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Old 05-02-2015, 01:56 PM   #1
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Aluminum Rims & Nitrogen & tire life ?

Good Morning -



A couple of years ago there was a short discussion on using Nitrogen in the trailer tires with aluminum rims.
I would like to know NOW MANY actually change out the air for Nitrogen ?
My auto shop keeps preaching to me that when one has aluminum rims – the tires need to be filled with Nitrogen. Nitrogen is suppose to reduce the moisture build up inside the mounted tire which in turn will reduce the deterioration of the aluminum rim and it will also extend the life of the tires.



Thus – the questions are - -
NOW MANY actually change out the air for Nitrogen ?
. (Do you know of others that have ?)
What are the costs & who does it ?
When on the road – where do you find Nitrogen when you need to top off the tire ?
Do you have evidence that Nitrogen does extend the life of the trailer tires ?
There are a number of comments that trailer tires last about two years and that the only way to really extend their life is to take the pressure off of them when in storage.
Comments ? ?



Thank You for your time and thoughts.
Have A GReat Day and A Better Weekend.
uw
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Old 05-02-2015, 02:29 PM   #2
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Sorry. I cannot read this.
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Old 05-02-2015, 06:49 PM   #3
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Atmospheric air is 78% nitrogen. The best you'll get from a tire dealer is about 90% (?) so it's a lot of angst for a 10% upgrade. As long as you check the tires regularly you'll be fine.

Nitrogen molecules are larger so they leak out slower, so the reasoning goes.
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Old 05-02-2015, 07:23 PM   #4
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I now own a trailer with four tires on the ground. Changing out the tires when they age out is one of those maintenance issues. Would you really NOT spend $500+ on tires to protect a $25,000+ investment? Not me. YMMV
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Old 05-02-2015, 07:31 PM   #5
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Personally I think the whole nitrogen hoopla and sales is a nefarious plot in order to sell little green valve stem caps.........................
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Old 05-02-2015, 07:42 PM   #6
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Nitrogen does help keep the tire pressure up longer, but for me it's easier to just check the pressure regularly and use air. I have heard anecdotal stories about it helping it keep the inside of Aluminum wheels from corroding, but honestly the minor difference isn't worth the hassle to me.
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Old 05-02-2015, 07:54 PM   #7
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My understanding is that if you camp at a NASCAR race you are required to fill your tires with nitrogen.
And drink Bud Light.
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Old 05-02-2015, 07:58 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by captmath View Post
Sorry. I cannot read this.
I find odd fonts make reading much more difficult, too. Here it is in normal form (plus bullet marks):
Quote:
Originally Posted by OWilly View Post
-
Good Morning -

A couple of years ago there was a short discussion on using Nitrogen in the trailer tires with aluminum rims. I would like to know NOW MANY actually change out the air for Nitrogen ? My auto shop keeps preaching to me that when one has aluminum rims – the tires need to be filled with Nitrogen. Nitrogen is suppose to reduce the moisture build up inside the mounted tire which in turn will reduce the deterioration of the aluminum rim and it will also extend the life of the tires.

Thus – the questions are - -
  • NOW MANY actually change out the air for Nitrogen ? (Do you know of others that have ?)[/FONT]
  • What are the costs & who does it ?
  • When on the road – where do you find Nitrogen when you need to top off the tire ?
  • Do you have evidence that Nitrogen does extend the life of the trailer tires ?
  • There are a number of comments that trailer tires last about two years and that the only way to really extend their life is to take the pressure off of them when in storage.
  • Comments ? ?

Thank You for your time and thoughts.
Have A GReat Day and A Better Weekend.
uw
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Old 05-02-2015, 08:00 PM   #9
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Quote:
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.....
And drink Bud Light.
GAG!
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Old 05-02-2015, 08:04 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by OWilly View Post
NOW MANY actually change out the air for Nitrogen ? (Do you know of others that have ?)
What are the costs & who does it ?
When on the road – where do you find Nitrogen when you need to top off the tire ?
I bought tires for my van, which went on alloy wheels, at Costco. They put in whatever passes for nitrogen in their shop, and put on pretty green valve caps. There was no additional charge, and I would not have paid any extra for it.

Since then I have topped up with compressed air from service stations and the portable 12-volt compressor that I carry; I don't know how readily available nitrogen for tires would be, but I assume one would need to find a tire store to get it.

Quote:
Originally Posted by OWilly View Post
Do you have evidence that Nitrogen does extend the life of the trailer tires ?
No, and I've never seen any such evidence.

