Nitrogen tyre inflation, worth it?
Discussion
kambites said:
I never really understood the rationale behind nitrogen tyre inflation. I'd vaguely assumed it was to keep moisture and oxygen away from the wheel to avoid it corroding? I don't see why it would have a significant effect on pressure change with temperature.
I suspect the change can be significant in F1. That's not something particularly relevant though.From what I read, you need to inflate and defalte the tyre 3 times to get to around 95% nitrogen, as stated air is already 80% nitrogen, and I understand most of the people who do it as spart of the std service only do one fill so you go to approx 85% nitrogen,
If it was free i would accept a nitrogen fill, but I wouldn't spend money on it.
If it was free i would accept a nitrogen fill, but I wouldn't spend money on it.
doogz said:
The AA reckon it helps stop corrision, as well as decreasing the rate of deflation, as N2 molecules are larger than O2 ones.
That's OK then, keep topping up your tyre with air and eventually you'll end up with ninety something percent nitrogen anyway because all the oxygen will have escaped. 
Imho a case of snake oil for the modern motorist. Whilst it has benefits in racing, for road use these benefits will be imperceptible.
From what I've heard the alleged benefits are:
No corrosion inside the alloys due to less moisture - my alloys seem to do fine on the outside and they get a lot more moisture there.
Less expansion/more controlled expansion - can you really tell the difference in tyre pressures from the driver's seat in a road car, on the road? Do tiny changes in resultant ride height noticeably affect your road car's handling?
Less pressure loss as the molecules are bigger so won't escape - so theoretically you'll end up with nearly 100% nitrogen anyway in that case.
According to my local national tyre chain guys, a lot of people going in there don't know the difference between nitrogen, helium and hydrogen - presumably they have visions of the car floating off down the road or turning into the Hindenburg. Nor do they realise that nitrogen is present in air anyway, yet they still have it done. Presumably if it costs more it must be better.
I'll stick to my 79% nitrogen mix. Makes topping up pressures a lot easier.
From what I've heard the alleged benefits are:
No corrosion inside the alloys due to less moisture - my alloys seem to do fine on the outside and they get a lot more moisture there.
Less expansion/more controlled expansion - can you really tell the difference in tyre pressures from the driver's seat in a road car, on the road? Do tiny changes in resultant ride height noticeably affect your road car's handling?
Less pressure loss as the molecules are bigger so won't escape - so theoretically you'll end up with nearly 100% nitrogen anyway in that case.
According to my local national tyre chain guys, a lot of people going in there don't know the difference between nitrogen, helium and hydrogen - presumably they have visions of the car floating off down the road or turning into the Hindenburg. Nor do they realise that nitrogen is present in air anyway, yet they still have it done. Presumably if it costs more it must be better.
I'll stick to my 79% nitrogen mix. Makes topping up pressures a lot easier.
kambites said:
I never really understood the rationale behind nitrogen tyre inflation.
Marketing.For avoiding changes in tyre pressures in racing when water in the tyre changes phase, any dry gas would do, nitrogen is just convenient.
If, as is claimed, oxygen escapes through the rubber of the tyre faster than nitrogen, your tyres are gradually filling themselves with nitrogen purified by reverse osmosis, just keep topping them up with air and the proportion of nitrogen will approach 100%.
k all difference.........,otolith said:
If, as is claimed, oxygen escapes through the rubber of the tyre faster than nitrogen, your tyres are gradually filling themselves with nitrogen purified by reverse osmosis, just keep topping them up with air and the proportion of nitrogen will approach 100%.
Good point!otolith said:
If, as is claimed, oxygen escapes through the rubber of the tyre faster than nitrogen, your tyres are gradually filling themselves with nitrogen purified by reverse osmosis, just keep topping them up with air and the proportion of nitrogen will approach 100%.
Nah, it'll approach ninety something percent, CO2 is even bigger than N2. 
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