Inflating Tyres with Nitrogen

[HydBiker]

Thanx guys... m gonna try it today itself.. so that i may find some change in performance in tomorrow's short ride..

how'll you see the difference in performance?

If you have touched your tyres immediately after a ride... then you can try that again (this time with Nitrogen) and see if the tyres ran any cooler than the first time or not.

[Raccoon]

Nobody has been able to prove that nitrogen has any benifit in street vehicles. But since you guys wanna try it anyway, remember that cooler tyres is not necessarily a good thing! Tyres are supposed to get warm, and that gives them a better grip! This will in fact make nitrogen unsafe for use especially in winters. That is if you are getting 'fairly' pure nitrogen in the 1st place... lol!

[HydBiker]

^^^ oh! that says cooler tyres and not cold tyres.

If you tour for long distances I think this is beneficial. During long runs the tyres get really hot and that eats away their life span. I see that almost all touring guys change their tyres much earlier than those who ride in only city and with some short rides.

Yes, the benefits are not proven. I used it to avoid continuous refilling of air when I stayed at a place with a very bumpy road and tyres used to loose pressure very bad. It worked for me.

[ketan_r15]

how'll you see the difference in performance?

If you have touched your tyres immediately after a ride... then you can try that again (this time with Nitrogen) and see if the tyres ran any cooler than the first time or not.

wht I meant by change in performance is someone here mentioned that upon switching over to N, the vehicle felt much more planted on the groud.. also the braking felt much better. Well these changes are very difficult to notice in short period but yes atleast they can be felt.

and even if nothing's happening, the only benefit of checking the air pressure less number of times itself is enough for me. Also people who have 2 minds on N here agree to this fact that the tyres run cooler. So even that's a benefit worth considering. Peace

Thanx guys..!

[HydBiker]

wht I meant by change in performance is someone here mentioned that upon switching over to N, the vehicle felt much more planted on the groud.. also the braking felt much better.

That's most probably because of the correct air pressure... most of our petrol pumps' and puncture walahs' guages are wrong and we end up with over inflated tyres... can say this for sure as I carry my own guage every where.

[Raccoon]

^^^ oh! that says cooler tyres and not cold tyres.

If you tour for long distances I think this is beneficial. During long runs the tyres get really hot and that eats away their life span. I see that almost all touring guys change their tyres much earlier than those woo ride in only city and with some short rides.

Yes, the benefits are not proven. I used it to avoid continuous refilling of air when I stayed at a place with a very bumpy road and tyres used to loose pressure very bad. It worked for me.

True... thats why I said it would be most unsafe in winters. Even in summers I don't see any benifit... unless of course you are talking about tourers who ride for high speed for many hours in the hot summer sun.

And air pressure machines are really strange. The RTO BPCL COCO here has an accurate gauge. Last week I asked the guy to fill the tyres to 35 (front) and 40 (rear) psi. This was to seat the beads of my new tyres... after the truing guy pointed out a slight uneveness. After overfilling, I asked him to reset the meter to the normal pressure to remove excess air. He did so properly... and later when I checked the pressures with my own gauge I found the pressure to be well over the normal! So even if a particular air filling apparatus fills in air correctly from lower to higher pressure, it might not be accurate at all when doing it from higher to lower. Sigh...

[Prabhakar]

Using N2 from a year & half

I'm seeing lot of debates about N2.
I'll give my experience for the past 1 1/2 year.
I always use N2.

There are absolutely no disadvantages with N2 - Except a higher refilling Bill.
Most of th advantages we talk about are not applicable fully for STREET BIKES - Reasons

1) Tires run cooler - This effect is noticed only when U go beyond 150kmph.
Under that speed the effect is almost 0.
Many of us who drive 220s,R15s etc never cross this speed.
For SBKs its useful.

2) Tires do not heat as much during hard acc, Braking & Touring - This effect also is minimal on the 220s or R15s as the acc or braking is not very drastic.
However U do have a difference which U may or may not be able to percieve without any testing means.
In SBKs U can feel the difference without any testing euipment.

3) Tire life - Again this effect is over a period of atleast 3-4 years under our current operating coditions for basic bikes & 1-2 years at the most for SBKs.
U invariably change the tire before that - so no Use.

4) Alloy Corroding - The Alloys corrode over a period of atleast more than 6-7 years.
How many of us are using OUR BIKE for more than 5years??
So no effect for us.

