Does a tire filled with dry nitrogen have a more consistent pressure?
Do nitrogen-filled tires run cooler?
Do nitrogen-filled tires deliver better fuel economy?
Do nitrogen-filled tires lose pressure more slowly?
Why do commercial airliners use nitrogen in their tires?
Why do trucks use nitrogen in their tires?
Why do race cars use nitrogen in their tires?
Does nitrogen eliminate tire oxidation/aging on cars or motorcycles?
Does nitrogen eliminate rim oxidation/ damage?
Will nitrogen eliminate the crud that might otherwise keep my valves from sealing properly?
So, for the average car/bike owner… nitrogen or air?
Elsewhere:
Do nitrogen-filled tires run cooler?
IF it’s true that N2-filled tires lose pressure more slowly – AND if you’re a slacker when it comes to checking pressure – then yes, your tires will run cooler with a nitrogen fill, simply by virtue of being inflated correctly more of the time. But where heat transfer is concerned, there is not a significant difference between nitrogen and air; natural convection coefficients for the two fill gases differ by less than one percent, and in the worst case, water vapor (which has similar thermal properties) will only make up about 1% of the fill mixture. So when it comes to transporting heat from the tire (where it’s generated) to the rim (where it’s dissipated), the difference between air (wet or dry) and nitrogen is negligible. A tire filled with nitrogen to X psi will run at the same temperature as a tire filled with air to X psi.
Questions? Comments? Email me!
©2006, Mitchell P. Patrie