Nitrogen in tyres?

[TheMechwarrior]

Anyone running nitrogen?

I was just discussing my new TPMS (purchased thanks to all the positive comments I've seen in here posted by Diesel) with a collegue at work and he mentioned filling his bike tyres with nitrogen for about $5 each and not having to worry about tyre pressures for ages aside from a puncture.

Does anyone have any experience with this?

Cheers,

Mech.

[Brock]

Unless you evacuate the tyre first, and then re inflate with nitrogen then its a wasted effort. There is no real advantage in inflating a tyre with nitrogen, air is 80% nitrogen anyway and its free.

[Diesel]

Hi Mech - nitrogen is a lot better in many respects than air (less conducive to compression, more stable at diff temps etc).

I may try it (if I find where to get it) one day - but as it doesn't expand like air as it warms - I'd have to rethink what my STARTING (cold) tyre pressure would be - so as to enjoy all the good handling benefits when it is at operating temp.

For example - my air filled tyre pressure may reach up to 50psi when hot - but nitrogen would only get it to 44psi - perhaps a noticeable difference when grinding the hero pegs down a little.       

You will see the difference (particularly living in Tassie) when you get your TPMS as to the differences in tyre pressures between cold and hot. Pls do a report when you have some info on this for us.

I'm interested to see others' comments on this too.   

Cheers, Diesel

[Nh478m]

There's a few places over here offer it and some people swear by it. They reckon tyres run a lot cooler so wear less quickly and maintain a known level of grip. As N2 is supposedly dry the amount of damp in tyres which is known to be a killer over time, is vastly reduced. The comment about pressure stability is true so you should be able to set your pressures by trial and error to suit your handling preferences and they should stay where you put them.

Only real downside seems to be that, if you do get a flat, when the tyre is inflated after repair with air as a stopgap measure, and as Brock correctly pointed out, the tyre must be properly evacuated and dried before it is refilled with N2.

Good luck and for one, I'd be very interested in a report posting if you go ahead with it.

[Sabie]

Unless your riding at 30,000 feet I see no real advantage.