Nitrogen/tires. Experiences?

[freedom45]

I'm interested in comments from those that have used nitrogen in street/touring tires specific to tire life, handling and gas mileage.

[Visian]

running pure nitrogen improved my snipe hunting capabilities nearly 100% :nod

ian

[jamesdunn]

It is a good way to carry....extra nitrogen!

[jamesdunn]

Sorry for the last "jokey" answer, but from all I have read it is a way for the dealer to earn extra mony and provides no benefit, except to the seller. Proper inflation is key, if you wish to pay the freight for nitrogen, as long as it is the right amount, you'll get resonable wear, just as you would with regular ol' cheap or free air.

[jdubick]

Jet aircraft use nitrogen in the tires and shock struts. It probably will not make much difference in your bike unless you plan to take it above 41,000 ft.:brow

[freedom45]

I probably should have underscored the portion of my initial post that asked for responses from those who had actual experience with nitrogen. I regret the vagueness, although, the humor of the first few responses isn't lost on me. :):)

What I seek are comments from those that have actually used nitrogen and their assessment. Is it worth $15 added to the cost of the tires? FYI: the local Nitrogen Man shop purges the tires, refills with nitrogen, purges a second time and then the final fill. Does nitrogen extend tread life and/or gas mileage? Is there a handling advantage?

A riding friend uses nitrogen on his bike(s) and is a proponent. Here in the desert areas of the SW, pavement temperature can actually exceed 140 degrees on those hot summer days. He claims far less tire temperature variation due to heat and that he has extended his mileage in some cases. Too, air pressure variation due to seepage/leakage, he claims, is less because nitrogen molecules are larger.

OK, maybe. But after footing the bill for Z6 Interacts and enjoying their benefits, I am interested in some extended wear if available. So, anyone out there ever try the "gas"? Informed responses appreciated.


MOA 9900, IBA, NRA

[UncleHowie]

I'll resist my urge to be a smarty pants, and ask a couple of semi-serious questions.:nyah

Does your $15 fill include regular topping off of your tires?
What happens to the alleged performance increases if you need air while on a trip, and can't find pure nitrogen?
Can you determine if you're actually being sold pure nitrogen, or just the same old air as everyone else?
What is the nitrogen content of our atmosphere, anyway?

Good luck, but I don't think I need pure nitrogen for my tires.:bikes

[DARRYL CAINEY]

Nitrogen content is about 78%, oxygen is 21% and other gasses are 1% so you allready have 78% nitrogen in your tires!

Darryl

[Grumpole]

Better choice might be helium. It will make your bike lighter. Just don't overinflate.

[Mark II]

The last time I was at Bob's in Maryland, I heard that they fill their tires with nitrogen (and I wasn't charged extra for it either). When asked why, I was told that it is because the nitrogen molecules being larger than those of oxygen, they don't fit through gaps in the tires as easily and therefore don't leak out as much. Having never seen with my naked eyes either type of molecule, I couldn't argue with that logic. That being the case, since that's the only place my bike and it's tires have ever been serviced, I have no complaints. I have never had to fill the tires myself, meaning I noticed no leakage. My mileage was in the 55-65 mpg range on a conservatively driven F650GS, both rural and highway, with and without traffic. This is an overall average of course.

[Librarian]

Nitrogen content is about 78%, oxygen is 21% and other gasses are 1% so you allready have 78% nitrogen in your tires!

I was told that it is because the nitrogen molecules being larger than those of oxygen, they don't fit through gaps in the tires as easily and therefore don't leak out as much.

OK, so you fill with air (78%), the tires leak the oxy and we're up to maybe 85% before you refill with air. So this puts you back down to maybe 82% before you start leaking the oxy again. So leak the oxy and your purity goes to 90% before you refill with air and you are down to 87%. And leak the oxy so you are at......

Hmmmm.......

So you would approach (but never achieve) pure nitrogen on your own.

