Nitrogen and tire pressure???

6553 Views 19 Replies 13 Participants Last post by ISF MA, Jan 8, 2009

drdoug75

Discussion Starter · Dec 30, 2008

Hey everybody! I recently bought a red/black isf brand new and am loving it! I have now finished with the pirma plate/3m bra/ and ipod put in. The last time I was at the dealer I noticed they were offering nitrogen tire fills for $50. I did it because I am a sucker for equal pressure. My tire sensors would go off in the vette all the time!
Anyhow has anyone done this? Opinions?
Also what tire pressure are you running?
For those with nitrogen should I check with my gauge every so often or just take it back to the dealer?? What does it take to maintain?

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lowrider

· #2 · Dec 31, 2008

It's been my opinion, that new Lexus automobiles are coming with Nitrogen, and the dealers are refilling them with nitrogen at no cost. Look at your valve caps, if they have green end caps, the tires came with nitrogen. Both my wife's ES and my F came with nitrogen. Her caps are marked N2, and mine are marked nitrogen in little tiny letters with a larger 2. IMO, your dealer owes you $50.

Lou

FChampOH

· #3 · Dec 31, 2008

Just for perspective from Ohio, none of the cars that come to our building from the factory have nitrogen in the tires. Some dealers may be opting to put the N2 in tires on their own. Maybe some of the other dealership guys will respond here just for a better idea of what they're seeing in their areas.

BigMikeISF

· #4 · Dec 31, 2008

FChampOH said:
Just for perspective from Ohio, none of the cars that come to our building from the factory have nitrogen in the tires. Some dealers may be opting to put the N2 in tires on their own. Maybe some of the other dealership guys will respond here just for a better idea of what they're seeing in their areas.

Ditto. A bunch of the Lexus dealerships here aren't putting Nitrogen in their car's tires either. Mine didn't come with it. I'm not sure if they offer it or not, I personally haven't asked for it nor have I seen any signs offering it or been asked if I want to switch over to it

lowrider

· #5 · Dec 31, 2008

Hmm, sorry I was wrong. I guess I got one of the Good Guy dealers. I thought all Lexus dealers were doing it.

Lou

fleadog99

· #6 · Dec 31, 2008

Mine came with nitrogen from Sewell. I joked about it with Dawn from Sewell saying "so I can just go to any gas station and nitrogen the tires right?"

Flipside909

· #7 · Dec 31, 2008

My dealership, Longo Lexus doesn't replace the air from the factory tires with nitrogen. It's a dealership's option to do that or not. It does not come from the factory with nitrogen as Doug mentioned.

xrayman

· #8 · Dec 31, 2008

Thought I might add my 2 cents worth.

Talking about N2 in tires is a bit like discussing religion or politics! In the world of racing with extreme use of tires it makes a lot of sense. In my world (and I assume yours as well), it is a great profit center for dealers. Not that is bad, just a reality.

The arguments that it slows down decay due to exposure to air is likely true, but who is going to have tires that long?! And what about the exterior of the tire? Won't that degrade too??

Keeping pressure is also an argument. I think this is true, but is it worth $50?? If you loose pressure that quickly, you likely have rim issues or a real leak in the rubber.

Low moisture content is also an argument, but, everytime you refill, unless you always use N2, you will be introducing moisture anyway. And, is it really an issue for wheel health? I personally don't think so.

Just my opinion for what it is worth.

GOOD LUCK!

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tf103chl

· #9 · Dec 31, 2008

Bang on xrayman. I'm sure that the arguments for nitrogen are technically correct but I believe the benefits do not outweigh the costs. I'm also quite fine with dealers making money - I just like to be able to sell/buy things of value.

drdoug75

Discussion Starter · #10 · Jan 7, 2009

Ok so I put the nitrogen in because I am a sucker for something new!

But if I might question the group

#1 what should the tire pressure be?
#2 Any differences with nitrogen???
I am afraid if I go checking everytime I check I am going to lose some that I will have to go to the dealer to replace???

How do you car for these nitrogen tires?????

lowrider

· #11 · Jan 7, 2009

Do a Google Search. You will be amazed at the amount of information out there. I was. Bottom Line

1. Not worth paying for it.

2. Pressure is the same for air or nitrogen.

3. Air and nitrogen can be mixed.

Lou

BigMikeISF

· #12 · Jan 7, 2009

Shouldn't the tire pressure be the same as it is with air? 36 PSI I believe. You can open your front driver door and on the B pillar there is a sticker with the correct PSI. I don't know why it would be any different.

You shouldn't need to go over checking your tires. Check them like you normally would with air. You don't need to care for them in any special way, just keep an eye on them, if they look low then check them.

crazee

· #13 · Jan 7, 2009

Are you sure that they can be mix together lowrider? From what I've been reading on the web about it is that you can only have one or the other and hence there's also something about 2 valves on the tire one for air the other is nitrogen. You have to release all of the air in order to have nitrogen to be fill in the tire. Another thing to consider is convenience. There are plenty of air fill stations but not many stations for nitrogen around. If there is a nitrogen station you will be paying a cost difference, a big cost difference actually. It all comes down to whether or not you're willing to pay higher pricing for something different fill for your tires. And ease of access to nitrogen stations. Just my two cents.

micaISF

· #14 · Jan 7, 2009

air is 21 % oxygen and ~79% nitrogen and trivial amount of carbon dioxide( if i remember correctly from junior high classes). i don't see why there would be a problem mixing air with pure nitrogen, other than dilute a little.

lowrider

· #15 · Jan 7, 2009

^^^^Correct, there is no problem mixing them. 2 valves on the tire? - Nope. The valve stem however has a green cap on it with an N2 logo. As far as refilling, I have an air compressor at home. Tires should only be refilled when cold.

Lou

BigMikeISF

· #16 · Jan 7, 2009

You can mix the nitrogen with air no problem. I also have a tahoe that they filled with nitrogen and I mix with air whenever they get a little low and don't have time to take it into the dealership

Turfgod

· #17 · Jan 7, 2009

Lets get back to the issue of why nitrogen vs air. The only reason to run nitrogen is to help keep a certain air pressure in the tire when the tires are heated up. Nitrogen expands less then air and realeses heat faster, therefore helping keep the same air pressure. Air pressure helps grip. I have raced shifter karts for several years and I can definetly tell the difference in air vs nitrogen. As for using nitrogen in my car tires I do not know if around town I will push my car to the heat levels to tell the difference. If I was going to a track then yes. The availability of nitrogen for me is not a problem. I have a tank in my garage. The only other issue I have heard about is Nitrogen does not leak as fast through the rubber, therefore you do not need to fill or check your tires as often. I have no experience on that one, just what I have heard.

Troy

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isflojo

· #18 · Jan 7, 2009

Thanks for answering the original question, Troy. I was wondering where this thread was going...

drdoug75

Discussion Starter · #19 · Jan 7, 2009

Thanks for the straight answer Troy!

ISF MA

· #20 · Jan 8, 2009

Here is some info regarding the "2 valves on one tire" comment...

I apologize if the image doesn't show, it's my first time uploading a photo! The wheel (hopefully) shown is a Kosei K1 TS, I was told that the 17" X 8" only weighs 15.5 lbs. You can see in the photo that there are two valve stems, supposedly one is for filling with Nitrogen while the other is for purging air. I have the wheels mounted on my '06 EVO IX that I use in the winter but I've never used Nitrogen in them. I hope this was helpful.

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