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View Full Version : Does anyone use Nitrogen in tires?

Mitch
10-17-2007, 10:22 PM
Do you use Nitrogen in your tires? If so is there any difference with using air? Why would I want to put Nitrogen in the tires?
Philip
10-18-2007, 02:45 PM
BMW recommends not using nitrogen. I forget what the "Official Reason" is, but there is something that sounded at least semi-sinsible when I heard it.
F1Julie
10-18-2007, 03:20 PM
Butler Tire is always trying to get me to use Nitrogen when I go in there. I figure it's just a ploy for them to make extra money.
Philip
10-18-2007, 08:47 PM
There are alot of advantages to using nitrogen, but in some cases it sets off the TPM in new BMW's, subsequently triggering a DSC fault.
Nitrogen atoms are much larger than oxygen atoms, which makes it alot harder for nitrogen to leak out of tires. Also, nitrogen is far more stable than oxygen so it won't expand when the tires heat up, which means you get consistent tire pressure regardless of ambient air temp, or tire temp.
Jdudley13
10-24-2007, 04:15 PM
I was actually reading about this the other day. Theoretically it seems like a good idea. So is there a certain year model and after that should avoid Nitrogen or all BMW's in general? Can you try to get some sort of official answer because I was thinking about testing it out when I change next time.
Infidel
10-24-2007, 06:01 PM
Nitrogen works great, I rarely have to ever do any maintenance on my tire pressure because it is stable. If bmw doesn't want it in there it's very likely the tire pressure monitoring hardware as said above.

Oh and be grateful they don't fill the tires with pure oxygen, that could turn out to be fatal for the car owner. example tires expload into fire at the slightest hint of spark. They use air, which is mostly nitrogen, I think about 78%. So you are loosing the other gasses, mostly oxygen 20%, over time.

You know you have nitrogen filled tires if you have green valve caps.
McLovin
10-25-2007, 09:53 PM
Infidel I did not know that. I learn something everytime I am on this place.
Justin
10-26-2007, 03:32 AM
Good info thanks
Philip
10-31-2007, 02:46 PM
Infidel I did not know that. I learn something everytime I am on this place.


The more you know......
mistertripps
11-05-2007, 02:18 AM
Are the valve caps a requirement? I'd hate to give up my BMW caps....
zeit00
11-08-2007, 01:12 PM
I have nitrogen in my tires. Love it.. I have lost 1psi in almost a year. The green caps are new to me. And I have had nitrogen fills for almost 3 years now. I just use the BMW ones.
Jdudley13
11-08-2007, 05:28 PM
YOu do not have to have green caps. I think they are more of a "warning" to shops so they don't top your tires off with regular air as that kind of offsets the value of nitrogen.
zeit00
11-08-2007, 05:43 PM
YOu do not have to have green caps. I think they are more of a "warning" to shops so they don't top your tires off with regular air as that kind of offsets the value of nitrogen.

Cool! Thanks for the info!
Infidel
11-08-2007, 09:47 PM
You obviously haven't been through a "Green cap road block" have you? :D

you can keep the dice caps as well.
Lsixer
11-13-2007, 07:38 PM
Sounds interesting. Since several of you have done it, what is the cost compared to regular air?
zeit00
11-13-2007, 08:10 PM
Sounds interesting. Since several of you have done it, what is the cost compared to regular air?

Its not too bad.. Mine is always factored into the cost of tires.. and it is free refills after that.. I always get mine done at Butler Tire..