Nitrogen inflation?!

[Dureth]

Even on the race bikes we don't bother with this snake oil. What happens when you need to top it up or if you are going on track change preassures to adjust to temperature changes? You get your normal pump out and put normal air in, destroying any gain in the Nitrogen to start with.

Some teams do use de-humidified air in the tyres as they have pumps which do this as they are used, eliminating the water vapour from the equation. This is the only main advantage and only then when you are worrying about the last .5 of a PSI and how it can effect the bikes suspension setup.

 

[Burnsy2023]

Its a marketing gimmick, no real word benefit, ignore it

Indeed. Unless you're racing competitively, there's no point in it.

 

[MrMoonX]

how would you know that they just didnt put air in them and charge you £2.50 I wouldnt put it past tyre places like quick fit to do this!

 

[alex24]

That's a very good point. I suppose you'll just have to trust them on that one!

 

[jon.bda]

Nitrogen is less subject to pressure variation with heat, less likely to leak (as it requires a bigger gap to leak through) and as it's purified does not contain water vapour and so theoretically reduces corrosion.

However, whether any of that is relevant to 99% of road car applications is certainly up for debate.

Read about race (car and bike) teams using this due to the pressure variation thing but unless your daily commute uses the Nordschleife then hmmm...

 

[Muncher]

Nitrogen is only used in F1 because they have bottles of it laying around to power their air tools.

 

[TangoSixteen]

You really want to fill them up with Helium. Less unsprung weight.

The general consensus is that its just a gimmick for anything other than serious serious track use. (I.e F1 etc)

 

[dannyjo22]

Nitrogen is only used in F1 because they have bottles of it laying around to power their air tools.

They top up with nitrogen they don't fill them with nitrogen or atleast they never used to.

http://forums.autosport.com/lofiversion/index.php/t76571.html

"No nitrogen in F1 tyres , sorry to disappoint, worked for Michelin for the last 5 years..

Air is run through dual driers, and has minimal water vapour content, that is why it is dry to allow better control of pressures when hot that you cant get with any quantity of water vapour. Some teams use nitrogen to top up their tyres, simply because they dont have the complex driers the tyre companies have..

Fitting in heavy rain can be a problem, wheels need to be dried, and fitting tents are air conditioned to reduce temperature changes and get moisture forming in the tyres. Even the tyre truck that transport them around are temperature controlled.

I think it's just a myth that has spread, the tyre companies dry the air and the easiest method for the teams is to top up with nitrogen. A mate of mine worked for goodyear when they were in f1 and he said the same to me.

Also found this from 2008, Bridgestone use dry air also...

http://www.f1technical.net/articles/1

 

[Baron_Samedi]

Avon / Cooper Tire use heated dry air too.

They evacuate the tyre on the wheel before filling with said air.

Guy almost wet himself when I told him how good Nitrogen was...