And get to 99% just in time to replace the tires. :nyah

[Motor31]

Short answer, for motorcycle uses, don't bother. It's a waste of money. The only advantage is that it's a dry gas being pumped into your tires. That is nothing related to nitrogen, just that it's dried bas part of the process to be put into the tank for storage. You can get the same benefit by simply getting dried gas (normal atmosphere, compressed and dried) at any location equipped to do so. All it takes is a drier as part of the compression services.

Motorcycle tires do not last as long as many other vehicles tires do but that has nothing to do with the gas in them. No one ever has a tire rot from the inside out. The outside is always in worse condition than the inside due to ozone and sun exposure.

Nitrogen also expands with temperature increases just like all the other gasses in the atmosphere. You will still have to maintain the pressure if you fill with nitrogen just like any other compressed gas. It will just cost you more. If someone tells you that the 20% of other gasses in compressed air are responsible for the increase in pressure with temperature of your tire and not the nitrogen, they probably have a nice bridge for sale too.

The gas on the inside of the tire, as long as it is at the proper pressure, has nothing to do with how the outside of the tire interacts with pavement. Handling claims are bogus.

It's your money, feel free to use it how you want. Maybe using nitrogen will also make the bike lighter, prettier, cheaper and go faster in comparison to regular compressed air too.

As an aircraft mechanic I had access to compressed nitrogen for my ground vehicles. It was more hassle that it was worth just rolling the bottle out to them to fill the tires and to me it was free. Worth the cost in that case, not the hassle.

[freedom45]

Does your $15 fill include regular topping off of your tires?
What happens to the alleged performance increases if you need air while on a trip, and can't find pure nitrogen?
Can you determine if you're actually being sold pure nitrogen, or just the same old air as everyone else?
What is the nitrogen content of our atmosphere, anyway?

Good luck, but I don't think I need pure nitrogen for my tires.:bikes


Free top offs for one year.
You can add regular atmospheric air, if needed, with no offsetting problem.
No, there is no way to determine if pure nitrogen is being sold at this outlet, however, they are a national chain operation and are regulars at local racing venues.

There are needs (we all need some sort of stuff to inflate tires) and there are wants. What I want is extended mileage and any added goodies. I'll spend a few bucks to save a few more bucks. But, I like the experimenting aspect which explains the K&N airfliter (yes, it does increase gas mileage, but, more importantly it doesn't need servicing for 50,000 miles and then it is reuseable. On one K bike with over 300,000 miles, I figure significant savings have been realized.)

FYI: I had both tires filled this morning by The Nitrogen Man. At least I got a very nice set of valve caps, real chrome metal ones with a symbol, "N2".

On BMW mags, circa mid 80s, post snowflake, on three different Beemers, there was always a leakage of 1 to 2lbs of air every ten days or so. When changing tires, we found that spraying the inside of the rim, after prep, with a clear coat paint slowed the leakage. My K11 had the same tendency and t he same cure was used with good results.

Whether nitrogen is worth it can be determined by useage. This is my fourth set of Z6 tires on the K1200RS and I have kept mileage records. Here in about three months I'll have something to report specific to mileage and any other observations.

Thanks for the comments/observations. Keep it coming.

[freedom45]

[QUOTE=Motor31;471590)

Nitrogen also expands with temperature increases just like all the other gasses in the atmosphere. You will still have to maintain the pressure if you fill with nitrogen just like any other compressed gas. It will just cost you more. If someone tells you that the 20% of other gasses in compressed air are responsible for the increase in pressure with temperature of your tire and not the nitrogen, they probably have a nice bridge for sale too.

The gas on the inside of the tire, as long as it is at the proper pressure, has nothing to do with how the outside of the tire interacts with pavement. Handling claims are bogus.

It's your money, feel free to use it how you want. Maybe using nitrogen will also make the bike lighter, prettier, cheaper and go faster in comparison to regular compressed air too.

