Simmo2

Hi all

My local tyre dealer has just started to offer nitrogen for your tyres instead of air (just like F1 and the Aircraft industry)

What if any are the merits of this?

Pete

The Zohan

I Think it is something to do with maintaing same pressure as the tyres/gas heats up, expands less than air. Something along these lines.

Neil Smalley

So what happens if you need to top up your tyre pressures? Do you need to go back to them for a refill?

Lee uk300

I think it is because the petrol stations feel guilty charging you for air £10 for a shot of nitrogen seems friendly.

Simmo2

apparently you can top up with normal air.


Pete

Chelspeed

I'm pretty sure that air and nitrogen (and all other gases) all expand at the same rate with temperature (Boyles or Charle's law I think). The difference is that air taken direct from the atmosphere has a fair amount of water vapour in it, it's the water vapour that expands a lot when it gets warm.

Nitrogen that you buy in a bottle comes with virtually no water vapour in it, that's the benefit. Race teams can also buy a dryer that takes the water vapour out of the air before it goes into the tyres, same benefit as nitrogen, different approach.

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

Agree with alot that has been said, the benefits of Nitrogen is that race teams can work out exactly how it expands in heat, air isnt that accurate and can fluctuate due to as has been pointed out, water vapour etc.
Its NOT worth putting this in a road cars tyres as there is no benefit from it (and air is FREE at all the garages i go to, plus free water!)

Tony

Dyney

Nitrogen is also used on aircraft because on a rejected take off the brakes can get very hot (even catch fire!) and cause the tyres to burst. The Nitrogen will help with the fire containment as it doesn't burn.

As stated above Air contains moisture. This would freeze at altitude.

clanhome

iTrader: (3)

I dont think you will notice too much difference as air is 70%nitrogen anyway