Nitrogen instead of air

[36654]

Could always split the difference and just run the Green caps
OM

Are they the nice metal ones or cheap plastic?

If I paint the rims red, I can have Christmas all year long

 

[Realshelby]

Aircraft tires also use nitrogen because it doesn't support combustion. In the event of a brake or hydraulic fire and a blown tire, the nitrogen won't feed the fire.

You beat me to it!

I would add that if we fill our tires with air from a compressor and that gives us around 80% Nitrogen, at some time would we not approach over 90% as the lighter Oxygen and other molecules leak out and are replaced with a 80% Nitrogen mix?

 

[junkjohn]

I have been using CO2 for years in my off road vehicles and to run air tools. check out www.offroadair.net
I get them filled at the local fire extinguisher shop, one 10 pound tank will fill my 35" tires almost 30 times, from 15 lbs to 40 lbs, when I get home I top them off with my compressor.

 

[vtbob]

Nitrogen in street tires is an absolute non issue. better to waste time arguing the merits of gas additives and oil types.

+1 Our "Air" is 78% nitrogen already!

 

[Gonzo49]

Downside? Typically the rip-off cost. Advantage - leaks less through crappy rubber. Not a big deal. Less pressure change - only because it is dry. Dry air will do the same.

Bottom line. I like 78% nitrogen in my tires.

Edited: 78%, not 82%, my memory from 1960 failed me.

It's free at Costco.

Because it's a larger molecule there is less permeation or diffusion of the molecule thru the rubber. It is also dry. The culprit is water vapor. To get dry air out of a compressor you need to have a dryer attached usually found in medical or dental grade compressors. (water in air lines in a dental office is a no no) . Most shops just don't bother.

One can never get all the water vapor out of a tire unless it is mounted under "ideal" conditions, but using nitrogen significantly affects the percentages

I put my life on two wheels when I ride. I'll take any advantage I can get.

 

[t6pilot]

It's free at Costco.

Because it's a larger molecule there is less permeation or diffusion of the molecule thru the rubber. It is also dry. The culprit is water vapor. To get dry air out of a compressor you need to have a dryer attached usually found in medical or dental grade compressors. (water in air lines in a dental office is a no no) . Most shops just don't bother.

One can never get all the water vapor out of a tire unless it is mounted under "ideal" conditions, but using nitrogen significantly affects the percentages

I put my life on two wheels when I ride. I'll take any advantage I can get.

We have several nitrogen bottles at home and in the hanger, used for planes, tires and hydrolic struts, cars, motorcycles and almost everything with a valve stem
Is it necessary, only for hydrolic struts, it's very conviently to use and store, in fact when off roading a small bottle with regulator comes along for airing up tires
Your local welding supply will have nitrogen bottles of various sizes for sale along with required regulator, never again will you have to turn on noisy compressor at O dark thirty to air up tires

 

[mikegalbicka]

I put my life on two wheels when I ride. I'll take any advantage I can get.

So nitrogen in tires is life saving?

 

[PGlaves]

It may be free at Costco. I don't know. Nor do I know if that is when I buy tires or if I just pull in for a top-off. The nearest Costco is 275 miles away. In any event, most places charge from $15 to $29 per tire. Sure I'm going to spend from $60 to $118 to air up the tires in my car. Sure I am. Or $30 to $58 to air up my bike tires. Yeh, sure.

If I had an airplane or race car and happened to have a few bottles of nitrogen around I might actually put it in a tire. Until then, or until BMW gets a wild hair and specifies nitrogen in my tires I don't think so.

 

[rangerreece]

I think helium in our tires would make the bike lighter and we could go faster.

 

[rangerreece]

And...

If I ever go evil kenevil off the side of a cliff into the Pacific Ocean, I could breath off the stems in my tires without having to worry about the bends as I ascend from 2000 feet. Saw it in a James Bond film once; I think, maybe.

 

[t6pilot]

Paul
I agree with you 100%
If it wasn't already avaible I wouldn't go to the expense

Jim

 

[vtbob]

It's free at Costco.

