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Does Higher Tire Pressure Shorten Tire Life?

Discussion in 'Newbie Forum' started by PriusNeckBeard, Jan 11, 2018.

  1. RCO

    RCO Senior Member

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    It may be better using a browser other than Safari. I recommend Opera if it's in the app store.

    That's probably because of the vast atmospheric pressure pressure changes they have to endure. I believe nitrogen molecules are larger than the pores in the "t y r e" and don't migrate across as readily.
     
    #21 RCO, Jan 13, 2018
    Last edited: Jan 13, 2018
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  2. Sam Spade

    Sam Spade Senior Member

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    So are molecules of every other gas contained in common air.
    The key is DRY nitrogen.
    Water vapor inside an airplane tire can wreak havoc as it freezes and thaws repeatedly.
     
  3. RCO

    RCO Senior Member

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    Same problem with nails also!
     
  4. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

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    Tire shops put nitrogen in a tire that is already filled with air. They don't suck the air out of the tire before they put nitrogen in it.
    It's fine if they put nitrogen in mine but I top off with air. The air should be relatively dry though.
     
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  5. Lucifer

    Lucifer Senior Member

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    The shops I've seen, suck out the air and put in nitrogen, 10-20$, and of course, your air loss is minimal for 6-9 months.
     
  6. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

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    Do new Toyota's come with air or nitrogen, I don't know?

    Do you top off with Nitrogen or Air?
     
  7. Lucifer

    Lucifer Senior Member

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    Not from the factory, if the dealer says they put in nitrogen ask if they took out the air first, they would've charged, otherwise, top with 72% nitrogen....air.
     
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  8. frodoz737

    frodoz737 Top Wrench

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    Dry 100% nitrogen is not needed in car and light truck tires.
     
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  9. Lucifer

    Lucifer Senior Member

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    That's an opinion, some replace tires with general (cheap) tires, some Michelin, to each their own.
     
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  10. frodoz737

    frodoz737 Top Wrench

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    Just trying to save you guys from a cheap marketing scam...which this is.

    As a commercial aircraft mechanic who knows why we use dry 100% nitrogen...and...a consumer who buys/maintains tires for his own ground vehicles...I just might know a little about this. ;)

    Use "my opinion"...or not...it's your car.


    .
     
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  11. RCO

    RCO Senior Member

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    It would be interesting for some of us if you could enlighten us as to exactly why 100% dry nitrogen is used in aircraft tyres. Thanks.
     
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  12. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    I was a big time skeptic. Then, after a discussion with a friend who was pro-nitrogen, I did some googling. This Popular Mechanics article convinced me that there are advantages to nitrogen. But it's still not worth the bother for me since it's just too darn easy to use my own air compressor in my own garage. If I couldn't pump my tires at home, I'd consider it. BTW, mine were 2 pounds low yesterday with the cooler temperatures, so now they are back to 42/40.
    Nitrogen vs Air In Tires - Why Nitrogen in Tires
     
    #32 jerrymildred, Jan 14, 2018
    Last edited: Jan 14, 2018
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  13. Sam Spade

    Sam Spade Senior Member

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    See post #22.
     
  14. RCO

    RCO Senior Member

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    Sorry Sam, but that just states that water vapor causes problems - not why the nitrogen is preferred. I was inquiring of an aviation specialist why the aviation industry demands nitrogen in aircraft tyres. Perhaps on this occasion you should have followed the thread to my comment at #31.
     
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  15. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Somebody here recently mentioned they didn't want to get tires at Costco, because they didn't want the ongoing hassle of dealing with nitrogen, down the road. Words to that effect. A fundamental misconception: your tires may be intially filled with nitrogen, but there's nothing stopping you "adulterating" the fill with regular air. For me, Costco tires typically stay pristine nitrogen for 3~4 kms, the distance to the nearby Chevron on my way home.

    Regarding the premise of the title, I don't think higher pressures, under max sidewall indicated pressure, are detrimental to tires. However, I would speculate they increase wear-and-tear on suspension components. How much is debatable, but it must have some effect.
     
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  16. William Redoubt

    William Redoubt Senior Member

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    Air, from the compressor, is mostly nitrogen. 78%. So, even if the air is vacuumed out of the tire and replaced with nitrogen, it is only a 20% upgrade in total nitrogen.
     
  17. William Redoubt

    William Redoubt Senior Member

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    What would be the mechanism from higher tire pressure that damages suspension parts? The total energy is the same no matter what the tire pressure is. I am not being argumentative, but just want to know what your assumptions are.
     
  18. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    If the tires have less "give" they transmit more road deflection through to the shocks/springs/joints?
     
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  19. Sam Spade

    Sam Spade Senior Member

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    Bottled compressed nitrogen (liquid) has only a few molecules of water left in it, just by virtue of how it is made.

    That makes it a relatively inexpensive way to get absolutely dry "air" into the tires.
    As a secondary advantage, it is also non-flammable.

    And otherwise it performs pretty much the same as regular air.......since air is about 70% nitrogen anyway.
    Because it is so much like regular air, no special considerations are necessary to use it.
     
  20. Sam Spade

    Sam Spade Senior Member

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    Like "energy absorbing" front ends on cars, a flexible tube filled with air also "absorbs" some of the energy right at the tire.
    The softer the overall tire is, the less energy is transmitted to the suspension.