What's the word on NITROGEN for filling tires?

[fixizin]

Some places offer it free, some want a whopping $30(!) to fill 4 tires at time of install! Sears doesn't offer it at ALL.

The purported benefits are kind of hard to believe, especially increased gas mileage...


What say ye, RKIs?

 

[Jay FX4]

I say it's

Just another gimmick. It it were free, that's one thing, but there's no way in all holy heck that I'd actually pay for it.

I think the claim of improved gas mileage comes from the nitrogen being lighter than regular air and the tires supposedly hold pressure longer....

 

[Ozwynn]

the tires do hold pressure longer but the mileage gains were so minuscule they're not even worth talking about..... I got better mileage gains by changing the fuel filters

 

[daniel3507]

the main thing with nitrogen is that it doesnt expand/contract when it gets hot or cold so your tire pressure is always the same. the down side though is that when you do need to add air to your tires you cant just hook up your compressor to it. you actually have to go to the tire place and have them do it. ive seen places charge 80 bucks for it though which is ridiculous

 

[RotorFX4]

The reason Nitrogen is used instead of air in the aviation industry is because it is dry. there is no moisture to condense, freeze and corrode wheels or other components. All gases are subject to Boyle's law and therefore must expand and contract with temperature differences. Nitrogen filled car tires are B.S. unless you're worried about corrosion on the inside surface of your wheels. Air is 80% Nitrogen anyway.

 

[Colin]

It's BS, the pressure lost/gained with temp changes is only a couple of pounds, and the gas milage improvement is miniscule. Just another way to rip off dumb people.

 

[88_Eddie]

i put helium in my tires....it makes goin on jumps a lot easier

 

[fixizin]

Thanks all. Sounds like NOT a factor in where to buy new treads.

RE: DRYness of air... what REALLY chaps my @$$ is these Paki-owned gas stations that not only charge 75 cents for maybe 3 minutes of air, but here in FL, the nozzle is literally SPITTING OUT WATER with the air! *That* can't be good for anyone's wheels... or tires either! BASTIGES!

i put helium in my tires....it makes goin on jumps a lot easier

LOL!...

 

[88_Eddie]

unless i'm on a road trip, i fill my tires up with my air compressor or my electric tire pump...that way i know i'm not puttin water in my wheels

 

[MikeGuevara]

When I was a Municipality Mechanic, we had a dealer come in trying to sell us a Nitrogen Tire filling machine. He said there's increased gas mileage, but when you really look at it...there's so many different things that can effect gas mileage that it would just be a waste of time and money. Personally, I think it's just another gimick. Stick with regular clean air. Hell, it's free too. Good luck.

 

[Jay FX4]

It's not necessarily free. I don't know of any gas stations around here with free air anymore.

I think some people are suckered into it because we can't go anywhere these days without having the phrase "fuel efficiency" beaten into our heads. I think nitrogens claim of improving gas mileage is the only thing that keeps it around.

If you consider 1/8000th of 1 mpg an improvement.....

 

[Colin]

Free if you have a bike pump or a compressor

 

[JohnnyO]

Also nitrogen molecules are supposedly bigger and the tires don't lose air over time. Not worth it IMO, but it's your money.
They put green valve caps on tires filled with nitrogen.

 

[idfeiid]

Air is 80% nitrogen.... Paying for it is a rip off.

 

[Jay FX4]

They put green valve caps on tires filled with nitrogen.

When I went to look at/make the deal for my Ranger it had had black valve caps. When I picked it up it had green caps. I drove home, deflated the tires, refilled them with my compressor, and put black caps back on.

Was that necessary? No. But that's how much I despise the nitrogen gimmick.

My tires haven't needed any air in a year.