Thread: Nitrogen in tyres

lol

Originally Posted by JDNSW

As pointed out, air is 80% nitrogen anyway. The only possible perceptible advantage, even in racing, is that the nitrogen is free of moisture, which is significantly lighter and lower heat capacity than nitrogen (but the proportion of moisture is rarely significant anyway).

The use of nitrogen for tyres probably derives from the use of nitrogen in aviation, originally for filling suspension struts, and only more recently for tyres. The use in aviation is originally for fire safety reasons - with high pressures and temperatures in suspension struts it is preferable to have a gas filling it that does not support combustion. Same with tyres, that often operate at far higher pressures and temperatures than do car tyres.

As far as I can see, for cars, the only reason for using nitrogen is to increase the income of the tyre service that supplies it. But the only drawback is financial - it won't hurt your tyres.

John

This is the most correct statement so far. It is used in aviation tyres (and racing) primarily to prevent fire in tyres which have become very hot, due to heat conducted from the brake discs, after landing, especially a particularly fast landing. Secondly it may reduce oxidation of the internal tyre rubber, thus reducing tyre failures.


All gasses expand at almost identical rates when heated, so a reduction in tyre pressure variation is a load of rubbish.


Don't waste your money on Nitrogen!