Nitrongen in tyres - first hand exp? safe?

[sydmonster]

I know of some of the benefits for Nitrongen in cars tires. (Though my cage isn't worth it. )
However is Nitrogen a safe option for bike tyres? Is it viable & does any one have first hand experiance. Pros/Cons. 
Rise & change in temps last few days have made pressure check an every ride thing and want to have something more consistant...  [moto]
(Well if i have to put up with an unusually swety neather reagion, i might aswell invest in a quality ride whilst doing so....  )
cheers gang - Chris

[Jukie]

we do the nitrogen in the car , it is suppose to stop the tyre deflating etc. and we use it when we are diving,  but have never used it in on the bikes

[Betty]

The red dust caps don't go with the colour scheme on my bike, so no FHE.

[pigmy]

chris, i would guess there wont be a significant change in your tyres performance with n2.maybe a slightly less temp rise against press.
air has 78% n2 so unless you are going to do some important endurance/experiment around australia its not worth the money.
having said that i would safely bet that using n2 in your bikes tyres will have no detrimental effects to ones safety as well.
the reason i arced up about this well i have been changing aircraft tyres for 26 years now and thats what we use to fill the tyres.... 

[brimo]

The  advantage of nitrogen is that it has a lower coefficient of expansion than air so your tyre pressure varies less with the changes in temperature, so if your not inflating an aircraft tyre (where temperature extremes are pretty big) ,or going racing it's not much use. Just costs you money, you'd be better off with just checking your pressures regularly and remember that tyre pressures in your manual are for cold tyres, so allow a couple of psi for a hot tyre.
As for stopping the tyre deflating, umm...no.

[Betty]

As for stopping the tyre deflating, umm...no.

Interesting. The theory is that just as nitrogen is more stable from a temperature point of view, the size of the molecules contribute to less pressure loss during normal operation.

Also due to filtration (they take the oxygen out somewhere) you may end up with a 'drier' gas as opposed to slightly moist air. Advantages? Bonus?

According to the pressure sensors in the car, there has been far less pressure loss over the last +/- 30,000km using Nitrogen compared to air used beforehand.

Just costs you money

Chris, if you are that interested ... pay the < $15 and give it a try.

[brimo]

Worth a read
http://www.racq.com.au/motoring_advice/about_your_car/car_factsheets/nitrogen_for_tyres

Interesting. The theory is that just as nitrogen is more stable from a temperature point of view, the size of the molecules contribute to less pressure loss during normal operation.

.

okay I stand corrected on that point.

So it appears that oxygen molecules being smaller, permeate the rubber of the tyre leaving the nitrogen behind, therefore over time, as you continually top up your tyres the concentration of nitrogen rises, eventually you would have near pure nitrogen in your tyres any way so why pay for it. 
But seriously folks as  per the drying idea, when you compress air, water naturally is removed so you're filling with pretty dry air anyway.
If you reckon it helps then go for it, but there ain't no substitute for regular pressure checks with an accurate gauge.

[dragonworld.]

a BIG +1 on the tyre and tyre pressure checks Brimo !! 

Along with the chain these are an often neglected part of the vehicle. 

When I was doing the rider trainer thing, we used to do a quick once over on all customers bikes bought to the school to be used for training/testing, as we used to do when the Guvmint (Vic Roads ) used to do before we got "Jeffed".

And without a word of a lie I reckon that in more than 95% of cases the tyre pressures were in a dangerously LOW range, occasionally high 'cos the rider reckoned that the tyre pressure was on the side of the tyre  !! (Max Inflation pressure!)

Its no good having the best car or bike with the best tyres that money can buy and not putting bloody air/nitrogen in the tyres, it aint hard, DUH.

[Betty]

Thanks Brimo ... I almost missed the lin in your post ... that provides a good summary.

I think most of the claimed advantages of nitrogen can be related back to less pressure loss as the 'average' motorist simply does not check their pressures often enough, at the right time or with accurate equipment ... so the more stable gas means better tyre wear, etc, etc ... brilliant marketting.

But seriously folks as  per the drying idea, when you compress air, water naturally is removed

I am intrigued by this however, how is the water naturally removed?

From a diving perspective, my understanding is, the trickiest bit about compressed 'breathing' gas is ensuring that 'enough' moisture is removed to prevent damage to breathing apparatus components ... and I would hope the compressors in these systems would be better than your average servo or $100 supercheap compressor that most people would use.

(and what Dragon said ... while I was typing)

[dragonworld.]

Hey Betty !! And I only use two fingers on the keyboard. 

I'm a blur when I'm typing..........................................NOT!!   

[Betty]

Hey Betty !! And I only use two fingers on the keyboard. 

I'm a blur when I'm typing..........................................NOT!!   

Fingers hey, I'll have to try that ... thumbs don't seem to be the answer

(got distracted part way through, then lost what I had typed and had to start again)

[brimo]

Not sure of the exact science behind it but when you compress air, the water does precipitate. The higher the pressure the more precipitation, to a degree anyway. That's why your compressor has a drain on the bottom of the tank.
Industrial compressors have additional dryers (as do diving compressors), usually using a dessicant but if they're really flash they use  a refrigerated heat exchanger.

So yeah, if your using a little low pressure supacheap type your not removing any moisture at all, same as a hand pump. There's also the possibility I guess with the cheaper compressors you are getting oil blowing past the rings and you are shooting that into your tyres too and that can't be any good for them.

[Betty]

Aha, understand.

Got a bit confused as I was thinking you were suggesting the condensed water magically disappeared.

[loony888]

and we use it when we are diving

diving jukie?
muff diving??
fnaar fnaarrr fnaarrrr


oh, i know nothing about nitrogen in tyres.............so i'm leaving..............err, now?


paul.

[Jukie]

loony get you mind out of the gutter scubadiving silly
you rude rude boy