NITROGEN versus "AIR" in your Trailer Tires

[Ray Eklund]

Costco has uses Nitrogen to fill any tire you purchased from their stores. You get a green screw cap on your air valve as a bonus.

What I did I discover?

I monitor my tire pressure before we leave on a trip... no problem. Nitrogen does not "escape" like the mix of gases in the "air". I was convinced that Nitrogen served me well.

I sold the 2006 Safari with Nitrogen filled tires from Costco.

I now have a 2014 International. Jackson Center, Ohio... "air"? Before I leave home I have to hook up the air compressor and get the tires to where I want them. My bicycle tires always need to be inflated due to the higher air pressure and they leak... leak and leak. My ATV tires... leak over time. My Riding Lawn Mower tire... leak.

I would expect in humid climates that you will be getting a large amount of water vapor into your tires and it really expands when the tires get hot from distance traveling. Compounding the problem of highly variable tire pressures.

Our Toyota Dealer who said Nitrogen was a sales gimmick some years ago... now uses Nitrogen.

Nitrogen is inert. It does not expand and contract like "air". It obviously does not escape through the rubber, air valve or however the local air mixture seems to... leak.

I am not in the tire business. Is there something to Nitrogen, other than nobody wants to pay the cost of using it to inflate tires? Even bicycle riders want Nitrogen. What do Car Racers inflate their tires? What do bicycle racers use? Commercial truck drivers?

[Aerowood]

We use nothing but nitrogen in our aircraft tires for the following reasons. Nitrogen has no moisture in it which can cause corrosion on the wheel halves, no moisture means no freezing of water inside the tire, and more stable inflation values at different altitudes and temperatures

[KJRitchie]

I would like to use Nitrogen but when the tire does get get low I have to use my air compressor to pump in air (which has 78% nitrogen).

Kelvin

[Skater]

Waste of money for automobiles and trailers. We had nitrogen in our Accord's tires when we bought it, now it's just air, no difference I can discern, and I drive that car at speeds above 80 mph sometimes. And as KJRitchie pointed out, most people don't have a supply of nitrogen at home. And even checking pressure - which you still have to do - will let some out of the tire.

I always hear a lot of theoretical improvements, but no one seems to have any actual, real-world results of improvements.

[featherbedder]

Once nitrogen is in tires then add air, nitrogen is worhtless as air has moisture contaminates nitrogen. If can find nitrogen to top up tires okay but many plces do not have, or do as I did when racing, purchase bottle and regulator at welding gas store, but it is costly. As Aerowood posted about nitrogen in tires.I used nitrogen in my airplane tires and struts, my ap had set up to do fills when needed. Nitrogen is stable about heat build up, why we used racing. There is a previous thread dated 7-13-2014 of 6 pages about nitrogen in tires. Quote from dzn0fog this thread, it is a gimmick for cars and trailers. As he stated 160 mph, a 1/4 pd. of pressure gain is a lot.

[perryg114]

Nitrogen and air have identical properties. The only difference is the lack of water. I would say that it is snake oil for the most part other for extreme uses like in airplane tires. The lack of oxygen is a plus.

Perry

[Sodbust]

FYI,, I have a few old American tube and tubeless tires that have to be pushing 20 years old that have held air all this time.. But it seems all my newer,, (China made ) tubes and tires leak like a sieve.

As for anything other than plain old air for tires in our rural area would be a waste of effort with all the nails,, hardware that lines our rural roads with constant punctures and repairs.. Its worked ok for over 100 years and will end up finishing me off in my life time..

Airplanes and such I can see some of the positive reasons for it.. But even then with a good compressor with a water trap system it would be 99.9% dry air..

Sodbust

[AWCHIEF]

What's the old saying? A sucker is born every minute.

[Aerowood]

Just for the record here, I just use compressed air in my vehicle and trailer tires, it's just not worth the effort to use N2

[Wayne&Sam]

I love this compromise (that I think I read on another thread here): Air is 78% Nitrogen. So just fill my tires to 122%, then let out the extra 22%. 100% Nitrogen.

[Tincampers]

Originally Posted by Aerowood

Just for the record here, I just use compressed air in my vehicle and trailer tires, it's just not worth the effort to use N2

Say what? Help me get the wrinkles out of my forehead. Doesn't everyone used compressed air in their tires? Or am I missing something?

[AtomicNo13]

How do you purge the air from the tire to fill with 100% nitrogen? The tire is filled with air from the atmosphere as it is mounted, then filled the test of the way with nitrogen.

I'm thinking helium just to make them run lighter. Helium fills come with a blue cap which better matches my awnings! Just saying!

[perryg114]

I have some Argon at work and Helium as well. The helium would leak out fast. I could be the only Airstream with Argon filled tires. Is that cool or what. The helium has the advantage that you can breathe it and talk like donald duck.

Perry

[AtomicNo13]

Yes but.....

[tjdonahoe]

More snake oil...

[AtomicNo13]

Yes indeed!
I do however prefer the high altitude air you get in Colorado.

[featherbedder]

Originally Posted by AtomicNo13

How do you purge the air from the tire to fill with 100% nitrogen? The tire is filled with air from the atmosphere as it is mounted, then filled the test of the way with nitrogen.

I'm thinking helium just to make them run lighter. Helium fills come with a blue cap which better matches my awnings! Just saying!

Racing tires brand new with out tubes or tubes mounted w/nitrogen not air. our lives depended on stable pressure w/out build up. 160 mph or faster on 2 wheels w/out any thing but helmet and leathers... As stated nitrogen gimmick for cars and trailers......Period....

[perryg114]

The stable pressure is due to the lack of water not the fact it is nitrogen.

Perry

[Ray Eklund]

The air in our atmosphere is composed of molecules of different gases. The most common gases are nitrogen (78%), oxygen (about 21%), and argon (almost 1%). Other molecules are present in the atmosphere as well, but in very small quantities.
*****
So, to answer your specific questions: With nitrogen, your tire pressures will remain more constant, saving you a small amount in fuel and tire-maintenance costs. There will be less moisture inside your tires, meaning less corrosion on your wheels. You will not be able to feel any difference in the ride or handling or braking, unless your tire pressures were seriously out of spec and changing to nitrogen brought them back to the proper numbers.
*****
I've dismounted tires (not mine) that had several quarts of water inside—probably from a compressed-air hose that collected water and was never purged properly.
*****

These quotes were taken from a search of the internet.

The debate does change when you begin to consider that airing your tires at sea level with high humidity may not be as efficient or have the same gas proportions as compressed air at 10,000 feet elevation in Colorado. At least the percentage of Oxygen at high elevation would be LESS, the water content of the air is LESS and... beer tastes better.

[perryg114]

In racing applications the lack of oxygen in the tires would reduce fires.

Perry