Nitrogen in stock early ford tires

[Veeder]

Is there any reason to use nitrogen or a reason not to?

These are 16 inch tubed tires

[oldbugger]

I don't think there is a reason not to. I had my tires, 16" tubeless, put on at a place that used nitrogen. I haven't had any adverse effects, but not sure if there is any benefit either way. Our atmosphere has nitrogen in it so you get some even with regular air. i would not pay extra for it. mho

[cadillac512]

Air is 78% nitrogen. You make the call......

[mhsprecher]

Nitrogen molecules are larger than oxygen, so supposedly less migration through the tire rubber. https://www.popularmechanics.com/car...ogen-in-tires/

[Tim Ayers]

Originally Posted by mhsprecher

Nitrogen molecules are larger than oxygen, so supposedly less migration through the tire rubber. https://www.popularmechanics.com/car...ogen-in-tires/

This is what I understood as well. I believe nitrogen is also more stable throughout temperature changes

[19Fordy]

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Air works just fine.

[5851a]

I think the last time I put tires on the camper they did nitrogen fill without asking but didn't charge for it. I don't even know where I would adjust pressure. I will just use what I breathe. The thing with nitrogen is it is dry and tire pressure should be more resistant to temp changes. So the salesman says.

[Tim Ayers]

It's used on commercial airline tires I believe as well.

[19Fordy]

Speaking of salesman, I recall when I bought a new car in 2018 I was charged $400 extra for nitrogen filled tires. Trouble was, they forgot to change the color of the valve stem cap which was a sign (to me) that no nitrogen had been added to the tires. Raised the dickens with the dealership and got a $400 rebate. Got to pay attention!

[cas3]

400 used to be the cost of the tires, not the "filling" inside !

[Tim Ayers]

Back in '18, it was a "big" deal and an extra add on. Today? Costco does it for free.

[V8COOPMAN]

Originally Posted by Tim Ayers

It's used on commercial airline tires I believe as well.

Dry nitrogen has been used in aviation tires for many years now, and there's good reason. Most aviation facilities that service tire pressure are equipped to service with dry nitrogen because the majority of high performance aircraft, or more-precisely those that operate at higher altitudes, and those that land at high speeds, require the dry nitrogen. The reason that these aircraft require dry nitrogen in those tires is because when an aircraft spends hours at high altitudes and the tires are inflated with plain old AIR, that air can contain enough moisture that when it cools and reaches the dew point, that moisture will condense and form on the inside surfaces of the tire and wheel. At those altitudes, ice forms and can become a projectile inside the tire. But most-importantly, that ice can become an out-of-balance situation instantly when that tire touches down at maybe 140 kts (or more), especially if it becomes necessary to land without flaps in an emergency situation. Think about how small the tire diameter is on some of these go-fast biz jets (see example BELOW). Immense damage could result to the airframe (if not worse) with the speeds that these tires can get to rotating at.

The main gear tires (under the wing) only come up to about this girl's mid-calf. The outside diameter of that tire can't be more than 12" or so. That sucker is spinning-up to insane speeds during a landing.

Coop

[47topless]

You get free hydrogen in all Hindenburg Tires at Cosco. Be sure to read the safety label before buying.

[cadillac512]

Originally Posted by 47topless

You get free hydrogen in all Hindenburg Tires at Cosco. Be sure to read the safety label before buying.

[19Fordy]

V8: Thanks for that very informative explanation on why nitrogen is used in aircraft tires.

[rotorwrench]

I didn't work on so many tires in my aviation career since the helicopters mostly have skids. We used nitrogen in the oleo struts or landing gear dampers.

[Veeder]

Good inf Thks for all the feedback!

[SoCalCoupe]

Originally Posted by V8COOPMAN

...spends hours at high altitudes and the tires are inflated with plain old AIR, that air can contain enough moisture that when it cools and reaches the dew point, that moisture will condense and form on the inside surfaces of the tire and wheel. At those altitudes, ice forms and can become a projectile inside the tire. But most-importantly, that ice can become an out-of-balance situation instantly when that tire touches down at maybe 140 kts (or more), especially if it becomes necessary to land without flaps in an emergency situation.

If I ever drive my car like this I'll spend the extra money for nitrogen, otherwise I'll just go with plain old air.

[Tim Ayers]

I was talking to a buddy who owns a tire shop. He said a benefit of using nitrogen in modern rims is they find less corrosion/issues with TPM sensors going bad using nitrogen vs. using plain old air.

[SoCalCoupe]

Originally Posted by Tim Ayers

I was talking to a buddy who owns a tire shop. He said a benefit of using nitrogen in modern rims is they find less corrosion/issues with TPM sensors going bad using nitrogen vs. using plain old air.

That's good information. The price of replacing TPM sensors versus nitrogen service sounds like a reasonable comparison.

[40 Deluxe]

In my years as a fleet mechanic I never saw corrosion issues on the sensors, but then we kept the compressor tank drained daily. If a sloppy shop let water in their lines they probably saw corrosion.
Some reasons nitrogen is mostly a scam: When a new tire is mounted, before being inflated, what is in the tire? Air! The tire has to inflated with nitrogen and purged several times to mostly get rid of this air. How many tire shops will do that?
Most tire shops use a machine that pulls nitrogen out of the air instead of pure nitrogen. These machines are around 90-95% efficient at best yet the "experts" say you need 100% to gain the alleged benefits.
Salesmen claim that nitrogen will not degrade the inner lining like air does. However, has anyone EVER seen the inside of a tire fail from the air in the tire??
Salesmen also claim tires will hold pressure longer but the difference is tiny. More often the tire gets a puncture and the nitrogen leaks right out!
Nitrogen is used in race tires to help stabilize pressure at high temperatures, but who gets their tires that hot on freeway entrance ramps? And will you notice a pound or so extra like a racecar will?
A few years ago GM sent a bulletin to their dealers telling them not to use nitrogen!
Air is 78% nitrogen. The theory is that nitrogen molecules are larger than other air molecules. So, if after a few months your tires have lost some pressure, the nitrogen molecules remain, so adding more air increases the percentage of nitrogen each time you top off the tire!

[c.murray]

Nitrogen... great idea!