Nitrogen filled tires question

[Fry]

@Fry

IIRC an oxygen molecule is 3 angstroms “square” whereas a nitrogen molecule is 4.3 angstroms by 3 angstroms, hence it’s not supposed to permeate through the rubber as fast as oxygen. In theory.

For a street car, filling the tires with nitrogen at a tire shop is horse shit IMHO. You’re starting with 78% nitrogen. Going up higher via grease monkey tire shop technique isn’t going to net you much of an increase.

HOWEVER

Any nitrogen production technique I know of will dry the living hell out of it (well south of -50*F dewpoints), which is good because a lot of the expansion from heating a tire is caused by the water vapor in the air in your tire.

All that being said, you will never see me pay to put nitrogen in my tires.

Although I am tempted to slap together a PSA nitrogen generator and offer nitrogen filling services at tracks days and autocrosses, where it actually could make a difference. Hmm…

@Nikuk

umm… how did no one mention that measly old atmospheric “air” is 78% comprised of nitrogen?

It’s OK. It was buried in the first response. :zong: