December 20, 2006
One thing I've learned from driving a car for nearly 100,000 miles is that the tires wear out at the same rate regardless of the "quality" of the tire. I think the original factory tires (typically of middle to low quality so the manufacturer saves some money) lasted the longest of my tire purchases (all of which were Michelin 75,000 mile tires). Part of this is my fault because the roads in Alabama are full of potholes and I did not take my car in for regular front-end alignments.
So my tires needed replacing recently and my latest purchase was a mid-range tire. The guy at the tire place was an excellent salesman because he talked me into paying $20 to fill the tires with nitrogen. I left the tire store feeling like an idiot, as if I had just bought twenty bucks worth of air. But after driving on the nitrogen-filled tires, I can see what my money paid for. The ride is smoother. The air inside the tires does not expand and contract with temperature changes, and the tires do not need rebalancing because the nitrogen doesn't leak out. This means I don't have to worry about stopping at a service station to fill my tires with air, the tires won't wear unevenly, and the properly inflated tires will improve my car's gas mileage.
Of course this led me to wonder if anyone in the world of pro cycling uses nitrogen to inflate bicycle tires.
Posted by megabeth at December 20, 2006 08:34 AM
I hate to be a nay-sayer... but it is possible the ride is better due to balanced, front end aligned tires with tread on them and in good condition. This sounds like one for the MythBusters TV show.
Posted by: Outlaw3 at December 20, 2006 10:03 AM
I think this article presents the issue fairly:
http://www.sptimes.com/2005/09/28/Tampabay/Nitrogen_in_your_tire.shtml
To summarize, nitrogen provides even inflation for tires over a long period of time. It's not needed if you check your tires regularly.
To be honest with you, I have never used a tire gauge or filled my tires with air at the service station. I get them balanced every 6000 miles - the last time I had them balanced they said the air pressure in one of my tires was so low that I would have had a flat in a couple of days. I should elaborate on the meaning of 6000 miles to me - that is SIX months of driving since I don't put a lot of miles on my car.
$20 is worth it to me because I don't have time to sit around at a gas station putting air in my tires.
Posted by: megabeth at December 20, 2006 10:35 AM
Well, call me doubtful, but since air is already 78% nitrogen and most of the other articles I have read say it's hokum/urban legend, I am not inclined to go with the really really small diameter increase in the Nitrogen molecule prevents it from seeping out of a rubber tire more than the average air molecules. I guess the test is to drive for 6 months and then check air pressure? I have gone to visual inspection of the tires for odd bulges or more droop on the radials than usual, plus checks at oil changes.
Posted by: Outlaw3 at December 21, 2006 07:08 AM
And, as you will remember from your N.O. days, you can mix it with oxygen and inhale to much ensuing hilarity. At least that's what I remember from my first trip to Bourbon Street.
Posted by: rankin' rob at December 21, 2006 08:23 AM
Hahahahaha that cracked me up. If I need a buzz I'll get it from my tires. The tire store will wonder why I keep stopping by for a refill.
I will get someone to check the tire pressure in 6,000 miles to see if there is any loss. I don't even know how to do that.
Posted by: megabeth at December 21, 2006 08:29 AM