Nitrogen vs. Air in your tires

[bdaball]

Originally Posted by Barrier2

Just curious how would one compensate for weight variations when corner weighing a coach? Does anyone who uses Nitrogen carry spare cylinders of Nitrogen?
It seems to me that the benefits which are claimed reminds me of the "Magnetic fuel mileage extenders or mothballs in fuel tanks.
In all fairness I do understand that the difference in molecular size reduces any leakage with temperature change with hot and cold cycling of the tires.
Robert

For whatever it's worth. I held out on Nitrogen for a long time. I'm about as old fashioned as it comes. Snake oil as far as I was concerned. Finally I buckeled on a set of tires on the CRV toad. Then the family Honda Pilot. In both cases I actually felt a difference in the ride. The price I felt was a fair gamble given that I could always purge it out and go back to air.

To answer Barriers question in regards to carrying spare cylinders,Tire Warehouse provides a free refill for the life of the tire at any one of their companies locations in the country.

I have not done the RV yet although I have been quoted $5.00/per tire. As soon as I get my new Bosch Calipers I may make the change.....

[TXiceman]

Air and nitrogen are both compressible gases and follow Boyle's laws as mentioned earlier. Not to contradict you, but I do not seen how nitrogen would ride any different then air in the tires. The ride difference was the new tires, not the air or nitrogen.

When experimenting, you change one variable at a time to make comparisons.

Ken

[Ray,IN]

This thread is a hoot!
RVdude stated facts, argue all you wish, they are facts. A difference is ride is felt, not real. Moisture in normal air is the main cause of expansion differential between air and any manufactured gas.

[TXiceman]

Ray, the OP also noted new tires at the same time. My money is on the new tires for the change in ride. From an engineers view and dealing with gases and thermodynamics on a regular basis, the differences would only be measured by lab instruments.

Ken

[TandW]

Ray, at 100 psig the water in your tire would have to be at approx. 315 degrees fahrenheit before it, in and of itself, can have an effect on inflation pressure. Sorry

[ralper]

Since the introduction of balloon tires air has served quite well as an agent with which to inflate them. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." As air is 78% nitrogen why spend money on another marketing gimick to separate you from your hard earned money ?

[bdaball]

Originally Posted by TXiceman

Air and nitrogen are both compressible gases and follow Boyle's laws as mentioned earlier. Not to contradict you, but I do not seen how nitrogen would ride any different then air in the tires. The ride difference was the new tires, not the air or nitrogen.

When experimenting, you change one variable at a time to make comparisons.

Ken

To respond to your suggestion of multiple variables, the new tires on the CRV were installed with air. I then went back for the Nitro.
The Pilot did not receive new tires, only Nitro...,

The CRV with cast wheels use to require an occasional shot of air to maintain PSI. After a 5,000 mile trip last winter as a toad and another 8,000 miles of driving the tires are still at OEM PSI spec's.

AIR? / Nitro?, I'm sure is personal preference. Kinda like Toilet paper. They both work.

[Pigman1]

PV/T=PV/T The universal gas laws apply regardless of what gas or gas combination is in the tire. Temp goes up, pressure goes up-- Temp goes down, pressure goes down. It's physics guys. Take the water out and there's no difference.

John

[Chuck 1935]

Hokus Pokus, buy a tire pressure monitering system and stop stressing. Problem solved. After installing your new TPMS you will notice that your cold tire pressure will be stable for a long time providing you don't have other tire issues.

[LVJ58]

Regarding the nitrogen in tires issue, if a person thinks it's better to use nitrogen in their tires for whatever reason and don't mind the expense, I say go for it and enjoy.

I'm just not willing to spend the money for nitrogen in my tires for a softer ride or any other reason.

I've been using air in my tires for the past 58 years without any major negative issues, so guess I'll stay with the old fashion "air" in tires, since it works for me.

Best regards and safe travels to all

[RVDude]

Originally Posted by bdaball

AIR? / Nitro?, I'm sure is personal preference. Kinda like Toilet paper. They both work.

An emphatic , nicely said.

An empty roll is an empty roll. Make sure you have enough of both!

[azloafer]

I am not sold on Nitrogen in tires, but some say that the moisture forced into the tire with a compressor can be bad. My only observation is that when I finish using my compressor to air the tires, I open the spitter valve on the tank (per instructions) and there is water that shoots out along with the air. If there is any truth to moisture rusting the steel belts from the inside, there might be some reason to use Nitrogen, BUT, when filling with Nitrogen is the moisture some how eliminated? Just wondering. Joe

[RustyJC]

Personally, I prefer helium in my 5th wheel tires - except if the tanks get too low, I can't keep the wheels on the ground.

Rusty

[Always-RVing]

Air contains roughly 78% nitrogen, 20.95% oxygen, 0.93% argon, 0.038% carbon dioxide, trace amounts of other gases, and a variable amount (average around 1%) of water vapor.