Quote:
Originally Posted by OWilly View Post
There are a number of comments that trailer tires last about two years and that the only way to really extend their life is to take the pressure off of them when in storage.
Where did two years come from? The tire industry is pushing a limit of six years, apparently just to sell more tires (since they don't fail at seven years), but only two years is ridiculous, unless you're towing the trailer further each year than most people drive their car.
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Old 05-02-2015, 08:12 PM   #11
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Just replaced my tires after 6 1/2 years and was asked if I wanted the old ones. Since I didn't, they were donated to Sally Ann, and somebody would presumably buy them and get a few more years out of them.
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Old 05-02-2015, 08:17 PM   #12
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Originally Posted by tidewater View Post
Atmospheric air is 78% nitrogen. The best you'll get from a tire dealer is about 90% (?) so it's a lot of angst for a 10% upgrade. As long as you check the tires regularly you'll be fine.
I agree, although the real benefit of "nitrogen" fill is normally that it is drier (less moisture content), and that may be worth getting.

Quote:
Originally Posted by tidewater View Post
Nitrogen molecules are larger so they leak out slower, so the reasoning goes.
Given the actual mix of gases, this can't be significant. Has anyone ever analyzed the air in a tire after an extended period, and found that it is depleted in oxygen due to all those smaller oxygen molecules sneaking out? I doubt it.

Quote:
Originally Posted by tractors1 View Post
Personally I think the whole nitrogen hoopla and sales is a nefarious plot in order to sell little green valve stem caps.........................


Quote:
Originally Posted by rbryan4 View Post
Nitrogen does help keep the tire pressure up longer, but for me it's easier to just check the pressure regularly and use air.
The pressure may be more consistent with the fancy nitrogen fill simply because the air is drier. Ideally, all service stations and tire shops would provide very dry air, but they don't.

Quote:
Originally Posted by rbryan4 View Post
I have heard anecdotal stories about it helping it keep the inside of Aluminum wheels from corroding, but honestly the minor difference isn't worth the hassle to me.
I agree - not worth worrying about. Over decades of aluminum alloy wheel use before nitrogen filling became popular, corrosion wasn't much of a problem, so I'm not worried about it now.
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Old 05-02-2015, 08:20 PM   #13
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I agree - not worth worrying about. Over decades of aluminum alloy wheel use before nitrogen filling became popular, corrosion wasn't much of a problem, so I'm not worried about it now.
I solved the problem when I came to the conclusion that I like the white steel wheels I already have. I was thinking about new tires and rims; but opted to just get new tires and wash my wheels.
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Old 05-02-2015, 08:36 PM   #14
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Steel wheels will rust... yes they will. But, am I the only one that spent bucks buying chrome Crager Super Spokes... and they rusted too! The alloys on my 2000 F-150 pitted...

Whatever you buy, keep them clean and waxed, truly.
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Old 05-02-2015, 08:45 PM   #15
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My understanding is that if you camp at a NASCAR race you are required to fill your tires with nitrogen.
And drink Bud Light.
I could do the nitrogen, but never the Bud Light. Even my dog won't drink that flavorless swill. Oh well, I guess no NASCAR for me.
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Old 05-02-2015, 08:53 PM   #16
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During a beer strike up here in BC, one of the senior editors at The Vancouver Sun had one too many rye and water at the press club and decided that he and those at his table needed a beer.
He booked and paid for the flight to Texas ( I don't remember where ) and picked up the tab for tables full of Lone Star.
Took him years to pay off his Visa.
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Old 05-02-2015, 08:56 PM   #17
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Quote:
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During a beer strike up here in BC, one of the senior editors at The Vancouver Sun had one too many rye and water at the press club and decided that he and those at his table needed a beer.
He booked and paid for the flight to Texas ( I don't remember where ) and picked up the tab for tables full of Lone Star.
Took him years to pay off his Visa.
A shame. Flew all the way to Texas and drank Lone Star instead of Shiner Bock.
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Old 05-02-2015, 08:58 PM   #18
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My bro... a born and raised Texan says Lone Star gives you the Hershey Squirts (TMI...maybe)
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Old 05-02-2015, 09:33 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gbaglo View Post
During a beer strike up here in BC, one of the senior editors at The Vancouver Sun had one too many rye and water at the press club and decided that he and those at his table needed a beer.
He booked and paid for the flight to Texas ( I don't remember where ) and picked up the tab for tables full of Lone Star.
Took him years to pay off his Visa.


Ah yes the great 1978 beer strike, remember it well.

Cheers
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Old 05-02-2015, 09:42 PM   #20
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Worse. I crossed the border into Blaine and picked up two dozen Molson Canadian, which I declared. At the time you were only allowed to bring back one dozen, even if you paid duty ( didn't know that ).
So, the border guard opened a dozen bottles and I poured them down the drain ( a drinking fountain, I recall ), while people yelled insults at me for trying to smuggle.
Precursor of social media.
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