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Re: [TR] [6pack] Inflating Tires w/ Nitrogen? THINK PEOPLE

To: Triumph Sports car discussion <triumphs@autox.team.net>
Subject: Re: [TR] [6pack] Inflating Tires w/ Nitrogen? THINK PEOPLE
From: "Glenn A. Merrell" <StagByTriumph@tscusa.org>
Date: Wed, 25 Jul 2007 14:45:49 -0600
Paige, Dean wrote:
> Considering that the atmosphere is 79% nitrogen I don't believe that a
> great deal of ventilation is necessary.
>
> Deano
>
>
> Hi,
>
> Nitrogen from a tank is very DRY, so when your tire wamrs up, you don't
> get a ton of pressure build-up. Depending on the tires you run and the
> pressures that you run at, this can make a HUGE difference in handling.
>
> I do not use nitrogen, but I've given it serious thought. The only
> downside is that a tank from the gas company or welding supply isn't
> exactly free, but it's enough to fill your tire many times and even run
> the occasional air tool, if you have the need.
>
> Use in well ventilated places!
>   
Come on people, think here.

The air coming out of my compressor goes through a dryer before I use 
it. Not 100% dry, but at least I am not spewing water into my tires, and 
paint jobs. 
Earth gas atmosphere is about 79% nitrogen, 21% oxygen.  So what some 
are saying here, is that eliminating the 21% of oxygen in a tire gas 
eliminates 100% of the heat up and expansion?

PaLEEZE!!  Does anyone remember their basic science and physics?  
Nitrogen is a gas.  It's properties react just like most of the other 
gases in the periodic table.  It  can and does conduct heat to some degree.

When heated, it EXPANDS!  When it is cooled, it CONTRACTS!  When it is 
super cooled, it LIQUEFIES into a liquid.  When super heated, it turns 
into plasma.

Nitrogen also does not exclude oxygen per se, but it if you purge a 
confined space or say a weld arc metal pool with nitrogen you push out 
the other air containing O2.  So the only way you can suffocate by using 
it is if you build yourself into a sealed box and purge it with 
nitrogen, or you fill your SCUBA tank with it and breathe it 
exclusively. Nitrogen will also not exclude moisture that is already in 
place.

When a tire is mounted on a wheel at the tire shop, guess what, it is 
full of non compressed air from the air atmosphere around the tire of 
the tire shop which is 79% nitrogen and 21% oxygen or probably less 
ratios and 5-10% CO.  In order to eliminate the O2 from the tire, you 
have to evacuate or purge the tire before filling it with nitrogen.  
Exactly HOW do you do that considering there is only one schrader valve 
for air to enter or exit?  The answer is you need a special valve and a 
special air chuck that are not installed on tires or at tire shops.

Yes, compressed 100% nitrogen is indeed dry.  This is supposedly why 
racers use it because it eliminates moisture that can accumulate in the 
tire and create an out of balance condition at high speeds - in theory.

As far as nitrogen extending the life of the tire that is snake oil 
bunk.  When was the last time you saw a tire dry rot from the inside 
out??  Over 50% of the tire is exposed to atmosphere, full light 
spectrum including IR and UV, road contaminates, road abrasives and 
chemicals, etc.  As has been said, useful tire compound life is about 6 
years in most cases.

So the only nitrogen you need to be concerned about is the stuff your 
breathe and the stuff they use to make your beer smooth and frothy.

-- 
Glenn A. Merrell
Chairman, Triumph Stag Club USA (2007-2009)
The best trophies are miles on the odometer, stone chips in the paint, dead 
bugs on the windshield!
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