Nitrogen filled tires worth it ??

[coyfish]

Just wondering if this procedure is worth the 25 bucks. Im always asked at oil changes but I turn it down. The guy said it helps handling and mpg but I doubt the money you save in gas over the life of the tire makes up for the 25 bucks.

 

[MakeMeGoFast]

No its not worth it.......regular compressed air in general has 79% nitrogen and 21% oxygen figures might not be exact but you'd be saving ounces of weight if that. The only benefit its that I think it holds in the tire longer. The convenience is not worth $25 dollars.

 

[coyfish]

thx

 

[Myriad]

I'm actually going to disagree about a nitrogen fill not being worth it. Nitrogen is a far more stable gas and doesn't expand and contract under temperature changes nearly as much as standard air does. Oxygen is rather volatile as far as temperature is concerned and even the approximately 20% oxygen in standard air causes noticeable pressure changes in tires (which our cars don't seem to respond well to). The nitrogen fill isn't about a weight savings or eco friendliness, it's about maintaining a constant pressure which is good for tires... and the fact that it is less prone to slow leaks.

 

[vrwm]

I'm actually going to disagree about a nitrogen fill not being worth it. Nitrogen is a far more stable gas and doesn't expand and contract under temperature changes nearly as much as standard air does. Oxygen is rather volatile as far as temperature is concerned and even the approximately 20% oxygen in standard air causes noticeable pressure changes in tires (which our cars don't seem to respond well to). The nitrogen fill isn't about a weight savings or eco friendliness, it's about maintaining a constant pressure which is good for tires... and the fact that it is less prone to slow leaks.

Agreed, also doesn't have moisture, or as much moisture as regular air, so you won't get corroded rims or valves. I work at a dealership and thats usually the main selling point. I say if you keep your eyes on your tire pressure, eg.. once a week. Its up to the owner if its worth it or not. If you're going to drag your car, tires heat up pretty fast and can change tire pressure too. Just food for thought.

 

[coyfish]

Yeah im thinking about doing it. Air does have moisture which causes expansion when heated. Its only 25 bucks so i might do it.

 

[kingpin748]

Big waste of money. Seriously, it's not like were running F1 here.

You will never notice a thing.

 

[Killer]

Big waste of money. Seriously, it's not like were running F1 here.

You will never notice a thing.

It isn't ment to be "Noticed". It is ment to increase tire, rim and valve life. It is a much more stable gas than compressed air and does not fluxuate on temp changes. For 25 bucks I think it is s sound investment.

 

[sunshineFC]

It isn't ment to be "Noticed". It is ment to increase tire, rim and valve life. It is a much more stable gas than compressed air and does not fluxuate on temp changes. For 25 bucks I think it is s sound investment.

+1. And just adding: better mpg, and constant pressure of tire over time. If you live in a volitile climate like I do here in the north east, then its worth it. If you live in socal where its 65 all year round, then its probably not.
-a

 

[TurbomanProtege]

idk bout all that cuz Im majoring in chemistry and we were studing nitrogen filled tires and its really not worth it like posted earlier air is 79% nitrogen and also our study showed that tires that are filled with pure nitrogen has a higher tendency to leak out faster from the tires then just putting in air

 

[mgerst1]

Its not worth it when i only costs about 1.50 to fill up all four tires at a gas station using their air compressor (and that is moving slow) (you gotta go nascar pit stop speed on that s***)

 

[coyfish]

Why would you want to major in chemistry !!

Im majoring in bio and we have to take pretty much the same s*** chem majors take. Im in biochem II and its no fun.

Oh well thanks for the input. Guess I wont fill with nitrogen

 

[Myriad]

idk bout all that cuz Im majoring in chemistry and we were studing nitrogen filled tires and its really not worth it like posted earlier air is 79% nitrogen and also our study showed that tires that are filled with pure nitrogen has a higher tendency to leak out faster from the tires then just putting in air

You guys should check and make sure that the rims and tires are clean and free of any damage on the examples you are using for the nitrogen filled tires. If nitrogen was more prone to leaking then you should see a larger volume of leakage from the same setup when the nitrogen filled tires are filled with standard air. The aprox 20% oxygen in standard air has a far greater expansion rate and would put more stress on the tire, opening up the point of escape more, allowing even more nitrogen to escape if it was truly only the nitrogen (the other aprox 78-79% of standard air) that was getting out. That is unless the oxygen formed some sort of barrier along the tire (which it doesn't) or the aprox 1% trace gases also in standard air are some amazing element(s) I have never come across.

I'm not saying $25 is a steal for a nitrogen fill or that it is the answer to all that is wrong in the world, I'm just saying there are a whole lot of worse things you could drop $25 on. I'll stick by it since I have clocked about 125,000 miles between 6 sets of tires (between 4 different vehicles) over the last 4 years without a single leak.

 

[MR_X]

Give me a few month and I tell you if they are worth it. I just got new rims and the tires got filled with Nitrogen. I know they hold pressure better with different temperature which I like since one day it in the 20's and the next it is in the 60's.

 

[Killer]

Meh...just chalk it up for a personal preference.

 

[Zack]

I have customers coming in to work for air checks with brand new tires from costco. They use nitrogen there yet I still am checking the low pressures in their tires

think about it

 

[Myriad]

That sounds more like an installation problem. I know they rush their mounting jobs and almost never replace valve stems. As in most cases, things are only as good as their install.

 

[Kymerik]

Find a Tire Discounters...lol they nitrogen inflate for free

 

[MATT DAMOND]

I put hydrogen in my tires.

 

[Myriad]

I think you may be a little off on that one... you were supposed to put in helium to reduce unsprung weight, not hydrogen. You only (and I do stress ONLY) fill your tires with hydrogen when you want to think "Oh, the humanity..." (cheers2)