Nitrogen tire filling arrives in Calgary (CostCo)

Discussion in 'General Motoring' started by MoPar Man, Oct 2, 2004.

  1. MoPar Man

    MoPar Man Guest

    Nitrogen tire filling arrives in Calgary

    CFCN.ca

    POSTED AT 5:08 PM Wednesday, September 29

    Got a flat? You may want to try filling your tire with nitrogen. A
    Calgary tire retailer is using the gas instead of regular air. The
    difference is subtle.

    Nitrogen is an inert, non-flammable gas. It was developed for racing
    and military applications. Now Costco Wholesale is bringing the gas
    to its retail tire customers.

    Experts say that nitrogen molecules are four times larger than oxygen.
    Retailers say tires with nitrogen should stay inflated four times
    longer, maintain a consistent tire pressure and increase its life
    span.

    Nitrogen tire filling is already widely used in Europe. Costco
    doesn't charge any extra for the gas, which is included in the price
    of the tire and installation.

    See also:

    http://www.alltiresupply.com/archives/newproducts/IR-Nitro-Tire-Sys.html
    http://www.irco.com/pressroom/newsatir/is/58711_Print.html

    Nitrogen -- a dry, inert gas used by racing professionals and the U.S.
    military to inflate racecar tires and military vehicles, respectively
    -- leaks through a tire's rubber walls three times more slowly than
    oxygen. As a result, tires filled with high-quality nitrogen delivered
    by IR's system stay inflated longer, which allows them to grip the
    road better and provide greater control in all weather conditions.

    "It's an obvious safety issue," said Ray Evernham, a three-time NASCAR
    Nextel Cup champion crew chief, team owner of Evernham Motorsports and
    an IR spokesperson. "Simply put, tires filled with nitrogen provide
    more stable pressure. That's why IR's Nitrogen Tire Filling System
    represents the best solution for drivers and tire-repair centers."

    http://www.tirebusiness.com/subscriber/opinion2.phtml?cat=3&id=1082990463
    http://www.tirebusiness.com/subscriber/opinion2.phtml?cat=3&id=1074521989
     
    MoPar Man, Oct 2, 2004
    #1
  2. Interesting. It's not such a big deal since it's about 79% of the
    atmosphere,... but I still have never heard of it for tyre filling in
    Europe...

    I wonder how much it would cost. Compressed air is usually free or a
    trivial price.

    DAS
    --
    For direct contact replace nospam with schmetterling
    ---

    ..................
     
    Dori A Schmetterling, Oct 2, 2004
    #2
  3. MoPar Man

    Bill Putney Guest

    In a racing situation, the bigger motivation for using nitrogen is the
    low moisture => temperature stability (vs. the bleedout), and that's
    what's probably the fact behind Everham's statement. For the consumer
    it's both mechansisms (low moisture/temperature stability *and* bleedout
    over a long period of time) that come into play.

    I guess the longer you leave normal air in a tire, the higher the
    concentration of nitrogen, since the smaller molecules will bleed out
    and leave only nitrogen. 8^)

    Bill Putney
    (To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
    adddress with the letter 'x')
     
    Bill Putney, Oct 2, 2004
    #3
  4. MoPar Man

    MoPar Man Guest

    I wonder if nitrogen-filled tires play any role in preventing leaks on
    aluminum rims or reducing rust and pit formation on aluminum rims.
    hmmm. I wonder what the "nitrogen experts" would say about that?
     
    MoPar Man, Oct 2, 2004
    #4
  5. MoPar Man

    Ken Pisichko Guest

    My 1972 Land Rover has been sitting (and lounging around) in my brother's farm
    yard since 1987 and the tires have not deflated. They were and still are filled
    with air.