As an aircraft mechanic I had access to compressed nitrogen for my ground vehicles. It was more hassle that it was worth just rolling the bottle out to them to fill the tires and to me it was free. Worth the cost in that case, not the hassle.[/QUOTE]

Good comments and appreciated.

The handling claim derives from less pressure fluctuation in relation to the heat and cool cycling. IOW, the claim is that nitrogen maintains a more consistent pressure as temps increase or decrease. Therefore, handling is more consistent = the claim.

Your point about moisture free compressed atmospheric gas is valid. The problem is knowing who has it. When we drain large air tanks after even one day, there is a significant oil/water drainage, but, these are older units. I recall on the road using service station air that would spout sputtering amounts of water and air until the line cleared. Then there would be a vapor.

Keep it coming.


MOA9900, IBA, NRA
nuff said

[Stokes73]

I'm interested in comments from those that have used nitrogen in street/touring tires specific to tire life, handling and gas mileage.

I made the mistake of asking this question too. At least you got some reasonable answers. I filled my new tires with nitrogen just for the hell of it to see if there was any advantage. I paid $7.50 with free refills. Bottom line? I can't say I've noticed any difference that can't be contributed to the new rubber. The only thing I was hoping to achieve was a stable tire pressure. So far that seems to be holding.

[SCQTT]

I have heard many complaints about the 1200GS being less stable on the highways than the 1150 due to its decreased weight.

I really love my 1150, but wanted a 1200. How in the world could I get my too light 1200 to have the same highway manners as my 1150.

Easy, an old farm solution, I filled my tires with calcium chloride.

The amount of salt in the tires keeps them from freezing, and makes them heavier than just plain water.

I am not certain about mileage numbers, but they do not leak at all. Plus I got my 1200 to handle just like an 1150.

[535is]

I have heard many complaints about the 1200GS being less stable on the highways than the 1150 due to its decreased weight.

I really love my 1150, but wanted a 1200. How in the world could I get my too light 1200 to have the same highway manners as my 1150.

Easy, an old farm solution, I filled my tires with calcium chloride.

The amount of salt in the tires keeps them from freezing, and makes them heavier than just plain water.

:clap :clap :clap Exactly what makes my 8N feel like a much larger tractor!

To the OP: Demanding answers only from those who have used nitrogen in their tires is like asking about the benefits of voodoo exorcisms only from those who have had one. You automatically get to eliminate all reasoned and factually-based information because "You haven't tried it."

So no; I haven't tried it. But I minored in chemistry, worked in industrial R&D laboratories for 8 years, worked in professional racing for a number of years, and I've taught chemistry and the gas laws. I already know the only potential benefit of a nitrogen fill is pressure stability. I also know that the only reason this exists at all is from the elimination of water vapor from the fill.

It hardly matters what you use to fill your tires (exceptions later) as long as you control the water vapor content. BUT the only reason this matters is if you are in conditions that will boil the water in your tires. Now let's think about that. That water isn't going to boil at the usual 212ºF. It can't. It's under pressure, which raises the boiling point. It's usually under about 2½-3 atmospheres of pressure, substantially raising the boiling point of that water. It might get to the requisite temperature under racing conditions and the very demands of racing might make the increased pressure a problem, but on the street, this is a non-starter. You aren't cornering with every last bit of rubber you can put down, so an extra psi is not going to make any difference in traction. Its effect on longevity would also be negligible (more likely beneficial). So let's turn to the other 'benefits'.

Molecular size? PFFFT! Nitrogen is less than 3% larger than oxygen (75 picometer molecular radius vs. 73 pm radius). Any holes in your tire that would allow oxygen, but not nitrogen, to escape would have to be exactly 74 picometers in size. Even then, oxygen molecules (two oxygen atoms bonded together in a 'dumbell' shape) would have to go through endwise or they'd bounce back. This would be like throwing a football through a hole that would allow it to pass through end-to-end, but not otherwise. If you want to play this game, at least go for argon, which is about 1/3 larger than nitrogen (97 pm ... but not covalent, so individual atoms only here). OTOH, helium is less than half the size of oxygen (32 pm) and we all know of its propensity to migrate out of rubber balloons overnight, don't we? This is because rubber's intermolecular structure normally does leave openings this large for the helium to pass. But it doesn't have them big enough for oxygen and air; otherwise we wouldn't use it for tires.

