I just saw an ad in a local magazine touting (& selling) the advantages of using nitrogen in your tires instead of air. They say, "With 95% nitrogen in your tires, they retain optimal pressure three to four times longer (than air)."

I have NEVER heard of this before. Is this total BS, or are they onto something?

 

It is true that the pressures will remain constant for longer with Nitrogen. Nitrogen molecules are larger than oxygen molecules and therefore will not leak down as quickly. However, most shops that do this will end up charging your more, even if its not stated in their pricing. In aircraft tires, Nitrogen is used because it is an inert gas that does not cause oxidation, therefore corroding expensive equiment under extreme conditions. Does it make a demostrable difference in the real world? I doubt it. Nitrogen isn't a bad thing, just not a necessary thing, or even something that you will see substantially increased performance from.

Just check your tire pressures once every week.

 

Regular air also had alot of moisture in it. Nitogen has none.

 

Thanks. I learn something new around here every day.

 

The C6 ZO6's come inflated with nitrogen. Advertising. Like the majority of us would notice.

 

I'm gonna fill mine up with Helium and have the first f body hovercar!

 

Im going to fill my tires with hydrogen, its going to make for some sweet burnouts

 

I dout filling your tires up with helium is going to life 3600 lbs :P hehehe
but still cool idea.

 

The primary value of using nitrogen is the reduction of oxidation of the rubber as the high pressure gas permeates the carcass of the tire. That is important for large truck tires, that run 100's of thousands of miles and are recapped frequently. That's not an issue on a car tire... you'll wear the tread out long before oxidation of the carcass becomes a problem.