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Nitrogen in Tires


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Has anyone heard of Nitrogen filled tires? I was told it is suppost to improve the fuel mileage by 30%. Hasd anyone tried this and can verify that this is true or not?? Its something about the nitrogen keeping the tires cool to cut down on fritction (sp). I'm about ready for a new set of tires and if this works I was going to try it when I get my new tires.

 

Thanks,

 

Ron

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Has anyone heard of Nitrogen filled tires? I was told it is suppost to improve the fuel mileage by 30%. Hasd anyone tried this and can verify that this is true or not?? Its something about the nitrogen keeping the tires cool to cut down on fritction (sp). I'm about ready for a new set of tires and if this works I was going to try it when I get my new tires.

 

Thanks,

 

Ron

Filling your tires with nitrogen is a legitimate thing. The basis for this is that nitrogen does not expand and contract with temperature changes anywhere near as much as normal air does. The 30% gas mileage increase is BS. 3% might be a more reasonable figure. The problem with it is that it costs more money for a shop to have a nitrogen bottle refilled than it does for them to fill your tires from their air compressor, therefore you get to pay extra for the nitrogen. Normally, I'd be all for doing something like that as it is not that expensive. However, what makes the nitrogen deal less of a good deal is that your tires will leak nitrogen just the same as they leak normal air. Since you lose up 1 lbs. per month on average from your tires and since you lose the benefit of nitrogen as soon as you pump normal air in your tires. I doubt most people have access to a Nitrogen bottle which means you really can't adjust your own air pressure in your tires if you are after a 3% increase in fuel economy. At the end of the day, you will save more money in fuel by making sure your tires are at a proper air pressure frequentle than you would by filling them with nitrogen.

 

I hope that all makes sense as proof reading that ain't happening this morning. :biggrin:

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Filling your tires with nitrogen is a legitimate thing. The basis for this is that nitrogen does not expand and contract with temperature changes anywhere near as much as normal air does. The 30% gas mileage increase is BS. 3% might be a more reasonable figure. The problem with it is that it costs more money for a shop to have a nitrogen bottle refilled than it does for them to fill your tires from their air compressor, therefore you get to pay extra for the nitrogen. Normally, I'd be all for doing something like that as it is not that expensive. However, what makes the nitrogen deal less of a good deal is that your tires will leak nitrogen just the same as they leak normal air. Since you lose up 1 lbs. per month on average from your tires and since you lose the benefit of nitrogen as soon as you pump normal air in your tires. I doubt most people have access to a Nitrogen bottle which means you really can't adjust your own air pressure in your tires if you are after a 3% increase in fuel economy. At the end of the day, you will save more money in fuel by making sure your tires are at a proper air pressure frequentle than you would by filling them with nitrogen.

 

I hope that all makes sense as proof reading that ain't happening this morning. :biggrin:

so now you're getting lazy on us. now that you've moved to the PNW you have that layed back take it easy attitude.

i agree, for the average joe it probably isn't worth the hassle of going back to the shop and have them keep the proper pressure in your tires. plus, it probably wouldn't be cost effective if they charge you each time you need a squirt or two of nitrogen to keep the proper pressure.

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At least it's not a spelling test. :smile:

i worked in a tire shop for years......

 

unless you are in competition nitrogen is absoultly useless

cooper tires did an article about it a couple years back ill have to dig around and see if i can find it

 

like what was said before....its just not practical to have to go to a tire shop once or twice a month to keep proper inflation

 

and with passenger tires the temp differences are minimal.

 

 

 

 

Dan

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Not to mention that air is 70% nitrogen anyways. More consistent or not, ALL gases will change pressure with temperature. I used to have a nitrogen cylinder at home when I played paintball. When you filled a tank, it got hot. Let it cool down for 20 minutes, and you could fit another 300-400 psi in a 68 cu in tank.

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Not to mention that air is 70% nitrogen anyways. More consistent or not, ALL gases will change pressure with temperature. I used to have a nitrogen cylinder at home when I played paintball. When you filled a tank, it got hot. Let it cool down for 20 minutes, and you could fit another 300-400 psi in a 68 cu in tank.

The coefficient of thermal expansion is several orders of magnitude lower than air if I remember correctly. However, you are correct that all gases will expand or contract with temperature. It's really just a matter of how much and at what temperature they do it at. :geek:

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The coefficient of thermal expansion is several orders of magnitude lower than air if I remember correctly. However, you are correct that all gases will expand or contract with temperature. It's really just a matter of how much and at what temperature they do it at. :geek:

Orders of magnitude no, a small percentage yes. We tested this when I was on the clemson paintball team, even asked one of the chemistry professors to go over the results with us. It was a small difference. We had enough resources we were willing to pay the extra for nitrogen, but it simply didn't make enough of a difference to be worth the hassle.

 

Either way, off-road you'll never notice the difference.

Edited by dawarriorman
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Orders of magnitude no, a small percentage yes. We tested this when I was on the clemson paintball team, even asked one of the chemistry professors to go over the results with us. It was a small difference. We had enough resources we were willing to pay the extra for nitrogen, but it simply didn't make enough of a difference to be worth the hassle.

 

Either way, off-road you'll never notice the difference.

Nitrogen Gas Physical Properties

Density (0

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I think has more to do with that it was pretty early on a Saturday morning and I am lazy. :biggrin:

LOL. i figured that it had more to do to you getting hammered last night. i did. as a matter of fact, i'm hammered now. WHOOOO>>>>HHHOOOOOO :beer:

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