kd8wdave wrote:

I went to a seminar given by an tire engineer. He said that all tires lose about 2 psi/month !!.

rgatijnet1 wrote:



To be effective at what? Keeping the tire inflated.
There is still moisture inside the tire even if the nitrogen/oxygen ratio has changed. Sometimes, there is a lot of moisture in there if the mechanic uses any of the liquids to lubricate the rims when the new tires are installed.
I can see an advantage to the shops to have one more thing to sell but I can't see enough advantage to the customers to make it cost effective. A few degrees cooler is not that big of a deal. If a tire is designed to run all day at 130 degrees, what are you gaining by running it at 125 degrees? How does this affect it's life? Has there been a scientific tests to prove any claims, in the real world, rather than the race track?

Dutch_12078 wrote:


"Consumer Reports Nitrogen air loss study"



Dutch

Wheel Estate wrote:

it.

Testing? Ok, here's just a few reports:

"Million Mile Truck Tires"

"Effects of Nitrogen Tire Inflation"

"Consumer Reports Nitrogen air loss study"

"THE EFFECTS OF INFLATION GAS ON TIRE
LABORATORY TEST PERFORMANCE"

And the ultimate authority on all things automotive:

"Jay Leno Discusses Nitrogen Tire Inflation"

OK Dutch...after reading all the links you provided (and a few of my own findings because of you)....in MY opinion I'M one of the hardest sells i know...but I now believe it does make a difference. I'm still looking to see if it is worth the difference..in dollars...and I'm looking for a Costco to see if I can do this on the cheep...(thanks bumpy)

Wheel Estate wrote:

snip I'm still looking to see if it is worth the difference..in dollars...and I'm looking for a Costco to see if I can do this on the cheep...(thanks bumpy)

rgatijnet1 wrote:



None of those addressed the moisture that is in the tires when they are mounted, especially if some type of liquid is used to mount the tires. I did pick out one quote from your links that seemed to say it all......."Bottom line: Overall, consumers can use nitrogen and might enjoy the slight improvement in air retention provided, but it's not a substitute for regular inflation checks.

--Gene Petersen"

As he mentioned, there MAY be a slight improvement in air retention, but it may also lull some owners into not checking their tires as often as they should. I figure that since I check my tires on a regular basis, as other should also do, adding a little air, as needed, is not that much of a hassle. With my fairly new tires, I just did a 3000 mile trip and did not have to top any of them off.
A lot of people don't check their tires as often as they should because they use a TPMS. The TPMS only give you the current air pressure, altho their margin for error far exceeds the claimed pressure loss when using nitrogen, but it still should not be used as a substitute for a regular tire inspection. TPMS sensors fail, their accuracy changes, their batteries fail, and they do not indicate if the tire has sustained any damage other than a slight loss of pressure.
I see nothing wrong with using nitrogen, but since it should not be used as a substitute for a regular inspection, the benefits don't seem that great. If it's free, or very cheap, use it if it makes you feel better but do not use it to replace regular tire pressure checks and inspections.

Wheel Estate wrote:

do i have this right? air starts out 78% nitrogen; oxygen is smaller and is responsible for 2 psi decease in pressure / month because it escapes....then it looks like in the end I will have pure nitrogen at some point in the future....