Nitrogen in Tires

[kelvincheu]

My Mazda dealer recommends that I use nitrogen to inflat my tires. It is offering $30 for whole set of tires (not sure if this include the spare) for life time of the CX-5, even if I change to a new set of tires with another shop. According to him, the thermo expansion of nitrogen is not as big as normal air, so it helps to prolong the life of the tires. Considering the fact the nitrogen is not available everywhere (I usually check my tires and top up with my Craftsman inflator in my garage), is it worth the cost and trouble? I feeling is no. Would someone with experience with nitrogen share your thoughts?

 

[Chris_Top_Her]

Not worth it for a DD. Sounds like you have a quality air pump (probably cost $30 or more), that's just a way to get more $ and give you a reason to feel you have to go to the dealership to have a service performed. If you lived In a place where it's like 100 in the day and 40 at night regularly, that could be useful but here in TX I don't think so.

 

[vroom]

This has been discussed before and many interesting links posted so you might want to do a search. The overall conclusion is that nitrogen is a gimmick. The differences between normal (dry) air (80 % nitrogen anyway) and nitrogen are so subtle that unless you are in a 3 hour race looking for tenths of a second or drive the space shuttle... Well you get the idea.

 

[kelvincheu]

Yes I got it!

 

[sr12345]

You might be able to make a case for it in a really humid climate...but in the desert where you are...not worth it.

There's nothing magic about nitrogen (which is already 79% of air)...the main difference is that separating out the nitrogen also separates out the moisture. Moisture in the tire condenses to a liquid at cooler temperatures, then eventually flashes to a vapor as the tire heats up, thus having the impact of adding more gas weight into the tire.

 

[vroom]

You are correct sr12345, that is why I specified dry air. But don't forget that compressors dry out the air (the air under pressure in the tank expands and cools as it exits where most moisture condensates and is collected in a container that needs to be emptied periodically). So even in humid climates it's not that much of a problem.

 

[Pipemajor]

My dealer gave me a coupon offering a free nitrogen service. Free!
I still passed.

 

[FastOldGuy]

I won't say where but one Dealer I went to had Nitrogen as an Dealer Add on for $795.00... I actually blew stuff out of my nose, laughing so hard. I told the Salesman "Got a Little FLUFF added on I see".

Nitrogen? Better that air but is it worth the cost? Nope. I'm a Heating and Cooling Contractor and we use it weekly to pressure test HVAC units. For the same reasons... Dry Stable and not effected by temperature.