    Marketing baloney at it's best. Thanks Bill for your sunbtle commetary ;-)
     
    Ken Pisichko, Oct 3, 2004
    #5
  6. MoPar Man

    Bill Putney Guest

    Some on the 300M ezBoard have had some bead leak/corrosion problem with
    some of the Razorstar wheels that came from the factory. There have
    been some discussions there about using nitrogen as a preventaive for
    just that problem. Also, a guy in San Diego reported on the 300M
    ezBoard that a Costco in SD put nitrogen in his tires:
    http://p209.ezboard.com/f300menthusiastsclubfrm6.showMessage?topicID=176.topic

    8^)

    Bill Putney
    (To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
    adddress with the letter 'x')
     
    Bill Putney, Oct 3, 2004
    #6
  7. The sad part is that there will be idiots that go to Costco for tires just
    because
    of this, which is why Costco is probably doing it.

    Ted
     
    Ted Mittelstaedt, Oct 3, 2004
    #7
  8. MoPar Man

    Bob Shuman Guest

    Our local Costco uses Nitrogen, but does not really make much to do about
    it. As for pricing, they are almost always within a couple pennies of the
    price for the exact same tire at the Sam's Club down the road.

    Bob
     
    Bob Shuman, Oct 4, 2004
    #8
  9. The average intelligence of people in your area is probably higher. Costco
    tailors it's advertising regionally.
    Whenever I've gone into Costco and looked at tire prices (P185 75r14s) they
    have always had the most expensive prices in town. Of course, I'm not
    looking
    for name-brands since the vehicle that uses those tires I drive and it
    doesen't
    care what's on the wheel. I'm looking for the cheapest tires available. I
    think
    the last time I asked the cheapest tire in the place was $60.

    Now, when the tires on the van finally wear out that will be a different
    story -
    since the tires on it now that the previous owner installed are anything but
    low-noise, and a van amplifies everything from the tires. And the rims on
    it
    are cast aluminum. I'm resigned to having to be screwed up the ass for
    tire prices on that vehicle.

    Ted
     
    Ted Mittelstaedt, Oct 6, 2004
    #9
  10. MoPar Man

    yeltrabnhoj Guest

    Umm.. not true. Or, so sayeth my chemist wife, after she got through with
    ROFL when we say this at Costco ourselves.
     
    yeltrabnhoj, Nov 8, 2004
    #10
  11. MoPar Man

    TOM KAN PA Guest

    I fill mine with helium. It has a tendency to lift the vehicle a hair, thus
    reducing the weight (pull of gravity) and greatly increases the mpg.
     
    TOM KAN PA, Nov 11, 2004
    #11
  12. That's fine in the summer, but in the winter you definitely want to fill
    your tires with Freon. Being heavier than air, it helps your tires stick
    to slippery roads.
     
    Daniel J. Stern, Nov 11, 2004
    #12
  13. MoPar Man

    Richard Guest

    Actually, farmers fill their tractor tires part of the way with salt water
    to help keep the tractors from rolling over. Perhaps this should be required
    by the Feds in all SUV's to solve their roll over problem. Cheaper than
    those computer stability systems for sure.

    Richard.
     
    Richard, Nov 12, 2004
    #13
  14. MoPar Man

    Joe Guest

    Mercury would be even better for handling. Plus, it conducts electricity
    should your car be struck by lightning.

    Seriously though, liquid-filled tires are only suitable for very slow-moving
    equipment like farm tractors. They would never balance at speed.
     
    Joe, Nov 12, 2004
    #14
  15. MoPar Man

    Richard Guest

    Wrong. I have developed a complex computer program that will predict the
    dynamic balance requirements of brine filled tires on the run, so to speak.
    Cheap Chrysler has so far refused to fit this $3,800.00 system on any of its
    cars or SUV's. Where is Ralph Nader when you need him?

    Richard.
     
    Richard, Nov 12, 2004
    #15
  16. MoPar Man

    clemslay Guest

    Completely with calcium chloride for traction !
     
    clemslay, Nov 14, 2004
    #16
  17. MoPar Man

    mike gray Guest

    The reason Nitrogen is used by racers is because (1) it's moisture-free
    and therefore expands less at temperature, and (2) it's real cheap.

    You can accomplish the same thing by getting yer tire air at a good
    scuba shop, where the air pumped is also dried.
     
    mike gray, Nov 14, 2004
    #17
Ask a Question

Want to reply to this thread or ask your own question?

You'll need to choose a username for the site, which only take a couple of moments (here). After that, you can post your question and our members will help you out.