Nitrogen Bright Idea

[CROSSBOLT]

Since oxygen leaks out of a tire faster than nitrogen AND air is 78% n2 why not fill the tire each time it needs re-inflating with n2 from a small bottle? Those small high pressure bottles used in paint ball and pellet rifles should hold enough for several "shots" of n2. By about the third time you should have at least 95% n2. Whaddya think?

Karl

[Mr. Paul]

It certainly wouldn't hurt to try! For me though, it's not a big deal  to take my large volume bicycle pump and top off my tires every week or so.

[paceneedsstides]

i've filled my tires like 4 times in the yr I've had it so don't see the point in it

[de dee]

I CHECK ALL TIRES when we have a temp. change, warm at 30 degrees28 lb.,  cold at near 0 degrees , drops to 20 lb.,
  car, van, scooters,

[Stig / Major Tom]

I have been pretty lucky with my scooter & motorcycle tires - when checked they are spot on year in and year out.....other than a few lbs during seasonal big temp changes.

If nitrogen is lighter than air, filling tires with it should improve our MPG's - sort of like me losing weight!
If it is heavier than air it should improve our traction - which is why my lap times come down after visiting Tim Horton's.

It's all just science.   

Stig

[CROSSBOLT]

Bumping this since it has been over a year I have been using N2 in my scoot tires. The results are (drum roll) about the same as using compressed air! That is, pressure drops when it gets cooler. Pressure drops it seems if the bike sits without use just like compressed air. The theory was that over time the O2 would leak out leaving N2 and filling with N2 would eventually render 100% N2 in the tire. Been using a low-pressure tank from Harbor Freight to top the tires when they needed it. So it ought to be nearly 100% by now. The pressure increase may be slightly less with N2 than with air but only slightly. The only gain may be in tire/rim/valve longevity as pointed out in the other post (article links). The regular riders wear out scoot tires before any benefits can be noted. I'll keep using the N2 portable tank 'cause it is convenient and the N2 is free from the tire store. Any changes will be noted in this forum if they occur.

[Stig / Major Tom]

So, will my scooter float?

Might want to commute out to my houseboat in Norris lake.
Stig

[stuo]

Stig, I hope your brain will be donated to science for study.