Pressure variation is completely independent of the gas involved. It doesn't matter whether it's nitrogen, oxygen, water vapor, argon, or plain old mixed-up air. All respond according to the gas laws. When the temperature goes up, the pressure of a closed system (your tire) goes up. When temperature goes down, pressure goes down. Fairly simple calculations, too.

Oxidation? Yes; nitrogen would retard internal oxidation but, as others have already mentioned, your tires don't degrade from the inside. The outsides are constantly bathed in oxygen as well as some even nastier trace gases that degrade them to the point that there's no traction left, regardless of what's inside. This, too, is of no measurable benefit.

The bottom line is, most nitrogen sellers bought into this BS and bought a $6,000 nitrogen generator and they now have to figure out how to pay for it. Selling these fables to consumers is how most of them do that.

[swall]

Some of the nitrogen mythology originates from race cars--gas supplier makes high pressure nitrogen cylinders available at the race track and teams don't need to hassle with a compressor and storage tanks. Gas supplier gets his name on the cars, which is good advertising for his welding gas business.

[freedom45]

So, 535is and Swall opine to the negative. They, in fact, may be correct, but, their opinions are countered by others in authorative positions who may also be correct.
This is exactly why I asked for those with experience with nitrogren to respond, to eliminate the theoretical and get the results from those that have used nitrogren.

I labor in a field in which many are prone to theoretical blather about the pros and cons of technical options. Field testing and repeatable results, only, give credence to a meaningful position on such subjects and these often are at variance with theory (which may simply mean that the theoretical input was inadequate or incomplete). In this case, I am not interested in untested opinions, although, I find them informative but fraught with preconceived positions. I have none.

Well, we have probably run the gamut on the subject to this point and I thank all those that have contributed. I have enlisted four other riders that are buying or recently have purchased identical replacement tires and they will fill with nitrogen. I expect we will have some "impressions" of the efficacy of nitrogen filled tires within a few months, at least from these four and myself. None of us hold opinions about results or benefits, but, summer is upon us, the roads are hot and a range of testing lies ahead. I'll post our conclusions, if any, as we compile them. We find this test interesting.

[hlothery]

It is hard to argue with a chemist about the established molecular sizes of oxygen vs nitrogen, or to label as theory scientific data which is established and proven. 535is's reasoning is the most cogent argument I have heard, and expresses eloquently what my feelings have been. A family member was hoodwinked into this business, and tried in vain to convince me of it's efficacy. Never panned out.....waste of time and money. That said, however, using nitrogen does not hurt anyone, and those convinced of it's efficacy should do so. :dunno

Back to :lurk

[kitze2]

Having access to free nitrogen, we use it by the tanker truck at work, I've used it in two different bikes and one pickup. My fill procedure was to mount the bike tires at home and bring them to work to seat the bead with pure nitrogen. I've done this with my street bike (2000 rt) and my track bike (2005 SV) using slicks and DOT race tires. I've attempted to note any improvements in traction, mileage, wear and thermal/pressure stability. Both on the street and on the track. Analyzing and accounting for all the variables (track temp, air temp, braking and traction force etc) is a truly Herculean task. But I tried. I used a high quality digital pressure gauge. An infrared pyrometer and a good digital anemometer/thermometer. Unfortunately I can't afford (at least not without selling both kidneys) any telemetry equipment on the bike. My findings? At my racing/riding level and with the equipment I have to gather hard data...I can't tell a hoot of difference on the track. Maybe if my name was Stoner or Rossi I would have the skills to feel a difference.
On the street with the infinitely increased variables. Any results are strictly anecdotal. And we all know the value of that kind of conclusion!
As to "leaking"...I ran nitrogen for about a year and a half and and never once had to add air! Unfortunately, I've been running regular old air for about a year now and also had to add no air.