Because it's a larger molecule there is less permeation or diffusion of the molecule thru the rubber. It is also dry. The culprit is water vapor. To get dry air out of a compressor you need to have a dryer attached usually found in medical or dental grade compressors. (water in air lines in a dental office is a no no) . Most shops just don't bother.

One can never get all the water vapor out of a tire unless it is mounted under "ideal" conditions, but using nitrogen significantly affects the percentages

I put my life on two wheels when I ride. I'll take any advantage I can get.

Why is water vapor the culprit?? Bigger molecule....less likely to permeate out!! I've never experienced ice cubes in my tires!! If there were enough water..wouldn't be like those self balancing beads that some pay $$ for??

If air is 78% nitrogen and the oxygen permeates out thru the rubber...if you just keep filling up the tire with air, eventually you'll get to 99% nitrogen with out paying anything!!

Problems solved!

 

[rangerreece]

Why is water vapor the culprit?? Bigger molecule....less likely to permeate out!! I've never experienced ice cubes in my tires!! If there were enough water..wouldn't be like those self balancing beads that some pay $$ for??

If air is 78% nitrogen and the oxygen permeates out thru the rubber...if you just keep filling up the tire with air, eventually you'll get to 99% nitrogen with out paying anything!!

Problems solved!

Fascinating...

 

[rangerreece]

If you had cracks in your rubber I wonder what it would be like to be water making its way through said cracks in rubber.

 

[junkjohn]

It would be like, "Be like water making its way through cracks....." I think you know the rest.

 

[wbrownell9]

Just an aside, heavy aircraft tires are filled with nitrogen because the pressure won't vary at altitude as much and it's easier to air a tire that requires over 200psi out of a 1800 psi cylinder.

Nitrogen obeys PV=nRT same as air, oxygen, argon, etc. So nitrogen-filled tires change pressure the same as air-filled tires whether on an airplane or a motorcycle. It's used in airplanes because it's noncombustible, and because the way it's produced makes it inherently moisture free. The problem with moisture is that if there's enough to condense (i.e. liquid water inside the tire), when it gets hot enough to evaporate, the pressure will go up a LOT. It won't oxidize the rubber from the inside out but you'll still get age cracking from oxygen on the outside of the tire. If you don't ride enough to replace the tires before they age out, the oxidation issue might be significant but I go through 2-3 sets a year so it's irrelevant to me.

My opinion is that there's probably a theoretical advantage to using nitrogen in tires but not a real-world practical advantage. YMMV.

I do change out the summer air with winter air, though

 

[PGlaves]

The advantage to nitrogen is that sumebody can vacuum from $30 to $120 out of your wallet. As I said - if I had a canister for my airplane or race car - OK - otherwise, comeon guys. Get real!!

 

[akbeemer]

Nitrogen obeys PV=nRT same as air, oxygen, argon, etc. So nitrogen-filled tires change pressure the same as air-filled tires whether on an airplane or a motorcycle. It's used in airplanes because it's noncombustible, and because the way it's produced makes it inherently moisture free. The problem with moisture is that if there's enough to condense (i.e. liquid water inside the tire), when it gets hot enough to evaporate, the pressure will go up a LOT. It won't oxidize the rubber from the inside out but you'll still get age cracking from oxygen on the outside of the tire. If you don't ride enough to replace the tires before they age out, the oxidation issue might be significant but I go through 2-3 sets a year so it's irrelevant to me.

My opinion is that there's probably a theoretical advantage to using nitrogen in tires but not a real-world practical advantage. YMMV.

I do change out the summer air with winter air, though

Yes nitrogen obeys Boyle's law, but H20 does not. It is the lack of moisture in nitrogen filled tires that makes the difference. The effects of nitrogen in tires is not theoretical; ask anyone that lives in an Arctic or sub-Arctic environment. That being said, using nitrogen in motorcyle tires is not worth the effort or cost.

 

[omega man]

Happy to help-

om

 

[PGlaves]

Yes nitrogen obeys Boyle's law, but H20 does not. It is the lack of moisture in nitrogen filled tires that makes the difference. The effects of nitrogen in tires is not theoretical; ask anyone that lives in an Arctic or sub-Arctic environment. That being said, using nitrogen in motorcyle tires is not worth the effort or cost.

Huh ?? ? WTF Over?