Nitrogen filled tires...

Just wondering how it does this and how much it impacts mileage and tire life?

Is it because of being lighter than air, or other?

 

When I bought my used Toyota Tacoma the tires were filled with nitrogen. Unfortunately the town I live in no one supplies nitrogen. So when my low level indicator came on I had to add regular air. Just installed new tires and I am back to air. I would prefer to run nitrogen but unavailability kills it for me.

Here is an article on it. http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/how-to/repair-questions/4302788

 

Thanks for the article. Did not know about migration through rubber. Did not think about internal pressures based on nitogren being more stable with tire temperature changes.

So the $$ savings in mileage and tire life is basically based on the fact that a nitrogen filled tire is more apt to provide better internal pressure stability because it is dry gas (zero water content) and is not impacted as much by temperature changes.

 

Several years ago i helped out a guy with his car at a local race track. Nearly all the cars run nitrogen in the tires. Handling can change with 1 psi change. As has been said, the nitrogen is much steadier psi. So it is a way to help keep handling more predictable, on the track.

 

Told my local bridgestone dealer I wanted nitrogen in my new tires. He laughed at me. For what new rubber costs we should have the option.

 

I read a posting a while back where the guy figured after a few top-ups, the tire is pretty much nitrogen filled any way. His reasoning was, after the 22% of small molecule gasses seeped away through the casing, 78% of the 22% top-up was nitrogen. After a few top-ups the 22% would be such a small amount of the total, that it would be virtually nitrogen filled.

 

Costco will do car tires, not sure about large cars.