5) Pressure loss - This is the Biggest Advantage for every 1.
The pressure loss is noticeably less.
Its so less that I traveled to Leh- Ladakh.
I Filled air on July 2/3 2008 Front 28 & Rear 30.
Went For the trip was checking the pressure every now & then when possible - But did not fill as I found no change in the course of the trip.
I checked again on return on Aug 6.
The Pressures were 28 & 29.
Thats Terrific.
Now thats good for any biker.
Particularly for Lazy Bums like me its great!!!!!

For SBKs, high performance Vehicle, Lazy Bums like me its a boon.
For Average Commuter who checks the pressure every time when going to a fuel fill its waste of money.

One Exception is the Soft compound tires - R15s, IRCs, Michelins, DURO Softs, etc.
it has invariable advantage U can feel the difference by simply touching the side wall of the tire after a 50-60km Ride of even 100+ Speeds.

U see all the difference in handling, braking when the tires are not properly inflated.
same inflation N2 & Normal air has no difference initially.
The difference is noticed cleanly on a very hot day when U drive 100-200 km at speeds of 100+ on a soft compound tire.

Any more experiences???

[Mindgrinder]

I'm seeing lot of debates about N2.
I'll give my experience for the past 1 1/2 year.
I always use N2.

There are absolutely no disadvantages with N2 - Except a higher refilling Bill.
Most of th advantages we talk about are not applicable fully for STREET BIKES - Reasons

1) Tires run cooler - This effect is noticed only when U go beyond 150kmph.
Under that speed the effect is almost 0.
Many of us who drive 220s,R15s etc never cross this speed.
For SBKs its useful.

2) Tires do not heat as much during hard acc, Braking & Touring - This effect also is minimal on the 220s or R15s as the acc or braking is not very drastic.
However U do have a difference which U may or may not be able to percieve without any testing means.
In SBKs U can feel the difference without any testing euipment.

3) Tire life - Again this effect is over a period of atleast 3-4 years under our current operating coditions for basic bikes & 1-2 years at the most for SBKs.
U invariably change the tire before that - so no Use.

4) Alloy Corroding - The Alloys corrode over a period of atleast more than 6-7 years.
How many of us are using OUR BIKE for more than 5years??
So no effect for us.

5) Pressure loss - This is the Biggest Advantage for every 1.
The pressure loss is noticeably less.
Its so less that I traveled to Leh- Ladakh.
I Filled air on July 2/3 2008 Front 28 & Rear 30.
Went For the trip was checking the pressure every now & then when possible - But did not fill as I found no change in the course of the trip.
I checked again on return on Aug 6.
The Pressures were 28 & 29.
Thats Terrific.
Now thats good for any biker.
Particularly for Lazy Bums like me its great!!!!!

For SBKs, high performance Vehicle, Lazy Bums like me its a boon.
For Average Commuter who checks the pressure every time when going to a fuel fill its waste of money.

One Exception is the Soft compound tires - R15s, IRCs, Michelins, DURO Softs, etc.
it has invariable advantage U can feel the difference by simply touching the side wall of the tire after a 50-60km Ride of even 100+ Speeds.

U see all the difference in handling, braking when the tires are not properly inflated.
same inflation N2 & Normal air has no difference initially.
The difference is noticed cleanly on a very hot day when U drive 100-200 km at speeds of 100+ on a soft compound tire.

Any more experiences???

yep i agree i ride my bike at 80 - 85 its FZ and it feel so stable, it becomes nimble and even on hard braking the wobbling is minimal.

[L.P.]

I'm seeing lot of debates about N2.
I'll give my experience for the past 1 1/2 year.
I always use N2.

There are absolutely no disadvantages with N2 - Except a higher refilling Bill.
Most of th advantages we talk about are not applicable fully for STREET BIKES - Reasons

1) Tires run cooler - This effect is noticed only when U go beyond 150kmph.
Under that speed the effect is almost 0.
Many of us who drive 220s,R15s etc never cross this speed.
For SBKs its useful.

2) Tires do not heat as much during hard acc, Braking & Touring - This effect also is minimal on the 220s or R15s as the acc or braking is not very drastic.
However U do have a difference which U may or may not be able to percieve without any testing means.
In SBKs U can feel the difference without any testing euipment.

