Nitrogen Instead of Air in Your Tires

[guest]

I've been reading about this and as crazy as it sounds at first, it makes perfect sense when you understand the reasons for it. First, the air we breathe is about 78% nitrogen, but the other 22% is what promotes higher tire operating temperatures, oxidation of the tire and migration of the air in the tire to the outside, which apparently occurs, in part, by a gradual "soaking" of the air through the rubber itself. The bottom line is nitrogen inflation causes tires to hold their pressure longer, run cooler, and dramatically slows down the tire oxidation process.

Apparently there are quite a few places to get nitrogen inflation, among them Costco, for something like $5 a tire. I don't know if they would do truck tires for that or not.

Here a few websites discussing nitrogen tire inflation that I ran accross:

http://www.trucktires.com/us_eng/library/publications/periodicals/RealAnswers/03v8iss3/ra8.asp

http://www.tirelast.com/id15.html

http://www.tirelast.com/id5.html

http://www.mtdealer.com/t_inside.cfm?action=art_det&storyID=1207

Pretty neat stuff.

 

[davekc]

I think there is some truth to this.
We have the run flats on a corvette and they are filled with nitrogen. Our concern was rust on the chrome wheels.
It is garaged a large percentage of the time but heavy salt air with living on the ocean trashes anything metal in a hurry.

It would benefit trucking if enough locations install the equipment.

Davekc

 

[guest]

Dave, the biggest concern people seem to have is the availability of nitrogen when you are on the road, but it seems to me that if you added a little normal air as needed to a tire filled with nitrogen it shouldn't be problematic. If the nitrogen is working as advertised, keeping the tires at or near pressure should not require much additional air. Since regular air is mostly nitrogen anyway, you are not going to lower your nitrogen concentration much by adding regular air.

 

[davekc]

The other issue would be the equipment to get the PSI around 100 lbs or higher.
The car is 35lbs. PSI
It would be the same equipment, just on a bigger scale. I quess when using a compressor, you would need a tank in which to draw from.
It appears by your links, there is more to it.
When I had this done, they had a seperate compressor and tank for filling car tires.

Davekc

 

[rode2rouen]

Lots of go kart racers use dry nitrogen, the main benefit in this application is pressures remaining uniform throughout a race.

Adding any air to the tire will negate any benefits.

Contact a welding supply house for info on sizes of bottles available and a nirogen regulator. IIRC, a full nitrogen bottle has approx. 3000psi on tap.


Rex

 

[dukesadog]

Most Mining operations use Nitrogen in their off road equipment tires, especially where its hot, like Florida etc. All of the Chaulk mining operations in Georgia use Nitrogen in their equipment tires.

I know one thing, at 10 grand a tire for some of that equipment...you want them to last.

dukesadog

 

[LDB]

This is one of the things I've been thinking of for a long time. If I could find a place that could get the right inflation I'd do it. I'm going to ask the commercial tire outfit near home next time I'm back in case they are doing it. It's a little too expensive to get into as an individual although the units are out there as these show.

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/...?storeId=6970&productId=200307841&R=200307841

http://www.alltiresupply.com/Mercha...Code=MDMHI-F9A1AK810C1&Category_Code=NTIS_IIS

Leo
truck 4958

Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.

 

[rode2rouen]

Leo,

Either of those linked set ups would be "slightly" excessive for an O/O.
Getting a bottle and regulator at the welding supply store and having it refilled as needed would be considerably more economical not to mention more portable (as in you could carry it on the truck).


Rex

 

[guest]

Would the bottle from the welding supply place have the moisture removed? Also, would it be legal to carry a pressureized bottle of nitrogen on your truck without placards? I just don't remember if any quantity of pressurized gas requires placarding or if there is a minimum amount.

 

[rode2rouen]

FM,

The purpose of inert welding gasses such as Argon, Helium, Nitrogen, etc. is to allow the weld to be shielded from the atmosphere (we're talking arc welding) to preclude oxidation and the resulting weakening of the weld.

Any gas of this nature is a "dry" gas. A lab-grade would be drier. Fewer PPM of any other atmospheric component. For tires, welding grade would be sufficient. Also, don't forget to evacuate the air from the tire before adding the nitrogen.

As to toting a cylinder on the truck, nitrogen is a Class 2 Division 2.2 Non-Flammable Gas requiring a placard be displayed only when transporting 1001+ lbs. including the container. A 100cu.ft. cylinder weighs less than 100 lbs.

It would seem prudent to display some type of alert so that emergency response personnel would be aware of it's presence. The cylinder would have to be securely mounted and when not being used, the regulator should be removed and the steel safety cap installed over the valve.


Rex

 

[LDB]

Yes, they are pricey. I put them just for people to see a system not as something they'd run out and buy.

Leo
truck 4958

Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.

 

[tazman]

I have an idea
Any investors interested ????


What about setting up an add-on service business...using a utility body truck and a portable compressor....add the IR nitrogen unit and offer the service at Truck Stops and travel to small fleet operators..
(like at night) Converting their rubber over to nitrogen fill.


You could charge say $4-5/tire and do an inspection while the work is being done....give the customer a printout of the tires and their condition.

Do about 200 tires a week and you would pay for the unit in about 3 months........

I have a friend that started a mobile hydraulic hose repair business 3 years ago and now has retired at 45 years !!! With 3 truck on the road........

You never know ....

Frank in Pa.

"The Beast in the East"