regularly, how do they know what pressure is in the tyres? Could it be that they have tyre-pressure monitors and if they have, what is the tolerance on the device before it shows low pressure?

I believe that the EEC regulations that are due to start in November this year will allow a 20% or 25% fall in pressure before the device indicates low pressure. So a tyre intended to run at 40 psi could be down to 30 psi before the device triggers.

A tyre in good nick, with a sound inflation valve and a good seal on the bead will lose very little pressure over time. But all mechanical seals are liable to leak, especially when they are being "worked" and of course a slow puncture is always possible. I remain convinced that the most effective course is regular tyre pressure checks.

I do pressure checks once a week, hail, rain or shine and before every long journey and I have yet to read anything that would make me want to alter this lifetime habit.

[Grumpy Cabbie]

I find tyres generally hold their pressures well these days. I always check mine weekly or before a long trip and usually they're good, though extreme temperature changes can affect psi's quite a bit.

I find checking the pressures is absolute for safety. The number of times a tyre looks ok but happens to be 8 or 10 psi down often indicates a slow puncture and that's often a nail or screw, which if not caught in time will fire out of your tyre causing a blow out - usually when you're doing 80 on the motorway in the rain.

Checking the pressures is not just about getting that 5 mpg gain on the Prius. It's about looking after your car and YOU.

[Cyker]

@sagitar - Ah, yer right! Good call :)

I keep forgetting that it's the lack of water that is what made nitrogen-filled tyres more temp stable and not the the nitrogen itself

[timberwolf]

I suspect lots of motorist don't check tyre pressures weekly, and probably not at all, so if they weren't going to check them with a 78% nitrogen fill, what does it matter if they have the tyres filled with a little more nitrogen <95% and then not check the tyre pressures?

[johalareewi]

I suspect lots of motorist don't check tyre pressures weekly, and probably not at all, so if they weren't going to check them with a 78% nitrogen fill, what does it matter if they have the tyres filled with a little more nitrogen <95% and then not check the tyre pressures?

Nothing in that scenario. But also, they are probably not really gaining any major benefit from using 95% nitrogen over air.

The danger is that someone who checks their tyres when using air, could be seduced into not checking their tyres when using nitrogen.

[timberwolf]

Personally, I think the Nitrogen filling is of very little benefit. (Edit)

But I am going to play devils advocate.

Is there that much danger? The risk of a blow out due to an under inflated tyre must be quite low because few people check their tyre pressures and if I understand correctly tyre pressure gauges sold to the public aren't required to be accurate.

[Chris Dance]

I check my tyre pressures about every 7-10 days and always prior to a long journey. Recent OAT change affected the pressures by a 5PSI increase in pressure. I always check tyre pressures after a service. On one occassion following a service when I had an Avensis the pressure all round were far too high. Since owning Prius cars thepressures have always been OK.

[Thrawn60]

Hi all,

Got some corrections, mostly due to language problems... I can assure you that Thai language is not an easy nut to crack..

What I got was, 4 tires filled with Nitrogen for 2 pounds total, including (here comes the changes...) FREE refill for the next 6 months at any B-Quick tire station, and the valve is not a closed type, it's just a different kind.

So I requested a bit more, and it seems that if I feel like it, I can drop by on my way to work to get the pressure rechecked and refilled if needed every single day for the next 6 months.

My friends that used Nitrogen as well, do not check so often if the pressure is high or low.

For the safety issue, I were on a longer drive last week in the Toyota Hilux that also uses nitrogen, and we had a puncture, a blade from a Stanley knife, cut into the tire, and it just leaked slowly, we saw it early, and decided to continue south, but after some 150km it was to flat to continue, so we refilled with normal air and drove the last 70km...

It was in the dead of the night, and no spare wheel, hence the reckless driving with a flat tire.

[wass]

I will stay with good old 78% nitrogen and spend the money saved on needlessly printing out emails instead I think. ;)

[Ancient Nerd]

Using nitrogen in your tyres sounds a whole lot like using seriously expensive cables for digital audio signals, or taking homeopathic medicine. It may give you a warm feeling, but it won't improve anything.