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

[Mark Hooper]

Guinness is good for you; Makes you strong...

-----Original Message-----
From: triumphs-bounces+mhooper=digiscreen.ca at autox.team.net
[mailto:triumphs-bounces+mhooper=digiscreen.ca at autox.team.net] On Behalf
Of Glenn A. Merrell
Sent: July 25, 2007 4:46 PM
To: Triumph Sports car discussion
Subject: Re: [TR] [6pack] Inflating Tires w/ Nitrogen? THINK PEOPLE

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!
_______________________________________________
mhooper at digiscreen.ca

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