I guess what it boils down to is...Go for it! It certainly won't hurt anything. And if it improves your comfort/confidence level that's all good! And if your experiment shows any improvement (or degradation) of performance please let us know. But please, please, please provide us with some data to work with. We don't want to ignite a never ending unsubstantiated air vs nitrogen debate to go along with the daily oil debate.

Although I think the oil thing is at last settled! After all we all know how much better our bikes run with a blend of imported, synthetic double boiled linseed and Bavarian woodpecker oil in the crankcase!

[hlothery]

After all we all know how much better our bikes run with a blend of imported, synthetic double boiled linseed and Bavarian woodpecker oil in the crankcase!

I just got this new Italian Olive Oil from my wine club purported to be perfect for BMW final drives......tested by Michael Schumacher.:whistle

[freedom45]

Conclusion: it was a fun experiment and involved several BMWs. For all the skeptics that posted to the matter, I now agree. It made no discernible difference. The best thing I got from the test were the neat valve caps and, of course, it provided the justification for several of us to hit the road; " . . . sorry, I've got to ride and test the tires. Again."

[AKBeemer]

I run nitrogen in my truck and car and it makes a big difference in one way. We park in a heated garage in the winter and the temperature difference between the garage (50 to 55 degrees) and the outside air (-35 to -40 degrees) can cause the pressure in the tires to vary a great deal. This plays havoc with the tire pressure sensors. The nitrogen is less susceptible to the changes in temperature and stopped the need for my wife to take her 4Runner in to have the tire pressure monitor reset. It works well for that.

I put it in my bike tires once; it was a waste of money. No difference in performance and I still felt I needed to check the pressure regularly. Since the volume of a bike tire is small all it takes is a little fumble with the gage and you've lost 3-4 pounds of pressure. What do you do? Put air in; and soon your $15 worth of nitrogen is wafting in the ozone.

[BubbaZanetti]

I just got this new Italian Olive Oil from my wine club purported to be perfect for BMW final drives......tested by Michael Schumacher.:whistle

I was gonna say, you haven't lived till you've filled your tires with one of the nobel gases. I prefer xenon myself.:thumb

[RoboRider]

I gave nitrogen a go in my trailer since I thought it would be nice if they held pressure over the years. I found they still lost pressure. I can't say more, less or the same as regular air from my compressor, but they still needed to be topped off.

That then became a pain in the butt. I had "free refills" but who wants to drive to the Nitrogen place to fill tires? And if it is Sunday and they are closed, what do you do? The answer? I just punted and refilled with air. I therefore found no advantage to N2.

For my BMW, I find the tire pressure with regular air to be very stable. I go on a week long trip and don't need to add air. And again, if I did, I don't want to hunt down an N2 filler. They'd charge me as well since they wouldn't be the original supplier.

Air works fine. And as the chemistry teacher says, PV=nRT. Pressure is directly proportional to the temperature and is not dependent on the gas. I've read that N2 CONDUCTS heat better than O2, and thus the tire will stay cooler, but I have my doubts on this. Maybe if you are Rossi and dragging a knee, but a street rider, forget it.

[Motor31]

Having nitrogen in the tire won't help cooling. It's the rubber in the tire that heats up either through soaking up solar radiated heat or by flexing of the tire compound as it works. Since the nitrogen is trapped inside the tire and does not circulate to the outside to transfer heat there is no way it could then help cool the tire. Heat leaves the tire through thermal transfer to the OUTSIDE not the inside of the tire.

Ya know what happens when you build up heat inside an enclosed space? It gets hot there and does not cool the inside of the space because there is gas there. Think oven, it vents heat through transferring it to the outside by way of heat conduction of the walls, top and bottom surfaces. Same for the tire. You could get better cooling for the tire by having plenty of heat transferring surface area on the rim. Adding lots of fins on the rim next to the tire would do far more for cooling the tire than what you put in it.

