Freebie Nitrogen tyre gas experience

[TaffZee]

Or Freebie even

Just had my car tracked (all singing all dancing machine) my car was the first to be tracked on it as new ATS depot opened, I sat in reception and watched what they were adjusting on my car, showed all the data on the screen I then had the 4 wheels balanced, the tech asked if I wanted Nitrogen in the tyres my reply, another fad to make money "no thank you", his reply I will do it for nothing just try it, my reply go on then, got bright green dust caps on my wheels now...

 

[hard top]

Be interesting to see if you notice any difference Jim.
We can do this at petrol stations over here but you have to pay for it.

 

[GazHyde]

I guess as it's free then it doesn't matter if it's a money making fad. Always curious as to whether it was worth it in the real world!

 

[zedonist]

Hope you did not pay for 4 wheel alignment on that equipment, as there is only adjustment on the front, they can only measure what the back is doing.

They have this equipment at the quick fit by me, tried to charge me full price, then apologised when I told them and charged me for front only, got to watch em like hawks.......

I have the nitrogen in my van wheels, not lost any pressure in 8 months! The Z3 needs adjusting every month.

 

[oldcarman]

What's the advantage as it's not a common practise here?

 

[hard top]

For you Jim? When in snow, the staff inside your tires is colder......

 

[zedonist]

Nitrogen is bigger than oxygen and hydrogen, therefore does not escape through the fabric of the tyre at the same rate. So a tyre filled with air will lose pressure / mass due to the escape of the oxygen and hydrogen leaving behind nitrogen. A tyre filled with pure nitrogen, should therefore maintain pressure longer and consistently. Using a pure gas also ensures that pressure is maintained at varying altitudes and temperatures hence it's use in airplane tyres, early airplane tyres used to freeze or explode when air was used. It's also used by Motorsport teams including F1 for pressure consistency at temp qualities.

Hope that helps

 

[oldcarman]

Accordingly, by adding small amounts of air to the tyres and subsequent bleed off of O and H, I will eventually end up with nearly pure nitrogen in my tires saving me money. lol JIM

 

[zedonist]

That very thought did jump in to my mind also Jim, but it would take a long time, it's like shutting a door halfway each time, it never shuts.......

 

[oldcarman]

That very thought did jump in to my mind also Jim, but it would take a long time, it's like shutting a door halfway each time, it never shuts.......

But if you progressively keep closing it 1/2 way the opening would get to a point where the door would close enough to catch which would be as close to closed completely as one could get. It would lock and keep the kids in. Wouldn't ever be pure nitrogen but pretty darn close would it not. I'll leave this to you young guns to prove. At 67 I don't think I have enough time left. JIM

 

[hard top]

How about methane gas?

 

[zedonist]

Helium?

 

[TaffZee]

Hot Air (plenty of that about)

 

[GazHyde]

I've moved this thread and renamed it as it's turned up some interesting information

 

[Mint]

Just on a practical note, how do they fill the tyre with nitrogen. Do they remove the air first? How do they get the air out and the nitrogen in. If the air is not removed there will be a mix of air and nitrogen just in different quantities than usual. mmm time for another beer I think...

 

[zedonist]

It's a good question Mr Mint, even with a newly fitted tyre there will be air. I assume that the aerospace and motor sport guys follow some purge process of evacuating the wheel prior to filling, therefore you would expect ATS or kwikfit to do the same.

 

[oldcarman]

I like the beer idea!! I believe that the nitrogen is used to set the beads on the rim expelling air as the tire inflates. Did I say another beer sounds good?

 

[Mint]

 

[t-tony]

Have another beer Jim. My guess is they vacuum the tyre after blowing it onto the rim before filling with nitrogen?

 

[Mint]

Hi Tony, if they put a vacuum on the tyre surely it would come off the rim before all the air was out?