Nitrogen in Motorcycle Tires?

[ridingAK]

I was reading a safety article on another site and the author mentioned that he has his motorcycle tires filled with nitrogen rather than air. Nitrogen molecules are four times larger than oxygen molecules so they leak slower and thus help minimize the chance of riding on under inflated tires. I understand that by itself nitrogen gas is inert, but wouldn't there be a heightened risk of explosive reaction by putting nitrogen in tires? Anyone out there with more chemistry knowledge than me who can tell me whether this would really be a safe practice? And where does a person find a nitrogen pump?

[KCDakar]

They used to sell nitrogen at the local Walmart here, I do not know if they still do.
I myself would not waste my time or money.

One rider here had it put in his bike and then rode like an ass down the highway came to our monthly meeting and when we came out after the meeting his tires were flat. So we went to see what was up and he was yelling that someone cut his stems. I looked at his stems and asked him when they were put in as they looked and felt very old and hard. It was at this time the story came out that he had nitrogen put in the tire.
The problem was that nitrogen when put into a very small opening of rubber it freezes everything to the point that it can shatter. (I mean like GLASS) And when he got his done it was not only put in wrong but was not told to let it warm up before he went for a 130 MPH joy ride down the highway. His valve stems failed and it could have been his life.

If you check your bike over before every ride like we are supposed to do then it is at those times that we might see that something is wrong and we can fix it then instead of on the side of the road. (Yes I am guilty of not doing this too!:whistling:) I just carry an air-pump and a good gage. I figure in the long run I still have to check my tire pressure and air is free and I am cheap...:shrug:

I don't know about it exploding as they first used it on the SR-71 plane because the plane got so hot in flight and landed fast that the air filled tires exploded or melted.

[indianscout]

That's a good question AK but I don't have an answer for you. :chin: Dakar has some good points to ponder on this subject as well and I can ask around this weekend when I go to a swap meet in Nebraska. I have never heard of this before and my overall impression is that it may sound good on paper, realisticly I think I will stay with air for the main reason of availability. Unless you pay to use the pump at the gas staition, air is usually free and finding nitrogen on the road could be difficult. Hauling a nitrogen tank along could be a real pain as well for any number of reasons. Then as Dakar explained, is the unknown stuff like temperature. Losing a valve stem is an inconvieniance, but tubes and tires are another matter. Since my old bike runs just a wee bit slower than the SR-71 :angel:, I think I will be just fine with the way I have it set up now. Still would be interested in others opinions on this subject.



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[sweptwingnut]

Most all aviation tires are Nitrogen filled.

That being said, I think it is best to stick to plain ole air in everything else.

[KCDakar]

Most all aviation tires are Nitrogen filled.

That being said, I think it is best to stick to plain ole air in everything else.

Are you referring to commercial aviation? I think that is a mandate by the FAA. (Mandate might not be the right word.) But do they use it in small aircraft as a rule too? Just wondering...

NASCAR uses it in tires to help displace water vapor in tires so they can get better readings on tire condition during the race.

Also Nitrogen is an inert gas so it will not catch fire.

[sweptwingnut]

Are you referring to commercial aviation? I think that is a mandate by the FAA. (Mandate might not be the right word.) But do they use it in small aircraft as a rule too? Just wondering...

Yes. And Yes.

NASCAR uses it in tires to help displace water vapor in tires so they can get better readings on tire condition during the race.

Also Nitrogen is an inert gas so it will not catch fire.

And you just nailed why it is required in aircraft tires. It is Inert.


Funny part thought regarding your motorcycle guy. He spent so much money on filling his bike tires with pure Nitrogen that I guess he forgot that the chemical composition of the air we breath is 78% nitrogen 21 % oxygen and 1% other gases. Lot of bucks to spend just to make up that other 22%..... :lol:

[KCDakar]

Funny part thought regarding your motorcycle guy. He spent so much money on filling his bike tires with pure Nitrogen that I guess he forgot that the chemical composition of the air we breath is 78% nitrogen 21 % oxygen and 1% other gases. Lot of bucks to spend just to make up that other 22%..... :lol:


His money...:lol:

I still like my cyclepump and patch kit.:thumbup:

[sweptwingnut]

yep

[indianscout]

Hmmm, learned alot from you two tonight. Thanks for the info!!! :thumbup:

[Unforgiven]

Hey, what about Helium? You know us sportbike riders are all about making the bike lighter. :angel:

[indianscout]

Hey, what about Helium? You know us sportbike riders are all about making the bike lighter. :angel:


Ya, but then your bike would sound like Donald Duck!!! :rofl:

[Astir]

:rofl:

[Gitana]

I had no idea that planes used nitrogen in their tires, nor that one could use it in one's motorcycle tires. Go figure. Thanks for posting this.

[Astir]

Very interesting, I didn't know about using nitrogen either. We use good old air in our tow planes and gliders. So this must be for larger aircraft?

On the farm, we used butane/propane (all our trucks and tractors ran on it) to fill tires. We only did it in emergencies (which seemed like all the time), and those leaky valves were oh so dangerous, (flash cold burn hurts like you wouldn't believe), but we never had an incident with blowing a tire.

Honestly, I don't know how I lived through childhood.

[Luna Tique]

:chin:Never knew any of this.
Thanks everyone

I learned today to just say NO to nitrogen :lol:

:cheers:

[sweptwingnut]

We use good old air in our tow planes and gliders. So this must be for larger aircraft?

Airworthiness Directive 87-08-09 is specific to certain models of large aircraft.

[KCDakar]

Airworthiness Directive 87-08-09 is specific to certain models of large aircraft.

Thats it! An AD!:slaphead:
Sucks to get old! :lol:

[bridges]

Ladies and gentlemen,
I am new to the site thanks to Shogani. I purchased in 08 a VTX with 6 miles. The dealer offered NitroFil. and I was able to get 14000 miles on a Dunlop 404 in the front and K555 in the rear. I am now ready for another tire change at 25400(w/o nitro). I believe the nitro fill added to the life of my tires. I check my tire pressure every month or two and depending how far I am riding...Living in the NE with winter had no affect on pressure with nitro

[ridingAK]

Cool, thanks for the updated info.

[Luna Tique]

Thank you :thumbup:

[Follow]

Funny part thought regarding your motorcycle guy. He spent so much money on filling his bike tires with pure Nitrogen that I guess he forgot that the chemical composition of the air we breath is 78% nitrogen 21 % oxygen and 1% other gases. Lot of bucks to spend just to make up that other 22%..... :lol:

I have a friend who swears by running Nitrogen in his tires, he actually swears by all name brand too, to me such a waste of $$, I look forward to our next conversation when I can tell him the air we breath is 78% nitrogen:lol:.

[sweptwingnut]

Here is the LINK (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breathing) Under the "Components" paragraph.