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11-19-2009, 09:02 AM
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#1
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: New York
Posts: 63
M.O.C. #5229
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Nitrogen for Tires - pros/cons
I was getting a GY Marathon replaced in New Orleans and the guy who runs Southern tire suggested I put nitrogen in my tires. Said better gas mileage and less trouble maintaing pressure.
Anyone tried this?
Nick
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11-19-2009, 09:21 AM
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#2
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Montana Master
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Ardrossan
Posts: 729
M.O.C. #9261
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Air is 78% nitrogen already. Do they pull a vacuum on the tire then put nitrogen in to get an accurate 100%? Are you really getting 100% nitrogen? Do they have the proper equipment to make and compress nitrogen? I don't think so. These are the questions to ask the dealer/supplier. Lots of stuff on this, many people pay the price for nitrogen and then some one tops up with air. I will continue to run with air and correct pressures with no problems.
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11-19-2009, 10:00 AM
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#3
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Montana Master
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Brownsburg
Posts: 1,186
M.O.C. #5634
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NASCAR and Indy Race cars uses nitrogen because the tires run cooler and it maintains a more consistent pressure. Air craft tires uses nitrogen because of less moisture content and does not allow to freeze in tires causing out of balance upon landing. I work for a trucking company and we bought nitrogen generators for all our tire shops around the country and when we mounted new tires they were filled with nitrogen. Truck tires has a lot of pressure and prone to leak issues and the nitrogen being larger molucules slowed that down. Supposedly with tires running cooler and maintaining correct pressure the fuel milage was suppose to increase. We have since discontined that program since when away from our shops a tire needed air say at a truck stop or something it was not available. I believe the term I heard them use was "return on investment". Bottom line - if it is free - why not if you have to pay - reconsider.
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11-19-2009, 10:04 AM
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#4
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Stratford
Posts: 241
M.O.C. #9481
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I think using nitrogen for RV tires originated from using it for jet aircraft. It is dry so contains no moisture to freeze at low temperatures and contains no oxygen to oxidize the tires. I see little benefit for RV tires.
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11-19-2009, 12:22 PM
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#5
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Montana Master
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Leona
Posts: 6,382
M.O.C. #2059
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Con, waste of money and effort for return.
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11-19-2009, 12:29 PM
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#6
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Vermontville
Posts: 1,129
M.O.C. #9045
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This subject I do know about. After 31 yrs of racing, and working with tires to the 1/4lb. it is very critical. Nitrogen does make your tires run considerably cooler. When tires run cooler, they do not grow in size, which is critical in racing. This means if you ran nitrogen in your trailer tires it would help with the heat these tires get going down the highway on the very hot days. As I stated when tires get hot they grow in size, and stretch the tires etc. Stretching the radial tires on a trailer isn't good at all. But... and this goes along with what others say. It would be a benefit if you could run it all the time, but we can't, out on the road, unless of course you had a big tank you carried with you which is not practical. Once you start to mix air in with the nitrogen all benefits of nitrogen are lost.
I hope I explained this well, I tried.
Dave
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11-19-2009, 12:39 PM
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#7
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Raceland
Posts: 409
M.O.C. #2389
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Sound like a nut shell to me,,use air and its free and you can get it any where. seams like the main than is to keep the right air pressure and your good to go with just air.............does that sound right?
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11-19-2009, 12:46 PM
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#8
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: silver creek
Posts: 1,507
M.O.C. #7770
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You explained it very well. with all the tire problems that trilers seem to have, I believe it is worth the cost of nitrogen for people that put a lot of miles on their units. Just the plus of keeping the tire temp down is worth it. And also as you say the loss of air is minimal with nitrogen so the odds of having to add air is low.This of course,goes all out the window if you have a major failure on the road.
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11-19-2009, 02:54 PM
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#9
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Texico
Posts: 1,917
M.O.C. #6150
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I'm sure nitrogen has it's advantages in certain applications such as race cars, airplanes, and heavy equipment.
I'm also sure it's a great waste of money for the average user.
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11-19-2009, 05:20 PM
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#10
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: St.Maries
Posts: 1,010
M.O.C. #7329
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CON. If you check the temp of your trailer and truck tires you will find that they run a lot cooler than you think. I chek tire and bearing temp every time we stop. Tires will get hotter just sitting in the sun than they do rolling down the road. I always check the sunny side first.
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11-20-2009, 03:20 AM
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#11
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Montana Master
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Colorado Springs
Posts: 578
M.O.C. #718
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Where can you find what the average tire and bearing temp should be?
WHen I bought new tires they put in nitrogen free, I havent had to add air or lost a tire in a year now.
Bob
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11-20-2009, 03:25 AM
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#12
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Lobelville
Posts: 2,128
M.O.C. #6650
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Our 2008 Chevy Silverado 1500, C/C does have Nitrogen in the tires and the only difference I have found the tires seem to maintain the same pressure. I haven't had to add air since we bought the Truck. However its being stored for the winter in a fully inclosed building and yesterday I got my monthly report from On-Star and the air pressure is the Same as the last 3 months. However for the advantage of having Nitrogen installed (Cost/availablity) I don't plan on going to Nitrogen in any other tires. We have a portable air compressor and whe have a full air system on the Freigtliner and have a quick disconnect for Air source at anytime so I really don't work about free air. GBY.....
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11-20-2009, 05:16 AM
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#13
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Haldimand County
Posts: 2,413
M.O.C. #122
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Since air is 78% nitrogen anyway, I have a hard time believing that going up to 100% nitrogen is going to have a very significant effect on performance for the normal user. I think we would be better served by paying close attention to normal tire maintenance and leaving the nitrogen for the extreme users.
I check my tire temperatures when we stop, and find that they run in the 90 to 110 deg F range, (depending on ambient conditions)
What I am really looking for is any one tire that is different from the rest, that would be my indication of a problem in the making.
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11-20-2009, 05:27 AM
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#14
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Waterford
Posts: 3,693
M.O.C. #7500
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11-21-2009, 04:10 AM
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#15
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Stratford
Posts: 241
M.O.C. #9481
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If nitrogen holds tire pressure better, and since air is 80% nitrogen, any leakage would have to be the oxygen, CO2 and other gases. The remaining air in your tire would then be a higher percentage of nitrogen. If you refill with air at 80% nitrogen the new gas mixture in your tire would be more than 80% nitrogen. Over a period of time with numerous air top ups your tire would contain mostly nitrogen and you would get it without paying for nitrogen. I just can't believe nitrogen reduces leakage.
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11-21-2009, 10:51 AM
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#16
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Clearwater
Posts: 10,917
M.O.C. #420
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by OntMont
Since air is 78% nitrogen anyway, I have a hard time believing that going up to 100% nitrogen is going to have a very significant effect on performance for the normal user. I think we would be better served by paying close attention to normal tire maintenance and leaving the nitrogen for the extreme users.
I check my tire temperatures when we stop, and find that they run in the 90 to 110 deg F range, (depending on ambient conditions)
What I am really looking for is any one tire that is different from the rest, that would be my indication of a problem in the making.
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Pretty much says it all!
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