Reckdriver

Just replaced my Contis with Michelin Pilot Sport PS2s after reading the high praise on this forum. Purchased and installed them at the dealer. They offered nitrogen fill up in lieu of standard air for the tires claiming that nitrogen is more stable and consistent at varying temperatures than air in terms of pressure. Also said that nitrogen molecules are physically larger than standard air and tires become less prone to leak. OK, I bought it...$40 for lifetime nitrogen.

Question: am I a sucker or was this a wise purchase?

Barry45RPM

$40.00 for a Nitrogen fill is always a rip-off, but $40.00 for a tire "lifetime" of fill-ups is a good deal. So you did OK. Everything he told you about the advantages of Nitrogen in tires is true, and the fact that they will lose "air" more slowly is convenient for you, but other than that, the benefits of Nitrogen in car tires is still being debated as to its benefits VS cost (commercial Jets tires are filled with Nitrogen)... again, in your case you got a good deal at $40.00 ...many MB Dealers charge $40.00 to $50.00 per 4 tire check & fill-up.

I like the $40.00 lifetime deal.

Reckdriver

Barry thanks for the response. Ha, I remember when I first bought the car and joined the forum, you were one of the posters I first started to follow and read your posts. That was in June 2006, I believe. Time flies when you're having fun.

I'd like to buy a newer MB, but just haven't needed one yet!

justinrhenry

nitrogen is a good idea, but forty bucks is a bit high.

FourSeasons

Just wanted to point out that regular atmosphere (air we breathe!) is about 78% nitrogen anyway....

djrabbi

$40 for lifetime is a good deal for sure! you did good

KEY08

I guess if you are close to the dealer for refills it's ok. Most people get a 100% Nitrogen fill and then start mixing in atmospheric Nitrogen and away goes the advantage. Just make sure you keep going into the dealer on a regular basis for refills.

rsmith7

If you shop at Costco, you can top off your tires with Nitrogen for free. I also think nitrogen in the tires adds peace of mind. Since the tire does not lose the nitrogen as quickly as air, your low profile tires and rims are safer.

joesandiego1234

LOL anyone that pays for nitrogen air is a sucker... The only advantage of nitrogen air is for Aircraft tires due to the fact of excessive heat from landing and take off... nitrogen air is been around aircraft industry for decades it does nothing to cars lol other than if you are drag racing or professional racing!!! take it from an aircraft mechanic..... do not be fool by dealers and tire shops!!!

Mad Dawg 350

I'm not sold on the claimed benefits of nitrogen filled tires for use in our cars. Yes, nitrogen is beneficial for aircraft and racing applications, just not for our daily drivers that would never see the driving conditions where nitrogen would be a benefit. The only benefit I see would be nitrogen's larger molecule would keep the pressure longer in the tires. How hard is it to check the pressure in the tires and add air if needed???

blappy

can anybodt tell me if asanti side vents can fit on an 2008 eclass350

Barry45RPM

Depends on where you live. When I lived in NY, I has a compressor w/ a 50 ft hose at the door of my garage... here in FL in the apartment building w/ common garage space, darn near impossible. Oh I can check it, but every gas station in the area uses those 75 cents for 2 minutes of tankless air in a box at the most dangerous area of their lot, with a way too short hose who's retractor wants to pull you bodily back into the reel mechanism. Its a freaking nightmare.

And those tankless "compressors" you plug into your lighter socket in the trunk? Almost as bad. Tire shops? No outside air.

Up North, every gas station had an "air station" on their lot connected to their big shop compressor. Pleanty of air, take your time, do it right... but you had fo freeze your *** off. Here while you can't put air in your tires, you can look at loosely dressed people Palm trees, people dining al Fresco as you drive on your underinflated tires.

SteveC325

Or, you can pull into the "FULL SERVICE" island at a gas station and have them do it for you.

I have one of those $49 Sears electric, tankless compressors. It works just fine. Not as cool as a real tank compressor, but it does the job and it only takes about 10 minutes for all 5 (yes, I check the spare too) tires. Just over fill them a bit and use a quality gauge to bleed down to proper pressure levels.

Unless you own a commercial grade aircraft, you are wasting money, if you pay to have your tires on anything else, filled with nitrogen.

NorseWagon

Aha, you moved to Fort Lauderdale...?

You can use the compressor at my house anytime.

Where in town are ya?
I am within walking distance of Old Heidelberg, German restaurant and Deli.
http://www.oldheidelbergdeli.com/

Quite convenient for us kraut-car drivers..

Barry45RPM

On A1A Hallandale Beach... Finally got smart & had enough of the snow. Its kinda nice down here! Still finding our way around.

OK55

Not entirely convinced by their arguments. We started using nitrogen on aircraft tyres because of fire concerns. Aircraft brake units sit inside the wheel hubs and generate very high temperatures. Heat fuses are incorporated in the hubs to let out the air in the tyres if temps rise to critical levels, and cool things down. This cooling is obviously effective if oxygen is excluded! Which is why nitrogen is used mandatorily for aircraft tyres...
Brgds

SteveC325

Any chance you could convince my wife - LOL

I love SoFL. Been trying to convince her to move to Key Biscayne for years.

A couple more winters like this past one and my Benz will be basking in the sun

NorseWagon

My wife was the same way:

Had to beg and bribe her to Florida 13 years ago, now she loves it and don't want to be anywhere else.

I am here for sailing,diving, the proximity to the Bahamas and having lived in Norway and Alaska, I don't need no stinking seasons..

Barry45RPM

Now's the time... Real Estate prices are LOW & bargains abound. But be advised, the job market is different here, "no" big employers, and salaries are lower... but it costs less to live here and its the "quality of life" factor must be added into the equation. Not to mention only 2 real seasons of clothing to buy, and depending on where you live Gasoline is at least 20 cents a gallon cheaper here, not to mention electric... and in SoFla, no heating costs.

Summer its HOT, but not as hot as a NY winter was cold... and the real heat lasts only about a month in July.

vettdvr

Air from a compressor is 70% nitrogen. I will never pay for the extra 30%

Heatwave

Thank you for posting that. Nitrogen won't sustain combustion. Simple as that. I've been trying to explain that to people for years.

leechambliss

For what its worth, I just took my wife's Lexus IS 250 in for service at the dealer and asked about the nitrogen for her tires. Lexus had all dealers take Nitrogen out of their shops. The benefits don't make up for the cost. And, precisely because of the molecular properties, they said, the TPMS doesn't work properly. I'm not a chemist or engineer, but that is what Lexus has said, and they do build a quality automobile. However, I have also read several other sites which make the same statement about the costs not balancing with the benefits. N is harder to get, and doesn't help in any appreciable way.




Current ride 2010 C-300

rapidoxidation

I use the same specialized mixture we breathe. As the smaller air molecules leak out, I replace it with more of that same mix. Eventually, the concentration of nitrogen molecules gets higher, and as those bigger molecules replace all the small ones that leak out the tire leaks less and less, requiring less "air". Soon my tires will be filled with 99% pure nitrogen, and I'll not have spent any more $$$ than for the power to run my compressor.

An added benefit is not having to run to the Mercedes dealer when my tires are low; the closest one is about 300 miles away.

Nitrogen by attrition. Works for me.

Toastr

Yep, sister just got in on a serious deal about a year and a half ago in SoFl and already made half of her money back on the house. Wild how fast that stuff changes. We took a vacation to West Palm last spring, and loved every effin second of it!

If I could get the same job down there that I have here, we'd move in a second! Consider me jealous!