Nitrogen

[ChuckandKathy]

We are getting new tires on our fifth wheel on Sat. After reading all of the posts on the tires, we decided we did not want to travel from Az to WA with the original tires.

We are buying BF Goodrich 235/85R16/E and the dealer suggested filling them with nitrogen at the cost of 49.95. We read the information on nitrogen and it sounds like it would be worth it.
Does anyone in the forum have nitrogen in their tires and what are your thoughts?

[richfaa]

We attended a seminar on nitrogen in tires at the Escapee's rally.There are many advantages. I would do a google on the subject. The primary disadvantage is the availability of nitrogen on the road. After the seminar we decided that bottom line it would not be advantages at this time.

[8e3k0]

Our 09 Monty has Nitrogen in the tires and I have already topped up with air to 80 psi (E rating). The Dealer wanted extra for this and I refused to pay for something I felt was not mandatory. There is no gurantee you are getting 100% Nitrogen in that tire when they deflate and then recharge the tire.
There are likely some advantages, but I would not (for any vehicle) pay for the extra they are charging. When you have a good tire and maintain it well by monitoring pressure and condition with air and can get that 30,000 to 50,000 miles on trucks in more servere conditions; why pay an extra for something that is not readily available when on the road or doing your preventative maintenance? IMHO. Ellis

[kmh3212]

$50 for filling tires with Nitrogen. Air is 78% nitrogen and 20% oxygen. No thanks.

[Glenn and Lorraine]

Nitrogen?? IMHO it's just another unnecessary gimmick to get your money. I wouldn't waste my money and that's all I'm gonna say.

[indy roadrunner]

Biggest advantages to nitrogen is race car tires where tire temperature is critical and airplane tires where heat and freezing temps is critical.
My monty does not fit in either catagory to warrant paying extra for the nitro. If they want to put it in for free - have at it. I work for a trucking company that have nitrogen generators at the selected tire shops in which nitrogen is used when mounting new tires. Guess what is used when they have to add pressure in some location other than the tire shops - oh you guessed - how did you know they used regular compressed air?
Yes tires will run somewhat cooler with nitro and yes they do not loose pressure as fast as regular air but what is the return on the investment? What you going to do when you have a flat - get it fixed and no nitro is available? Then are you going to pay to have the tire purged and re-filled with nitrogen? Lets face it - RV tire life is about 5 - 6 years no matter how many miles is on the tread - weather checking is the main enemy and nitrogen will not protect from the exterior forces of UV damage to your tires.

[Glenn and Lorraine]

Well said Phill.

[TAKPAK]

I've read many forums and talked to several people, both tire and RV owners. None of them can really validate the use of nitrogen in tires. Somebody came up with an idea on how to make more money. I myself will not be doing nitrogen. That said, I did learn of one application where nitrogen in a tire is necessary and MANDATORY.....and that is the tires on the big mining trucks that haul ore. Their tires are so huge and flex so much, that with regular air in them, they would actually overheat and catch fire from the internal heating. They now use nitrogen, which helps them run a bit cooler, but mainly, nitrogen being an inert gas, without air (oxygen) the tires don't catch fire. I learned this watching a Mega Machine show on Discovery. Of course, if you are going to haul over 200 tons in your fifth wheel.......!

[Rondo]

Off the subject BUT can't help it--- Phil you mean you don't take your Monte around the oval at high speeds at INDY!!

[sailer]

Chuck that is the same tire i run on my 3465SA but remember that tire is rated at 3040 LBs

So i don't know what you run but i had mine weighed a while back and the frt axel was 6040 lbs and the rear was 5600 lbs so the front is just under by 40 lbs but i have lots in the rear...i was always told the system equals the weight but the scales don't lie....sailer

[sailer]

By the way i run air at 80 psi but i run nitrogen in the truck as it was free at my ford dealer , they also nitro them if they go dn free but in 6 months not 1 lb dif so i like that,,,sailer

[jretz]

Just had new tires but on our car at Costco. When I picked it up it had green caps on the valve stems. I asked why the green caps and they said it was to indicate they had nitrogen in them. No extra cost.

[KathyandDave]

costco did the same for our SUV tires.

[8e3k0]

Darn, on Wednesday we replaced the Good Year Marathons, with new Delta LT/SUV tires. Had to let all that nitrogen go from the marathons. We put good old atmosphereic air which should still be 78% nitrogen at 80 psi. and that's what we will maintain through the life of the tires.

[Art-n-Marge]

I hear nitrogen is available at Costco as an option, but paying extra for it takes away the advantage.

My experience is that a good tire guy that knows how to create a GREAT seal on the bead helps prevent air leakage so nitrogen is not needed as much. I can't seem to find those guys anymore who create a great seal.

Air or nitrogen, I am still gonna check my tires. If I need more air, I have a free way of adding it (not counting the fuel in my generator for my portable compressor) but this comes out to nickles in comparison.

No doubt nitrogen has its advantages, but for $49? Pay for the tire hazard warranty for a busted tire. That's cheaper.

[ChuckandKathy]

We bought the new tires and did not have nitrogen put in them. Thank you for all of the input.