So I traded the 4500 and got a half ton for my better half to drive. She said that the tire pressure dinger goes off in the morning and says low tires. In the day its fine. I explained to her about how the cold weather affects the tire pressure etc. I got the call today from my salesman seeing how I liked the truck and was telling him about it. He said at the dealership they put nitrogen in there tires and this helps with the tire pressure so that it stays constant. This supposably helps tire wear and fuel mileage. When doing this do you fill the whole tire with nitrogen or just half and half. I guess what im asking is how in the crap do you do it.

 

Call around to the tire shops, some offer it.

I'd just check the air pressure, go a little closer to max. The temp should not affect it that much, what is the tempature range?

 

Sorry, but to me, nitrogen in auto or truck tires is a bit of a scam. Sure, there are some advantages, IN THEORY, but in reality?
Can anybody show me a clear and distinct advantage to have nitrogen in a car or truck tire? Something that can be measured.

 

I've always wondered how nitrogen could have the big of an impact considering air is already 78% nitrogen.

 

Not really. I think it's really just a scam.

We use Nitrogen in aircraft tires (I'm in the Marine Aviation community), the tempature ranges are very signfigant, and the impact pressures are amazing...

Same thing in racing, it's for the temp changes. Google why they use nitrogen in tires, you'll get your info.

Like I said, I'd go closer to max. Reset the sensor.

 

My background is aviation, so understand why it is used in aircraft or racing tires. But for cars and trucks??????

 

it does help in the heavy haulers and a lot of the truck stops offer it. i do not use it in my pickups but i do on the trailer that i haul my backhoe with.

 

my main problem with it was that i change pressure when towing or hauling...wouldn't want to have to go somewhere and pay to change PSI or buy a set up to do it at home...

 

The air you breath already consists of: roughly 78% nitrogen, 20.95% oxygen, 0.93% argon, 0.038% carbon dioxide, trace amounts of other gases, and a variable amount (average around 1%) of water vapor.


Your tires already have a lot of nitrogen in them ...

(Not a very good first post, sorry about that.)

 

Along with the smaller range of expansion with temp changes, I thought that the nitrogen molecules are larger or something so can't leech out over time like normal air can. Half-truth scam?

 

Air is 79% nitrogen, 20% qxigene, and 1% everything else. Don't get taken by the "Nitrogen is wonderful" hype.

 

I believe the only thing about using nitrogen is that it is very dry and less expensive than other gasses. The dewpoint is somewhere around -50 or -70 (very dry) compaired to compressed air ( probably 40 *F). Less moisture the smaller gas expansion under heat. Moist air is less dense than dry air. I remember having to figure density altitude for flying tests . I wanted to burn gas not sit in a desk syphering (sp) takeoff rolls, .
I don't worry about it, I'm very happy with compressed air.

 

Nitrogen's only advantages are :
1)It comes in bottles where it is very dry: compressed air contains variable amounts of water vapor, which somewhat accelerates corrosion inside steel rims (won't affect mags);
2)Nitrogen is inert and doesn't react with the rubber of tires. It is also said to have a slower rate of permeation through the rubber.
But since air is already 80% nitrogen, using pure nitrogen only brings a small improvement.

Internal corrosion of steel rims due to using air is a very limited problem, and most of the time EXTERNAL corrosion will deteriorate rims much faster, because the outside environment has much more moisture, air, sun, salt, name it!
Actual pressure loss from the air's oxygen (20% of air) permeating through, or reacting with the tire is a negligible issue (for cars and trucks) and is easily dealt with by checking tire pressure once in a while.
I've had some tires filled with air that have kept steady pressure for a year or more... so air can't be THAT bad!
Long-term pressure losses are mostly due to imperfect sealing of the bead and valve, porosity of the rim, and tire defects/punctures.
Nitrogen won't help with those.


Claims about nitrogen having less thermal expansion are pure and simple B.S. All gases obey Charle's Law when it comes to thermal expansion/contraction. Nitrogen expands and contracts just as much as pure oxygen, air, or any other gas.
Filling your tires with nitrogen won't change anything to the fact that they will have lower pressure when cold.

For cars and trucks, nitrogen filling is mostly a scam.
IMHO, it's even dangerous, because it gives drivers a false sense of security, thinking they don't need to check tire pressure.

 

Most automotive nitrogen fills use an osmotic processor. Similar to a water purifier that goes on your tap. Depending on the setting, it can be pretty pure nitrogen or set lower, more other gasses predominantly argon if I remember correctly. Compressed air is forced through the processor and other gasses are exhausted out. Much more waste gas than nitrogen. Not due to percentage, but due to design. These machines usually cost about $5000+

Yes it dissipates less, yes it reacts less with the rubber. but the main issue is that it has more cushion. It's pressure is less affected by outside forces. Keep in mind your rating on your tires is based on the pressure "cold" take a drive and the pressure comes up slightly.

Nitrogen is used in many applications that take advantage of nitrogen's compressability. Shocks most notably, but also plumbing pressure tanks and the like. It is definitely superior.

Different gasses will expand proportionally, but the force curve that can be exerted on them varies dramatically. Nitrogen has a much broader curve than most other gasses.

Worth the hassle in a pickup truck? I can't say. I don't run it, but I wouldn't personally hassle with it. Absolutely should top off with regular air if you get low. Low pressure causes excessive flex in the sidewall which causes friction in the plies which are usually polyester in light truck tires. The friction eventually gets hot enough to melt the poly. The rubber won't hold the pressure so you get a sidewall blowout.

 

I run Nitrogen in all my tires, I pull up to 26,000 lbs GCVW. You can say what you want to but try running in Arizona in August and lay your hand on the tire. You will then have your answer. I do get better wear and fuel mileage.