Air or Nitrogen

[B]

I've never tried Nitrogen in the tires. What so you guys think? Hype ... Or is it worth consideration?

[CajunRider]

I like to use approximately 70% Nitrogen...   

Seriously though, I don't see where normal driving causes THAT much heat change to go with pure nitrogen... 

Yeah... airplanes use it... racers use it... but for normal driving, I don't see enough of a difference.  Just check your pressures once in a while (I check about once every couple of weeks) and call it good. 

[Jess from VA]

I have my own compressor and digi gauges so I think it's bupkus.

The big Honda dealer here sells it for the season.... pay once and if you do need to top up, or change tires, it's free (just 15 miles to the dealer for me, so when you get there the tires are too hot to check).  I still think it's bupkus, unless you can't remember to check your own tires.

Since tires and tire pressure is the single most important safety issue in motorcycling, I think it prudent to check your pressure every week (when riding), and even if nitrogen rarely bleeds down, the tires should still be checked.  So why bother?  

[sandy]

Natural air is 78% nitrogen but it has a much larger molecule than Oxygen. It's the Oxygen that bleeds out due to the smaller size. My local shop charges $7.50 per tire but will top up for a year free. It's your call as to whether you don't want to worry about losing air and getting free top offs. I have a compressor and check frequently. Not worth it for me.

[hueco]

More trouble than it is worth. Don't worry about it.

[Brad]

Lots of opinions on this one....in the tire industry you have to be very careful what you say when selling nitrogen.  Most shops say things that can not be proven and could get in some legal troble over it.  Consumer Reports did not help with the selling of nitrogen when a few years ago they recomended not paying for it in most cases.  I have an air dryer on my compressor I don't notice any difference between the two.  The main problem with compressed air is the water vapor.

In October 2007, Consumer Reports released the results of a test they did on nitrogen filled tires. They inflated a number of used tires, some with air and some with nitrogen, then let the tires sit for a year. The air pressure in all of the tires when then measured to see which ones lost the most/least air. The Consumer Reports test showed the air-filled tires lost an average of 3.5 psi from their initial 30 psi inflation pressure, while the nitrogen-filled tires lost 2.2 psi of pressure (1.3 psi less). Though the difference was not dramatic, it did prove nitrogen-filled tires lose less pressure than air-filled tires. Critics said the Consumer Reports test would have shown more of a dramatic difference between air and nitrogen had the tires been subjected to real world driving conditions (which causes tires to lose pressure even faster).

[9Ball]

Natural air is 78% nitrogen but it has a much larger molecule than Oxygen. It's the Oxygen that bleeds out due to the smaller size. My local shop charges $7.50 per tire but will top up for a year free. It's your call as to whether you don't want to worry about losing air and getting free top offs. I have a compressor and check frequently. Not worth it for me.

it's only 3% larger molecule...not "much" larger

[Patrick]

Probably the majority of the people don't know what 'air' is made from.. So Nitrogen sounds like some sort of miracle gas for your tires.. I have a question,, since the nitrogen molecule is larger than the oxygen molecule and its the oxygen that is lost, if we keep re-filling our tires with plain ole air, wouldn't they end up with all nitrogen in them after a while???   

[Jess from VA]

I say we fill them with nitrous oxide; that way if you need a laugh after a long days ride, you're all set.

[Patrick]

Nitrous oxide?? Well, there are a couple of us that have a bottle stuck to the bike somewhere..   

[B]

Thx. I never thought it was worth the trouble but I just bought a rim with a nearly new CT that's nitrogen filled. I'm probably not going to worry about maintaining it with nitrogen.

[Rio Wil]

OK, so here is the deal......just over fill your tire by 20 % from your desired pressure, wait for the O2 to leak out and whats left is almost pure nitrogen and maybe a couple of other exotic gases and with some H20 molecules.  If you filled your tire with air with 50% relative humidity, anyone know just how much "water" is actually in the tire by weight or volume or ?

[B]

OK, so here is the deal......just over fill your tire by 20 % from your desired pressure, wait for the O2 to leak out and whats left is almost pure nitrogen and maybe a couple of other exotic gases and with some H20 molecules.  If you filled your tire with air with 50% relative humidity, anyone know just how much "water" is actually in the tire by weight or volume or ?

50% humidity?!?!? I may have to wait til January to fill the tire!!!