[xBhp Universal Thread]: Inflating Tyres with Nitrogen

[saif71184]

Checked out a Nitrogen filling station and inquired about pros and cons of filling nitrogen in tyres, but was unsatisfied with the answers of the guy, so researched a bit and here is what i found:

What is Nitrogen?

Nitrogen is a dry, inert gas used to inflate airplane tires, off-road truck tires, military vehicle tires, and race car tires for improved performance, more tire mileage and better fuel economy.
Why use Nitrogen?
Less inflation pressure loss
Reduced wheel corrosion
Prevents inner-liner rubber deterioration by oxidation
Tires run cooler
Increases tread life
Increases fuel mileage
Helps prevent uneven wear
Oxygen in compressed air permeates through the wall of the tire, thus reducing the tire's inflation pressure. During it's journey through the tire wall, oxygen oxidizes the rubber compounds in the tire, causing under-inflation and deterioration of the rubber . Dry nitrogen will maintain proper inflation pressure and will prevent auto-ignition, will not corrode rims, extends valve core life, and will help the tire to run cooler.
The biggest advantages - improved tire life

Experts in the tire industry indicate that oxidative aging is one of the primary causes of decreased tire life. Oxidative aging is caused by the diffusion of oxygen from the pressurized air cavity of the tire to the outside atmosphere. Tests have shown that if tires are inflated with nitrogen, there is a significant reduction in tire failure.

Why did race cars, military and off-road vehicles switch to Nitrogen?
Air is about 1/5 Oxygen, and oxygen, especially at high pressures and temperatures, is a very reactive element.
When oxygen reacts with things, the process is called oxidation. When oxidation is extremely rapid, it's called "burning.
That's one reason nitrogen is used in off-highway and aircraft tires. These tires run so hot they can actually catch on fire. Nitrogen doesn't support combustion, so nitrogen-filled tires don't add fuel to the flames. And nitrogen helps prevent slower forms of oxidation also.
Nitrogen prevents other types of corrosion as well

Oxygen and moisture corrodes aluminum and steel wheels. Oxygen also reacts with rubber, another type of "corrosion". When this corrosion starts, the small particles break off and form rust and dust, which can clog vavle cores, causing them to leak. The rough surfaces created from the corrosive action on the wheels leads to tire beads that don't seal properly, causing additional leaks .
Oxygen also ages the inner liner, the thin layer of rubber inside the tire whose function is to keep air away from the carcass. As the inner liner ages, more and more air molecules can pass through it, causing more pressure losses. These pressure losses in a truck tire can average 2 psi a month as a result of the air passing through the sidewalls. As it passes through the rubber, the oxygen can also corrode the steel cords, causing them to rust too.

How does Nitrogen help?
While both nitrogen and oxygen can permeate rubber, nitrogen does it much more slowly. It might take 6 months to lose 2 psi with nitrogen, compared to just a month with air. And nitrogen is far less reactive. It doesn't cause rust or corrosion on steel or aluminum, and it doesn't degrade rubber. Wheel surfaces stay smooth and clean, rubber remains supple and resilient.



Nitrogen also will not degrade the rubber seal in the valve core which extends valve core life and helps prevents core leaks.
Small bits of dust and debris as a byproduct of oxidative corrosion to the wheels and alloy rims can lodge in the valve core seat, causing air leaks.


Any other reasons for using Nitrogen?
Water!! The air around us is full of water vapor. Compressing air concentrates the water in it.

Draining the water from your compressor tank daily helps, but unless you have a really efficient air dryer system, chances are that there's a lot of water in your compressed air.

When you compress air, it takes up much less volume, but the percentage of water by
volume is greatly increased.

...and what harm does this moisture cause?

