Nitrogen filled tyres

[Lesco]

Has anyone tried filling there tires with Nitrogen instead of air, I am reading it keeps your tyres inflated longer, helps for better handling and improves tyre life, Im sorry Im not very technical so not sure what to do, I was going to give it a try if it works.

thanks in advance for any help and advice

[RocketSteve]

Air is 80% Nitrogen ~ not convinced the other 20% is worth the time/money?

[trophied]

Welding supply companies have been running nitrogen in their tires for years in this country.  Mainly because there is no moisture content in industrial nitrogen, consequently the pressures don't vary as much between hot and cold, and it's very cheap for them.  Many separation plants have on occasion in the past run liquid nitrogen out into the open air and let it disperse into the atmosphere because they continually make more of it than they can sell.  I'm would guess they can no longer get away with that.  It is about the cheapest compressed gas on the market, and when auto repair or tire shops sell it at $19.95 for refilling 4 tires, that could be as much as 10 times or more what it cost, depending on how much of they buy.  Nothing against profit margin, but with the majority of compressed air being nitrogen, I'll settle for the small moisture content and just use the recommended inflation pressures.  I don't know of any studies regarding tire life on nitrogen, but I'll bet there are some somewhere.  The welding supply companies use it because those are large truck tires and the pressures can vary a lot between hot and cold.  Anyone that wants to try it can be assured that I have not seen any ill effects on the truck tires from it during all my years experience in the industrial gas business.

[neojynx]

Waste of money.  I used to live in France where they are 'big' into  nitrogen.  So I had my car done..  I noticed no difference/advantage at all they still lost pressure.

G

[w8d4it]

Why bother.  The first time you have to top off your tires you will have contaminated/diluted the nitrogen.

[Lesco]

Thanks very much guys, Ill give it a miss I think

[trophied]

The reason it's big in France is - wait for it - Air Liquide!  The second largest industrial gas producer in the world.  No wonder.

[atrophy]

I attended a tire seminar at a national BMW rally a few years ago.  The seminar was put on by Michelin I think.  The engineer said filling your tires with Nitrogen was a waste and mostly marketing BS and a ploy to extract a few more dollars from your wallet.   As previously mentioned the first time you need to add air you are no longer running pure nitrogen.
Save your money.
Now Helium  for a heavy bike like the Trophy might be beneficial.