Nitrogen in tires. Why?

Walks Backward

Walks Backward

Well-Known Member
My pristine '06 Lincoln has excellent tires aboard. They have/had, sorta, nitrogen in them 11 months ago when I got it. All tires hold air but one. From 33psi to 10psi in 5 to 6 days. Three separate tire shops have inspected this slow leak and found nothing. Now $20 later, I still have the same slow leak. And zero nitrogen in it too. Like many things iin this world not working right, I live with it....

But what's up with the nitrogen in them anyway? My wiseass neighbor says nitrogen is needed for balanced inflation. Proper rotation. And a bunch of other stupid crap. He loves to "act smart" with an IQ of a carrot. I quickly dismissed any explanation on his part at a failed attempt at being witty.

Y'all have a genuine explanation for why the nitrogen, or is it just a ploy to separate more money from the hands of the consumer?
 
There was a half hour TV programme on the BBC about this a couple of years back, and basically it's a scam. Air is already 80% nitrogen and the bit of added oxygen does nothing bad. There is some advantage in making sure the gas is perfectly dry, but you don't need nitrogen to get that.
 
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Ah yes. As I suspected. A means of gathering more coin from the masses. I just found it odd that I've been using the common atmospher that's free, for well over half a century. Figured it was a gimic!
You confirmed my suspicions on this...
Thanks Don!
 
Its so they can
A. Charge more
B. CHARGE you TO PUT AIR IN A TIRE --- which previously was FREE if you have a compressor or 1.00 if you dont.
C. Marketing
D. the world as a whole is doomed :)

Wade its also the same reason when I open the hood of my new Kia ---- I realize there is NOTHING in there I am "allowed" to work on (all covered by shields and plastic covers) and honestly due to the 1.5 million dollars in computer machines NEEDED to work on anything int here........I will be returning to the dealer.....and its also why I ponied up for the extra extended super special all inclusive maintenance plan.......if a gnat farts on the finish and tarnishes it I take it back for repairs--- if a tire is low I take it back ---oil needs changed take it back ....if I want it WASHED ---- I take it back --- have some nice coffee in the "owners lounge" and look at the new (like TURBO SOUL) cars for sale ..........and have some popcorn........

beats trying to work on the dang thing!

Now if my Triumph Tiger --- or Subaru break (lol like those EVER break ) I roll up the sleeves and get to work........but new cars.........nope
 
I've been told nitrogen is used in race cars as pressure isn't as badly upset by changes to heat , but no personal experience.
Re new cars & home mechanics, the only thing I do to our VW is top up the window washer water. When it's time I have to sit and look and look and look for the lever to open the bonnet (hood).
 
gasket said:
I've been told nitrogen is used in race cars as pressure isn't as badly upset by changes to heat , but no personal experience.
Re new cars & home mechanics, the only thing I do to our VW is top up the window washer water. When it's time I have to sit and look and look and look for the lever to open the bonnet (hood).
Click to expand...

Nope, Nitrogen responds to heat exactly the same as air, and any other gas for that matter (Charles's Law). The reason it goes into race cars is because it is easy and safe to get in cylinders, and it is dry.
 
Walks Backward said:
My pristine '06 Lincoln has excellent tires aboard. They have/had, sorta, nitrogen in them 11 months ago when I got it. All tires hold air but one. From 33psi to 10psi in 5 to 6 days. Three separate tire shops have inspected this slow leak and found nothing. Now $20 later, I still have the same slow leak. And zero nitrogen in it too. Like many things iin this world not working right, I live with it....

But what's up with the nitrogen in them anyway? My wiseass neighbor says nitrogen is needed for balanced inflation. Proper rotation. And a bunch of other stupid crap. He loves to "act smart" with an IQ of a carrot. I quickly dismissed any explanation on his part at a failed attempt at being witty.

Y'all have a genuine explanation for why the nitrogen, or is it just a ploy to separate more money from the hands of the consumer?[/QUOTE
Click to expand...
Adrian pretty much summed it up.

A. Charge more
B. CHARGE you TO PUT AIR IN A TIRE --- which previously was FREE if you have a compressor or 1.00 if you dont.
C. Marketing
D. the world as a whole is doomed :)

While nitrogen inflation has benefits over compressed air, it would not be worth additional cost. You see- nitrogen inflation is more of a marketing gimmick- nitrogen inflation inflates your tires with 95% or so nitrogen. Compressed air is typically already 80% nitrogen, so you're seeing just a small benefit.
 
Robert Herndon said:
I use it exclusively. My Mustang lost 2 psi over the course a year...
Click to expand...

You have well-sealed tyres. But looking at the atoms of Nitrogen and Oxygen, they are exactly the same size, although Oxygen is marginally heavier. Both have a complete inner electron shell with two electrons. Then in the next shell, Nitrogen has five electrons while Oxygen has six. The result of this is that by virtue of its weight, Oxygen will diffuse through gaps very slightly slower than Nitrogen. So you could actually keep those tyres inflated slightly longer with air.
 
DonP said:
You have well-sealed tyres. But looking at the atoms of Nitrogen and Oxygen, they are exactly the same size, although Oxygen is marginally heavier. Both have a complete inner electron shell with two electrons. Then in the next shell, Nitrogen has five electrons while Oxygen has six. The result of this is that by virtue of its weight, Oxygen will diffuse through gaps very slightly slower than Nitrogen. So you could actually keep those tyres inflated slightly longer with air.
Click to expand...

Well, I didn't know that. I started using Nitrogen years ago when we discovered it did not corrode the inside of magnesium wheels like air (and water) did...
 
I use an interesting mixture of nitrogen in my tyres.

(See how I spelled "tyres" with a "Y"? I did that just for Don as a welcome back to the forum!)

Anyway, this is a pretty interesting blend:

It consists of 78.09% nitrogen, 20.95% oxygen 0.93% argon, 0.04% carbon dioxide, and small amounts of other gases.

I use the air compressor in my garage to fill my tyres with it.

(Now, back to spelling "tires" with an "I"!)
 
From my days of "shooting color" on cars and guitars using compressors both large and small, I always used a water trap in the line. Compression of atmospheric content separate under compression and thus really must be controlled for the purpose of painting. It only stands to reason that compressors introduce moisture into the tire as it's inflated. In the shop, it was common for air tools to expel water droplets from the discharge port. Oil was necessary for both lubrication and preserving the tool from rust. In my location, the average humidity is 75%. Metal is under constant threat of rust and corrosion and wood must be treated or painted or it will rot. More arid regions present their own sets of issues as well. What a world eh?
 
The tires on my wife's car have nitrogen that the dealer put in before delivery (it's a Porsche). I don't know what the rationale is but they do seem to hold pressure quite well, and if they go down the dealer will top them off any time - luckily the dealer is just down the street - I only have to take it down there every few months.

As for compressors, yeah there will pretty much always be water in the air, regardless of environment or present atmospheric conditions. Outside of medical or food applications, where the air is run through traps and a dryer, you are putting water into your tires every single time. I know this because I spent a number of years working for a major air compressor manufacturer, and trust me no system that an auto service facility will pay the money to install is getting all the water out. In hospitals the water-removal system costs more than the compressors themselves.
 
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