[RoboRider]

What I read was the N2 Conducts heat better than O2. Therefore, pulling heat from the tire from the inside and transferring the heat to the metal rim, where cooling takes place. Sort of like filling the tire with water which would REALLY conduct heat from the tire to the wheel.

I'm just saying what I heard/read, I still think it is pure BS.

If the molecular size is the reason N2 is supposed to be good, why not fill it with a very large gaseous molecule? I would expect CO2 to be MUCH larger than either O2 or N2. Of course there's also large hydrocarbons like Butane, but I guess that could be a problem! No smoking! But there are certainly large non flammable molecules available. CO2 is cheap.

[rocketman]

What I read was the N2 Conducts heat better than O2. Therefore, pulling heat from the tire from the inside and transferring the heat to the metal rim, where cooling takes place. Sort of like filling the tire with water which would REALLY conduct heat from the tire to the wheel.

I'm just saying what I heard/read, I still think it is pure BS.

If the molecular size is the reason N2 is supposed to be good, why not fill it with a very large gaseous molecule? I would expect CO2 to be MUCH larger than either O2 or N2. Of course there's also large hydrocarbons like Butane, but I guess that could be a problem! No smoking! But there are certainly large non flammable molecules available. CO2 is cheap.

But think of the enviornmental damage if you have a flat and it leaks out! :laugh

(sorry, couldn't resist, and yes I am an envirnmental type, but there IS a limit! Other's poke fun at me at times, so why can't I?)

RM

[RoboRider]

Hah, good one! How about Ozone? Wait, that's bad, too, right?

[hlothery]

But think of the enviornmental damage if you have a flat and it leaks out! :laugh

RM

Or if you exhale. Stop unnecessary exhaling!

BTW, I put nitrogen in my tires. I get it for free, along with the oxygen and whatever else is near when I run my pump. Most of our atmosphere is made up of it. So, if oxygen is the only thing that can leak out, why do tires go completely flat?:scratch

[AKBeemer]

Or if you exhale. Stop unnecessary exhaling!

BTW, I put nitrogen in my tires. I get it for free, along with the oxygen and whatever else is near when I run my pump. Most of our atmosphere is made up of it. So, if oxygen is the only thing that can leak out, why do tires go completely flat?:scratch

You are thinking way too hard.

[MotorradMike]

At least you guys have a choice.
I suffer from severe allergic reaction to Nitrogen, even a slow leak from a pin hole could be a serious problem.
I have to avoid it whenever possible.

[35634]

At least you guys have a choice.
I suffer from severe allergic reaction to Nitrogen, even a slow leak from a pin hole could be a serious problem.
I have to avoid it whenever possible.

100% is fatal to most everyone. I'm curious to find out how you avoid the 70% that's in the atmosphere all the time :scratch

[MotorradMike]

100% is fatal to most everyone. I'm curious to find out how you avoid the 70% that's in the atmosphere all the time :scratch

Nitrogen filters.
Available at all home improvement centers.
70% effective.

[535is]

I run nitrogen in my truck and car and it makes a big difference in one way. We park in a heated garage in the winter and the temperature difference between the garage (50 to 55 degrees) and the outside air (-35 to -40 degrees) can cause the pressure in the tires to vary a great deal. This plays havoc with the tire pressure sensors. The nitrogen is less susceptible to the changes in temperature and stopped the need for my wife to take her 4Runner in to have the tire pressure monitor reset. It works well for that.

P1/T1 = P2/V2

P1 = original pressure (any units)
T1 = original temperature (absolute)
P2 = final pressure
T2 = final temperature

There is no way nitrogen has any influence on that equation. The pressure in your tires will vary a great deal regardless of what you fill them with. If you keep a log of temperatures vs. tire pressures for a statistically significant amount of tests and prove that nitrogen makes one bit of difference, I'll be stunned.

