nitrogen in tires

[moldmkr]

I know that nitrogen will keep your tires cooler and will help from wheels loosing pressure because of the size of the molecules, but does anyone know if nitrogen will improve your fuel economy? I have been quoted $10 per tire to inflate with nitrogen so I am trying to find out if it is cost effective.

Thanks for any information you might have.

[moldmkr]

I know that nitrogen will keep your tires cooler and will help from wheels loosing pressure because of the size of the molecules, but does anyone know if nitrogen will improve your fuel economy? I have been quoted $10 per tire to inflate with nitrogen so I am trying to find out if it is cost effective.

Thanks for any information you might have.

[Gary RVRoamer]

The short answer is No, it won't.

[AFChap]

...not likely to do keep tires cooler or help from loosing pressure enough for you to notice either. If you google "nitrogen in tires" you will get lots of info from Nitrogen sellers and from some folks who have tested their claims.

You may not know that the air in your tires right now is 78% Nitrogen. Replacing the remaining 11% with Nitrogen won't do much more than lighten your wallet!! And BTW -- $10 per tire is pretty high compared to what I have seen from other Nitrogen sellers.

[TXiceman]

My opinion is you will never see any appreciable increase in fuel economy by running N2. Air is about 74% N2 to begin with. In applications where yuo want very stable tire temps and no possible moisture...OK N2 will be worth it...but do you use a jet or a race car?

I think the N2 issue is another way someone can make money...much like the designer bottled water.
I refuse to buy bottled water (only as a last resort) and will not buy N2.

Ken

[Ceratto's Grotto]

I agree with Gary, all things being equal.

However, one could argue that with nitrogen filled tires the tire pressure is less likely to change due to temp and such, and that tire pressure can affect mileage (as well as tire wear). One would have to know a few more data to estimate the cost effectiveness, (I.E. what the change in mileage would be; over how many miles the tires would be used; change of tire wear between the two gases; costs of tires; and probably a few more data).

After saying all that though, since F1 race cars use it, wouldn't it be cool to be in their league?

[abarkl]

Snake air.

[Route 66]

Another solution to a nonexistent problem.

What may be beneficial in aircraft or race cars has little in common with RV's.

IMHO, any advantage, real or imagined would be offset by the expense and difficulty in finding nitrogen when tire pressures need adjusting.

[paz]

Costco uses nitrogen to inflate the tires they sell - no extra cost. Whatever small advantage there might be to using nitrogen, I'll take it if it's free; but I would never pay extra for it.

[dieselclacker]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Route 66:
Another solution to a nonexistent problem.

What may be beneficial in aircraft or race cars has little in common with RV's.

IMHO, any advantage, real or imagined would be offset by the expense and difficulty in finding nitrogen when tire pressures need adjusting. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>



Geez Dirk, you mean my motorhome is not capable of climbing to 30,000 ft. altitude, or going 175mph? I'm hurt!!

Kidding aside, you are right on, another solution to a non existant problem.

Dieselclacker

[misty1]

The tires on my 95 Windstar used to be refilled every week. Since I bought tires that were filled with nitrogen in December of 07 I haven't had to add air to them.

[Sixpack98]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Route 66:


IMHO, any advantage, real or imagined would be offset by the expense and difficulty in finding nitrogen when tire pressures need adjusting. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

No way you can argue with that Dirk. I agree with you that this is snake oil. My daughter bought a Nissan that the dealer put nitrogen in the tires. Her last oil change they said she was coming up on the nitrogen change out. Service writer said that the nitrogen will react with residual oxygen. She told him that was great, she needed a little laughing gas.

mark

[AFChap]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">I bought tires that were filled with nitrogen </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Along with your nitrogen, you got new tires & valve stems so would have to figure that into any improvement in maintining pressure also...

I never have to add air to my car or MH tires other than seasonal adjustments -- add a little when the weather turns colder in the Fall -- bleed off a bit when hot weather arrives in late Spring. And I do check tire pressures every travel day before starting out in the am.

[Gary RVRoamer]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">The tires on my 95 Windstar used to be refilled every week. Since I bought tires that were filled with nitrogen in December of 07 I haven't had to add air to them. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Doesn't mean much, since you also got new tires and probably new valve stems at the same time. Your old tires leaked - the new ones do not. The nitrogen has nothing to do with it, in my opinion.