Nitrogen in Tires question
#1
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From: Southeast
2008 C300 Sport, RWD, US
Nitrogen in Tires question
When I got deliver from my dealer in Birmingham (Crown), I was told by the salesman that they replace air in the tires with nitrogen.
If I understand this correctly, one of the attributes of using nitrogen is that your tire pressure isn't suppose to change when the tires gets hot.
Mine do change about 2 to 3 psi when going from cold to hot.
So my question is whether the dealership may have missed putting nitrogen in mine to get it ready in time, or if its normal for the pressure to change by 2 or 3 psi using nitrogen.
I have the original equipment rims and tires on a C300.
If I understand this correctly, one of the attributes of using nitrogen is that your tire pressure isn't suppose to change when the tires gets hot.
Mine do change about 2 to 3 psi when going from cold to hot.
So my question is whether the dealership may have missed putting nitrogen in mine to get it ready in time, or if its normal for the pressure to change by 2 or 3 psi using nitrogen.
I have the original equipment rims and tires on a C300.
#4
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From: Southeast
2008 C300 Sport, RWD, US
Well, can some of you using air check the difference between cold inflation pressure and hot? It would be interesting to see what the difference is. As cool as using nitrogen may seem, its sure a pain to deal with.
#5
Without a proper filling system, it doesn't really happen. The air we breathe and fill our tires with is 70% nitrogen to begin with. You need close to 100% Nitrogen to reap the small benefit. The problem is that MB wheels I've seen don't have the 2nd valve stem to allow a proper Nitrogen fill so they start with a deflated tire that has quite a bit of regular air in it and then add Nitrogen.
Here's a pic from tirerack.com of the wheels I got for my wife's Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX. Note the 2 valve stems that allow pure nitrogen to be pumped in while regular air is let out on the opposite end.
Here's a pic from tirerack.com of the wheels I got for my wife's Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX. Note the 2 valve stems that allow pure nitrogen to be pumped in while regular air is let out on the opposite end.
#6
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From: Southeast
2008 C300 Sport, RWD, US
When researching nitrogen sources, the few suppliers of professional machines had systems that would vacuum or suck out more of the air than by just deflating them. I presume this is what Crown uses.
On the other hand, it would seem that if nitrogen doesn't seep out the same as air due to larger molecules, wouldn't the non nitrogen components of air eventually leave the tire?? Something a consumer could do on a passenger car, but not really practical for a race car.
On the other hand, it would seem that if nitrogen doesn't seep out the same as air due to larger molecules, wouldn't the non nitrogen components of air eventually leave the tire?? Something a consumer could do on a passenger car, but not really practical for a race car.
#7
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From: Ontario, Canada
2008 - S550 4Matic, 2010 - E350 4Matic, 2010 - C350 4Matic
I think the benefits of nitrogen are bigger in Europe, because of the high speed limits. I think the benefits, here, are diminished, but it would be nice if it was at least offered. Nitrogen helps with moisture in the tires too.
The local tire dealers are not interested. They think that if they provided the service, everybody wants it for free.
Jorg
The local tire dealers are not interested. They think that if they provided the service, everybody wants it for free.
Jorg
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#8
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From: Jet City, USA
'08 W204.081; M 272.948 KE30; Colour Code#792
Costco offers nitrogen fillups. Personally, I see no point to it from a cost perspective. If it's for free, however...
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/070216.html
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/070216.html
#9
^^^ That's pretty good link with decent info. Given the choice I'd fill up with nitrogen as opposed to air provided it was free, but that's the problem. I've seen nitrogen tire machines that cost thousands of $$$ so the garages, etc., need to recover their money some how. Here's a LINK from one of those companies, which is obviously in the business of making money!
Extreme conditions. When I was @ Bonneville this past summer (for the Bub's Bike Week) my team's bike, along with every bike there (that I recall), ran nitrogen in the tires. Talk about running the ragged edge and leaving absolutely nothing to chance, being a rookie team we took the advice of guys that have been going to The Salt, every year, for decades before I was even born! Their collective experience was good enough reason for me...
Extreme conditions. When I was @ Bonneville this past summer (for the Bub's Bike Week) my team's bike, along with every bike there (that I recall), ran nitrogen in the tires. Talk about running the ragged edge and leaving absolutely nothing to chance, being a rookie team we took the advice of guys that have been going to The Salt, every year, for decades before I was even born! Their collective experience was good enough reason for me...
#10
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From: Southeast
2008 C300 Sport, RWD, US
One thing I particularly notice about my C300 is that a few pounds difference in tire inflation pressure makes a large difference in how the car rides. It would be good to find out how much using nitrogen changes this increase.
Could some of you measure your cold and hot inflation pressures(on standard tires) and post how much of a difference there is. I'll do the same with the nitrogen filled tires for the comparison. It would also be helpful if you would say which tires and rims you are using (i.e. amg 19s, etc.)
Many thanks
Could some of you measure your cold and hot inflation pressures(on standard tires) and post how much of a difference there is. I'll do the same with the nitrogen filled tires for the comparison. It would also be helpful if you would say which tires and rims you are using (i.e. amg 19s, etc.)
Many thanks
Last edited by JimPap; 11-08-2007 at 08:46 AM.