Nitrogen In Tires

[kycamper]

When we purchased our 21 RBS, our dealer mentioned " nitrogen filled tires ??". I had never heard of this. He glossed over the issue, mentioning " cooler running tires" or some such thing. On a subsequent visit, I asked how I can fill a tire if it reads " low", and he said just use traditional air.

OK.

Does anyone have the definitive answer to the whats and the hows ?? Do I have to find a Camping World if I need air. How much does it cost? Why do they do it in the first place? Do they REALLY use nitrogen ?

Time for some education.

[gbpack]

Sorry, I can't answer your questions but I asked the dealer the same question when we picked up our camper and he said to just add regular air when needed. So I guess eventually the Nitrogen runs out (escapes over time) unless at some point we decide to get them refilled with Nitrogen.  And yes, he said that they run cooler with nitrogen in them. But it would be nice to know more about it and where to get them refilled if we should ever decide to do that!

[charliem]

[font size="3"]IMO I detect the BS flag waving freely in the air (78% N₂, 21% O₂). Mainly a marketing concoction unless you do a lot of Indy 500 racing with your CL. The three main advantages claimed for Nitrogen are less leakage through tire walls, less expansion due to temp changes, and less corrosion of steel wheels due to Oxygen and water. So, check and refill your tires before each trip, don't race at Indianapolis, and admire your aluminum wheels.  8-)   See below:

[a href="http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=191"]http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=191[/a]


[/font]

[pinstriper]

I raised this question with the local regional tire emporium (Les Schwab) who does not use nitro, and this is the story I got. This was about 6 years ago, when I was shopping for tires for my commuting car.

1) It works. Nitrogen does not expand and contract to the same degree as air. So seasonal temperature changes, temp increase due to actually driving, etc. have less impact. You will find yourself underpressure or overpressure less often.

2) If it's pure nitro, it won't have any moisture, whereas the compressed air will have moisture in it. More than ambient humidity, as compression allows it to hold more moisture. That moisture can have an effect on steel wheels.

However - there's always a however...

The above is only a benefit if you are not just leaving your tires as is and forgetting about them. Even checking your tires and adding air when you do oil changes, not to mention regular rotation, it really is just extra expense and hassle for no benefit which is why they don't bother with it.

So, there is benefit, particularly for RV trailers that don't have oil changes and such.

3) You can certainly add regular air if you need to. It just means you will have less and less benefit of the nitro.

Whether your RV dealer is equipped to use nitro is a question.

Costco tire centers uses nitro (at least this was the case not too many years back). So that's a pretty ubiquitous source for Nitro.

So...I'm happy I have nitro in my trailer tires. I keep an eye on them, and haven't so far actually needed to add. They are holding nicely 2+ years in. But it isn't a big deal and I don't spend a lot of time worrying about it.

[thudd3r]

benefits...maybe to the seller's bank account

put down the nitrogen filled kool-aid and back away slowly

[video src="https://youtu.be/bCnWvMleVD0"][/video]

[peislander]

That guy is really entertaining! Glad I watched that.

[kycamper]

LOVED the Auto Expert Aussie !! thanks for posting this. Wish he could comment on other BS we hear out there!! This clears the NITROGEN air for me......best answer to a query yet !!!

[thudd3r]

he does quite a few reviews and other auto related segments.  they are always blunt and definitely "to the point"

[shovelhead]

One of the strangest I've seen (not a camper)  was beet juice.  My son had juiced up his farm tractor tires. Also had nitrogen.

[popup2012]

When I picked up my 2016 TBS, the pressure in the tires when from 30- 35 Lbs.  I had been made in Sept 2015 and I picked it up in Jan 2016.  It had the Nitrogen sticker in the TT.  Wonder what happened to the 20 lbs or so of Nitrogen.

[charliem]

[quote timestamp="1462122303" source="/post/20912/thread" author="@popup2012"]When I picked up my 2016 TBS, the pressure in the tires when from 30- 35 Lbs.  I had been made in Sept 2015 and I picked it up in Jan 2016.  It had the Nitrogen sticker in the TT.  Wonder what happened to the 20 lbs or so of Nitrogen.
[/quote][font size="3"]As I've said elsewhere, the value of Nitrogen is highly dependent upon whether you're buying or selling. [/font]

[swbc150]

I've been using Nitrogen for the last 7 years in my Ford Pickups as Dealer installed, not a requirement and it is not a free option. With the Dealer installed Nitro it does come with a warranty for any tire failure including a flat.
I like the Nitro as the tires stay longer air to the pressure they are set at and if needed just add air from any air-pump source. My Ford Dealer allows 2 complete refills per year at no extra charge, the tires are completely aired-down then refilled with nitro, all 4 tires are done at the same time.
Not sure what the status is with our Livin-lite Nitro filled tires, I'm not concerned, regular air is just fine and I check them before each trip I go on.

[mitch]

I decided to split the difference so I use roughly 78% nitrogen when I need to add.

[whoofit]

I use helium because "weight matters".

[charliem]

[quote timestamp="1463145367" source="/post/21149/thread" author="@mitch"]I decided to split the difference so I use roughly 78% nitrogen when I need to add.[/quote][font size="3"]Government research proves increasing N2 to 85% will keep the beer 14.3 degrees colder and increase campground availability 12.6%. [/font]