3) Tire life - Again this effect is over a period of atleast 3-4 years under our current operating coditions for basic bikes & 1-2 years at the most for SBKs.
U invariably change the tire before that - so no Use.

4) Alloy Corroding - The Alloys corrode over a period of atleast more than 6-7 years.
How many of us are using OUR BIKE for more than 5years??
So no effect for us.

5) Pressure loss - This is the Biggest Advantage for every 1.
The pressure loss is noticeably less.
Its so less that I traveled to Leh- Ladakh.
I Filled air on July 2/3 2008 Front 28 & Rear 30.
Went For the trip was checking the pressure every now & then when possible - But did not fill as I found no change in the course of the trip.
I checked again on return on Aug 6.
The Pressures were 28 & 29.
Thats Terrific.
Now thats good for any biker.
Particularly for Lazy Bums like me its great!!!!!

For SBKs, high performance Vehicle, Lazy Bums like me its a boon.
For Average Commuter who checks the pressure every time when going to a fuel fill its waste of money.

One Exception is the Soft compound tires - R15s, IRCs, Michelins, DURO Softs, etc.
it has invariable advantage U can feel the difference by simply touching the side wall of the tire after a 50-60km Ride of even 100+ Speeds.

U see all the difference in handling, braking when the tires are not properly inflated.
same inflation N2 & Normal air has no difference initially.
The difference is noticed cleanly on a very hot day when U drive 100-200 km at speeds of 100+ on a soft compound tire.

Any more experiences???

That's a lot of gyaan!.. but yaar i could not grab something on the soft compound tyres... i am using the same,so just wanted to know about that...??

[Prabhakar]

That's a lot of gyaan!.. but yaar i could not grab something on the soft compound tyres... i am using the same,so just wanted to know about that...??

This is a for a general Idea!!!!!

Tires are made of primarily 3 types of Rubber compound -

1. Soft- Very sticky - Loads of grip but very less life time - for Track usages,
2. Hard - non sticky Lots of life time very less grip - for Off road &
3. Intermediate a compromise of both the worlds for street usage.

[L.P.]

This is a for a general Idea!!!!!

Tires are made of primarily 3 types of Rubber compound -

1. Soft- Very sticky - Loads of grip but very less life time - for Track usages,
2. Hard - non sticky Lots of life time very less grip - for Off road &
3. Intermediate a compromise of both the worlds for street usage.

Is it not good for,Soft Compound..???

[desideep]

its is good for Soft compound tyres cause it would keep them cool and less wear where as the hard coumpund tyre have to be warm to have the grip :P

[Prabhakar]

Is it not good for,Soft Compound..???

Its Good for all types of Compounds.

Particularly in Soft compound Tires U find the difference easily.
These tires tend to overheat with normal air.
However nitrogen keeps the tire cooler & for a longer time the tire stays in optimum condition for better performance.

In all types of Compounds as air inside the tire gets hot which leads to increase in the tire pressure.
An increase in tire pressure means less contact patch on the road which means less grip when accelerating, cornering & Braking.
This is where N2 makes the major difference.
It tends to be lot cooler when compared to normal air.
A commuter may no notice the difference, But a normal 15 Rider on a 200km ride will feel the difference easily.
For SBKs U'll notice it much quickly.

Commuter uses semi-hard to Hard tires for Durability.
R15 has an intermediate compound which is the softest compound available in a stock Vehicle.
The SBKs use semi-soft compounds.

Pure Soft Compounds on street will be good for hardly a 1000-1500 km.

Sirac is Semi Hard,
MRF on R15 is Intermediate,
Michelin Pilot sport etc are semi soft.

[insanebiker]

Normal air consists of 78% of Nitrogen !

[Prabhakar]

Normal air consists of 78% of Nitrogen !

Normal Unpolluted Air in Standard conditions @ 27c in ideal test conditions on a non humid day contains 78%.

How good is our air???

I don support N2 unless U R a Lazy Bum like me who fills air only when I go to the the service/maintenance of vehicle once a fortnight or month to the PBK.
Sometimes forget to fill there & comeback.
The N2 point is right beside the PBK.

Its for people who go on touring with intermediate or semi-soft compound tires REGULARLY without checking anything in the middle of the night when they feel to go on a Longggg ride.

For Commuters its a Strict NO - Waste of Money.
Occasional tourers who plan everything before & ride on normal speeds can also forget the N2 unless they are on Semi - Soft.