Water vapor in compressed air acts as a catalyst, accelerating rust and corrosion. Water vapor also absorbs and holds heat. And when it changes from liquid to vapor, water expands tremendously in volume.
As a result, tires inflated with wet air tend to run hotter and fluctuate in pressure more. That's one of the reasons why racing tires, where fractions of a psi can radically change the handling characteristics, are inflated with dry nitrogen. Will my tires have 100% Nitrogen after they are filled?
In reality, no. The Ingersoll-Rand Nitrogen Generator puts out 98% pure Nitrogen. On an uninflated tire, there is still some air present, so after you refill with nitrogen, you'll end up with about 95% nitrogen, which is enough to do the job. That can be increased slightly by filling up the tire with nitrogen without a valve core in the valve stem, and then letting the tire delate. Then install the valve core and refill to normal pressure with the nitrogen. (purging).


Is Nitrogen explosive? No, in fact, nitrogen is very inert and safe. Nitrogen is the most commonly used chemical in the USA. It is used for storing and packaging of snack foods, coffee, and other food items.

Do I still need to check tire pressure?Yes. But, you will find the tire pressure to be much more consistent.

What do I do if I have to add air? No problem at all. The small amount of air you may add at some point will still be a very small percentage of the total mixture of air/nitrogen in the tire.

Source: Innovative Balancing, Bridgestone.

[Aryan]

Topic Approved.

[saif71184]

Thanks Aryan, Whats ur take on Nitrogen?

[Raccoon]

Whats the source of this? Sounds like litrature from some site that has intrests in selling N.

I still don't see the point of using N for "normal" passanger cars and bikes. And my tyre pressures are pretty good with retaining normal air...

Not to get into details... but some of the statements seem fishy... for eg. the corroding of Al. Al does not really corrode... at most a thin and strong oxide layer will form on the surface which inhibits corrosion further corrosion...

[leon_nerd]

I am not sure about the other factors but yes Nitrogen is used in tyres where the tyre pressure is not supposed to change during its operation. The temperature of Nitrogen doesn't change much during the operation period of the tyre. So, situations where a predetermined pressure is needed for the trye to work all the time, Nitrogen is used.

[saif71184]

Originally Posted by Raccoon

Whats the source of this? Sounds like litrature from some site that has intrests in selling N.

I still don't see the point of using N for "normal" passanger cars and bikes. And my tyre pressures are pretty good with retaining normal air...

Not to get into details... but some of the statements seem fishy... for eg. the corroding of Al. Al does not really corrode... at most a thin and strong oxide layer will form on the surface which inhibits corrosion further corrosion...

Yes the source is a website, although i too don't fully agree with some statements above, some of my friends are using N and found ride quality improving and increased fuel efficiency .

[Raccoon]

Placebo effect! Just maintain air using an ACCURATE pressure gauge when tyre is cold!

One more issue - tyre pnumatic manujacturers know that Air will expand on heating... and that is factored in the construction of the tyre!!!

[Sandeep_K_Ram]

I don't think its a placebo. I drove a friends car a few days back and I immediately noticed something different about how it felt planted on the road especially around turns when pushed hard. It seemed like you were leaning a bit on some invisible shoulder - something different. Its very perceptible. He said he recently filled the "N" gas in it

I think its a worth trying it out. Good research by Saif..

[Aparajith]

Thats true, the change can be very well noticed in a car than a bike. I use it on my Scorpio. The air does not leak off so oon and the braking feels different. It kind of feels softer than the frequent lockups(Least said about the Scorpio brakes, the better). Not much of difference in the bikes though, except that it does not require frequent monitoring!

[Insidious]

Originally Posted by Aparajith

Thats true, the change can be very well noticed in a car than a bike. I use it on my Scorpio. The air does not leak off so oon and the braking feels different. It kind of feels softer than the frequent lockups(Least said about the Scorpio brakes, the better). Not much of difference in the bikes though, except that it does not require frequent monitoring!

Apar saar... Any idea about where we can fill Nitrogen in Chennai? The outlets? And would I have to vary the tire pressure, or just use the default one?

Oh, and one more question. Tires run cooler? Only on the inside right? (I know how n00b that sounds)