[35634]

P1/T1 = P2/V2

P1 = original pressure (any units)
T1 = original temperature (absolute)
P2 = final pressure
T2 = final temperature

There is no way nitrogen has any influence on that equation. The pressure in your tires will vary a great deal regardless of what you fill them with. If you keep a log of temperatures vs. tire pressures for a statistically significant amount of tests and prove that nitrogen makes one bit of difference, I'll be stunned.

Thank you for posting that. I wanted to say something to that effect, but people just don't look to rubber chickens for physics lessons. :D

[Trickster]

There is a value to nitrogen in tires. Otherwise aircraft mechanics would apparently have been just "screwing around" for using it in aircraft.

The point is......less variation in psi in relation to temperature.
Thats it.
No magical molecular size difference, temperature advantages, less leaking, etc.

Unless u plan on riding in extreme sub zero temps, don't bother, but it is a good excuse to say "gotta get out and ride Honey, the gang is testing our tires":thumb

The best product for motorcycle tires......DRY air.

When you fill your tires, first put the air chuck near the ground, depress the valve, and see how much if any moisture comes out, water in tires will heat up.:nono

[ltljohn]

Here is a link to a nitrogen FAQ the best I have seen, it should answer all or the questions.

http://home.comcast.net/~prestondrake/N2_for_tires_FAQ.htm

[rocketman]

You are thinking way too hard.

Or breathing too hard ? :lol

I know I am!

RM

[jamesdunn]

Using nitrogen in tires is not only impractical it is unnecessary. Though not an out and out fraud it comes close. Why pay for nitrogen when air is free ( usually, or at least very cheap) and when dry ( as noted ), just fine. Like the old axiom states, "There's a sucker born every minute".
JD

[Motor31]

Nitrogen is used in aircraft hydraulics as it is an inert gas for interaction with hydraulic fluid. It's also convenient to put in tires as there is usually a tank of nitrogen (on wheels) to take and fill tires with rather than taxi to the hanger to use the compressor for tires. It's not a requirement to fill tires with it. I used it on those times that it was convenient rather than anything else as far as tires are concerned. It has no magical qualities other than being inert and will not sustain fire.

Nitrogen does not make the tire run smoother, cooler, quieter, longer, prettier, faster or slower nor does it hold pressure any better.



There is a value to nitrogen in tires. Otherwise aircraft mechanics would apparently have been just "screwing around" for using it in aircraft.

The point is......less variation in psi in relation to temperature.
Thats it.
No magical molecular size difference, temperature advantages, less leaking, etc.

Unless u plan on riding in extreme sub zero temps, don't bother, but it is a good excuse to say "gotta get out and ride Honey, the gang is testing our tires":thumb

The best product for motorcycle tires......DRY air.

When you fill your tires, first put the air chuck near the ground, depress the valve, and see how much if any moisture comes out, water in tires will heat up.:nono

[hlothery]

The point is......less variation in psi in relation to temperature.


Interestingly, I have an aftermarket TPMS on my Wing. It is very interesting to see the cold tire inflation pressure set exactly (by tire pressure gauge) at 39 front, 41 rear change as the day progresses. Park in the sun, tire pressures go up 5-7 degrees. Ride the twisties on a hot day, front 49, back 52. Amazing temperature changes. That <30% oxygen in my tires sure does make em vary! (tongue firmly in cheek). :whistle

[MWIECK]

I saw a commercial where Shell was spouting the advantages of their nitrogen enriched gasolines. Can I just put Shell gas in my tires? Regular or Premium?

[35634]

Regular is good unless you have high compression tires. Check your manual.

[Motor31]

With the shell gas in the tire it's a good idea to check for leaks with a match....:brad

[hlothery]

With the shell gas in the tire it's a good idea to check for leaks with a match....:brad

If you use high octane gas, at least you can retard the explosion!

[35634]

Great idea with the match. I use hydrogen in my tires (for lighter steering) and an open flame would be the perfect way to check for leaks!