Nitrogen and Run Flat Tires

[BLACK MOON]

I had the dealer install my C6 chrome wheels on my 03 and asked for nitrogen rather than air. They said that they were instructed NOT to use it with run flat tires. They didn't exactly know why but they were instructed not to.

Does anyone have any published information on this issue.

Thanks all.

 

[vett boy]

I understood that does effect the pressure sensors.

 

[c4c5specialist]

Hi there,
There is a TSB on using nitrogen in any tires.
Check here, http://corvettemechanic.com/board/index.php?act=ST&f=20&t=2917&
There is no real benefit to usage of nitrogen.
Allthebest, c4c5

 

[BLACK MOON]

I read the tsb and didn't see any negatives mentioned at all and nothing to do with run flats. All i read is GM stating that if you are running tire pressure sensors then the use of nitrogen isn't necessary due the the effectiveness of the sensors. Am i missing something? They don't address the handling improvements, the extended tire wear nor the temperature variance benefits with the use of nitrogen.

I appreciate the information. If i had this earlier i would have insisted the dealer use the nitrogen. I may go back anyway.

The dealer was trying to sell me some new tires and (This was funny) they were saying how badly the runflats sucked as well as all the other goodyears they have had experience. When questioned further they said they would never reccomend Goodyears and would prefer not to even sell them.

Does anyone have any other information that would prevent someone from making the change.

 

[BLACK MOON]

Wait a minute, you said there was a tsb but the link you posted was to a thread that you wrote. Can you direct me to the actual tsb?

Thanks alot

 

[c4c5specialist]

HI there,
That TSB is actually cut and pasted, from GM service information.
It was NOT modified or changed in any way.
Allthebest, c4c5

 

[DRTH VTR]

snip They don't address the handling improvements, the extended tire wear nor the temperature variance benefits with the use of nitrogen. snip

I am skeptical about the claims that the nitrogen proponents make. The air in my tires contains the same 79% nitrogen as the atmosphere. I just do not believe that there is any real difference between air and nitrogen in terms of tire performance. The laws of physics apply just the same, although the chemistry could be a little different. But I wear out my tires long before they can be oxidized from the inside out. Some would argue that the water content in the air matters more for temperature and pressure variation than does the oxygen content. But I have a hard time believing that there is any difference in handling or wear with nitrogen.

 

[BLACK MOON]

Still looking for some information relevant to the issue. Is anyone using it?

 

[DRTH VTR]

Some previous threads may help.

http://corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=66555&page=2&highlight=NITROGEN

http://corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=59616&highlight=NITROGEN

http://corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=56534&highlight=NITROGEN

 

[BLACK MOON]

Thanks DRTH!! The last link has some real information on it and was quite helpful. Thanks also to 'Rain' who submitted the info.

I think i'll try it.

 

[Mike Mercury]

Hi there,
There is a TSB on using nitrogen in any tires.
Check here, http://corvettemechanic.com/board/index.php?act=ST&f=20&t=2917&

I tried to read your link, but it wanted me to register.

"Register" just to read a post ???

There is no real benefit to usage of nitrogen

wouldn't it be more accurate to say "according to this particular source... there is no real benefit to usage of nitrogen."

 

[c4c5specialist]

HI there,
Yes, there are some very mad people who have tried to hack our site.
I dont take chances, sorry.
You can interpret my post as you wish. Because IMO of real world service of motor vehicles, there is no benefit to outweight the cost of equipment and installation of nitrogen and after the information from GM, I am even more convinced.
Allthebest, c4c5

 

[warren s]

Hmm, I wonder if I should replace my ignition wires with the "low oxygen" content copper wire like they sell in the high end stereo stores for 30 bucks a foot.

 

[BLACK MOON]

Maybe it is just a fad or even a rip off but all of the local 'GM' dealers have the equipment and are pushing the use. I haven't read anything so far that advises against it, not even from GM. Their only reference says it is/ may be of no benefit when using tire sensors. I think this comes down to personal preferance and the type of driving that you do. Personally I drive all my vehicles (except one) very hard and go through tires like socks. Anything that might extend the life of my tires, improve handling and control moisture content is worth giving a try.

All the best and thanks for everyone's input.

 

[DRTH VTR]

They put it in my tires last time I bought tires. But the valve caps they put on were BRIGHT green. I could not stand them, so I went back to black and filled with whatever air was available. I autocross, so I overfill the tires every couple of weeks in the warm months. It was just nitrogen.

 

[Bioscache2]

Maybe it is just a fad or even a rip off but all of the local 'GM' dealers have the equipment and are pushing the use. I haven't read anything so far that advises against it, not even from GM. Their only reference says it is/ may be of no benefit when using tire sensors. I think this comes down to personal preferance and the type of driving that you do. Personally I drive all my vehicles (except one) very hard and go through tires like socks. Anything that might extend the life of my tires, improve handling and control moisture content is worth giving a try.

All the best and thanks for everyone's input.

Black Moon the harder you drive your car, the less you need nitrogen. Nitrogen prevents oxidation from the inside out, but that takes years and years to occur. So the nitrogen you use does not extend the life of your tires at all. I recently got into a good discussion of this with a bunch of fellow engineers and if you want, would be happy to discuss it with you here. On the other hand, if your a bottom line type of guy the nitrogen is not worth it unless its absolutely free (I wouldn't even pay a dollar more for it) or unless you retread your tires or you plan on storing the car and tires for years on end. Also Dry air has all the benefits that you could ever really use from nitrogen, unless you plan on retreading your tires.

 

[Mike Mercury]

Hmm, I wonder if I should replace my ignition wires with the "low oxygen" content copper wire like they sell in the high end stereo stores for 30 bucks a foot.

why would you do that? Ignition wires carry D.C.

The failure of a stranded wire (where the surface of each individual strand starts to corrode - thus insulating one strand from the other - causing capacitive reactance - which will start to attenuate audio signals) only affects A.C. ... not D.C.

Low-oxygen stranded-cable impedes the start of the corrosion process - thus prevents (or seriously delays) the onset of capacitve reactance. The Military has been doing this for years now. They flood the wire with an inert gas just before the insulation is added.

Why do you think the move to fiber optic is so strong? It completely eliminates the capacitive reactance problem due to corrosion of the individual strands.

 

[warren s]

why would you do that? Ignition wires carry D.C.

The failure of a stranded wire (where the surface of each individual strand starts to corrode - thus insulating one strand from the other - causing capacitive reactance - which will start to attenuate audio signals) only affects A.C. ... not D.C.

Low-oxygen stranded-cable impedes the start of the corrosion process - thus prevents (or seriously delays) the onset of capacitve reactance. The Military has been doing this for years now. They flood the wire with an inert gas just before the insulation is added.

Why do you think the move to fiber optic is so strong? It completely eliminates the capacitive reactance problem due to corrosion of the individual strands.

It was a joke dude.

 

[Mike Mercury]

It was a joke dude.

O.K. Sometimes I'm slow to see that.

 

[BacaBill]

I've been in automotive repair/tire business for about 20 years mostly dealing with Goodyears. The only reason I've ever heard about running nitrogen in tires was because it doesn't heat up after driving like air does. IOW, tire pressure remains constant no matter how far you drive. Am I missing something here?