Tires.....Nitrogen?

[chaos901]

Not for me but after speaking with a friend that is considering nitrogen I had a question about the pressure.  Supposedly one of the benefits of nitrogen is that it maintains a constant pressure since it is not affected by temperature as much as air. 

But what pressure would you set the tires to?    On an Ultra, riding 2-up, you put 36 in the front and 40 in the rear using air and go about your way.  Now other tire manufacturers may vary slightly but we are talking about OEM tires.  Now on the rear, that 40 psi of cold air becomes almost 50 psi when you are riding down the road with a load, now the front does not gain near as much but there is some gain there too. 

So with nitrogen would you put the 36/40 psi or the heated up (operating) pressure in the tires? 

I believe the heated up since the tires are made to operate at that level, but really just curious about this, not going to nitrogen myself.

[Bikerscum]

I've often wondered the same thing.

I can verify gaining 10 psi in the rear with some miles ridden.

[Frank the Real Biker]

Not for me but after speaking with a friend that is considering nitrogen I had a question about the pressure.  Supposedly one of the benefits of nitrogen is that it maintains a constant pressure since it is not affected by temperature as much as air. 

But what pressure would you set the tires to?    On an Ultra, riding 2-up, you put 36 in the front and 40 in the rear using air and go about your way.  Now other tire manufacturers may vary slightly but we are talking about OEM tires.  Now on the rear, that 40 psi of cold air becomes almost 50 psi when you are riding down the road with a load, now the front does not gain near as much but there is some gain there too. 

So with nitrogen would you put the 36/40 psi or the heated up (operating) pressure in the tires? 

I believe the heated up since the tires are made to operate at that level, but really just curious about this, not going to nitrogen myself.

Interesting question. Like you, I don't plan on using nitrogen, but it does make one wonder.

Here is a photo of an article about nitrogen that was hanging in a local automotive repair and tire shop. It's worth a read. I had to take several pictures of it and stitch 'em together. Hope it is legible.

[JW113]

It's all bolony. As that notice states, air is 4/5th nitrogen. Doesn't expand as much as air? Ha! I guess the person that said that has never taken basic chemistry nor heard about the ideal gas law regarding pressure, volume, and temperature.

"A fool and his money, blah blah blah...."

-JW

[Hybredhog]

  Bigger molecule, slower "seeps", I've seen older pores casted wheels which this could've helped. The Ol's Chevy with the air monitors is interesting to watch, as the dealer uses Nitrogen.  Starts out approx. 3-4 psi light when cold, but up to snuff in a few miles.

[koko3052]

Used in all tires it is win,win! Used it in my class 8 truck tires & it NEVER leaks out through the tire casing unless you get a puncture.
That's the benefit, much less tire monitoring.

[Don D]

That article had nothing right.
1.  A puncture is a puncture. It leaks, fix it.
2.  Nitrogen filled tires need standard fill pressure and can be topped up with compressed air just fine.
3.  Purity is good enough by generation and filling tires when new they get a new fill anyway.
Enough?

[FLHRI_2004]

Don't believe the hype.  Unless you use your air filled tires at 40,000 feet altitude where any moisture within might freeze, or you are racing where 1/4 psi will make a difference, you're wasting your money.

My garage compressor already fills my tires with about 78% nitrogen.  That's good enough for me and doesn't cost anything.

[04 SE Deuce]

Any moisture in the tire and you'll get pressure increase,  so if the tire was just mounted with lube the nitrogen theory as to minimizing pressure increase is out the window.

I use to run nitrogen in the right rear on my dirt modified in an attempt to keep the set-up from changing as much during a race.  Dry tire pulled down with a strap to decrease volume/minimize air then fill with nitrogen.

IMO nitrogen in bike/car for street use is a waste of time.

[PoorUB]

How much air is in the tire when filled with nitrogen? It is not like they pull a vacuum on the tire before filling. Also if you top off with air you have farther deluted the nitrogen mix. IMO, nitrogen in a street tire is a waste of effort.

[Xanadu]

Todays new car tires contain electronics with a transmitter to tell the dash computer when the tire loses pressure.  Run Flat tires have this.  A gas that doesnt contain oxygen that can easily produce moisture inside the tire will prolong the life of the electronics, by reducing the incident of corrosion on the electronics.

If you run dyna beads as your tire balancing method, having a dry gas inside will prevent condensation and bead clumping which may impact your wheel balance.

[louloupa]

Why to pay to inflate tires while the air is free ? 

[Hossamania]

Agree with the rest saying not worth it on street tires. And if you do lose a bit of air, do you go to the dealer to get it topped with more nitrogen, riding it under inflated? Or do you use regular air, negating the effects of the nitrogen?

[chaos901]

Nitrogen filled tires need standard fill pressure

Thanks for answering the OP. 

[Big Cahuna]

I use Helium. It made the bike 750 pounds lighter. Tires barely touch the road. Only downside is when some gets into the carb. Then the bike just sounds funny when it's running.,,,,

[glens]

Hydrogen is best.

[Deye76]

"IMO nitrogen in bike/car for street use is a waste of time."

  I have 2 bikes that came from with dealer with nitrogen. They did not maintain constant pressure any better.

[Vinci]

Why to pay to inflate tires while the air is free ? 

Isn't that what people used to say about drinking water?

[tomcat64]

I have a custom seat with a methane collection system, automatically keeps my tires topped off with CH4.. lots of benefits here,, but one must be careful doing burnouts, spontaneous combustion is a real possibility!! 

[SixShooter14]

I've never believed the nitrogen hype. But, the dealer filled my truck tires with nitrogen and I can say, I can't tell any difference. The TPMS says that at rest all 4 are at 35psi. And after driving for an hour at 60mph, it says all 4 are at 40psi....

My opinion...there's nothing wrong with N2 filled tires, but I'm never gonna pay extra for it.

[pwmorris]

I run nitrogen regularly on my bike but don't notice anything different from regular air.
Only reason I run it is I have a nitrogen tank in my garage so when I need air, I just fill er' up.

[JW113]

Isn't that what people used to say about drinking water?

Yes, and some of us still do. Ah the power of marketing. Who'd of thunk in 60s that someday people would be paying 4 times more for water (which comes out the tap for free) than they do for gasoline? (maybe in Flint Michigan I might pay for it though)

-JW

[BUBBIE]

I TOO get more Nitrogen in my tires at times... 

When UP at 8600 feet here in Az. I will ck n fill tires;  as less oxygen at Altitude more FREE Nitrogen... 

signed....BUBBIE

[bigfoot5x]

And heaven forbid, not only do I drink water out of the tap, I used to drink it out of the hose in the yard. Marketing is a wonderful thing if you have something to sell.

[Hossamania]

Marketing is a wonderful thing if you have something to sell.

You mean I don't need a FitBit to tell me if I'm exercising? Or the latest and greatest phone to make a call? Damn, what am I going to do with all this Monster energy drink I have?