THE CONTROVERSY OVER NITROGEN-FILLED MOTORCYCLE TIRES
Does nitrogen help the performance of our motorcycle tires? Or is at unnecessary expense?
Filling motorcycle tires with nitrogen (instead of air) has been a controversial subject for a number of years now with members of various motorcycle forums touting either its benefits, or conversely, the view that its apparent value is not worth paying anything at all, compared to readily available free air (which contains 78% nitrogen).
In the February 2009 issue of Rider Magazine, Chris Sidah (”Tech Q&A”) has this to say in reference to the promoted advantages of nitrogen:
“A 100 percent nitrogen-filled tire will do all the things they claim compared to a flat tire. I suggest you regularly use the 78 percent nitrogen mixture that’s available for free to keep your bike’s tires properly inflated. I don’t think we need to get into the size differences of N2 and O2 molecules, or the concepts of Boyles Law here. Suffice it to say, in some instances nitrogen – which is an inert gas – is a better way to fill a tire. Those instances occur on the racetrack, in airline tires and some military applications. For normal day-to-day circumstances, it’s just not worth the hassle. “
For some additional insights into the issue, here is a link that is for a motorcycle dealer’s perspective from powersportbusiness.com
What are your thoughts and experiences regarding the use of nitrogen in motorcycle tires? (”Leave a Reply” below.)
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Ive driven from sea level 36 C to 1500ft above sea level 44C ,and that rear AVON Venom X heated up to 70 psi from 35psi , 3hrs into trip. The heavy motorcycles go through a cycle of ups and downs from how you ride, and basically tire heat, road heat.
if nitrogen versus ordinary air is going to make a life or death difference, something else is going to kill you first.
Regular air in my tires is fine for me.
A waste of air. You still need to check the pressure at least every other week, and more often if you are on an extended journey. Each time you do a slight amount is released from the tire. I doubt there is a lifetime guarantee of free N refills, and I doubt whether the convenience store in Austin Nevada has one when you are going through there on your transcon US 50 trip.
The easiest way to deal with issues of this type is not to hang around with wankers
Guys Im not gonna get into all the physics and chemistry of nitrogen filled tyres, but by experience of riding long distances in deserts all i know is the tyre pressure at the end of 750kms run on a 45 deg C ambient temperature iv never had to check the tyre pressure if it was nitrogen in it but if it was normal air the back starts to hurt as the tyre pressure goes up to some amounts but again the difference is not that great but at the end of 800kms of hot weather run when your bike handling is all important then this does make a lot of difference.,… Just my view on it that is all…. Cheers
I fill my tires with helium, makes the bike lighter so it goes faster. Also I take a few hits of the stuff and get light headed and talk like donald duck. Actually I think just keeping your tires at the proper pressure (with air) while using the proper tire for the riding you are doing, and keeping tires that are in good shape on your bike are about as serious as you need to get.
Hey this was potentially one of the most intelligent posts I’ve had the chance to go over on the subject so far. I don’t know where you learn all of your data but keep it coming!
Andrew–
Assuming a prevailing atmospheric pressure of 14 psi, the total pressure when the tire is filled with N2 will be 56 psi, since “tire pressure” is the differential between atmospheric pressure and the actual pressure inside the tire.
Using Dalton’s Law of Partial Pressures gives you a N2 percentage of 94.5 in the inflated tire.
Here is a question?
Your tire is filled with air at 0 PSI
There is 78% Nitrogen in the tire.
You add 42 Lbs of Nitrogen to the tire.
What is the percentage of Nitrogen in the tire.
One must assume that 0 PSi has a volume and weight.
Show your mathematical formula to prove your statement.
Yes this requires a physics and math knowledge.
Thanks for this article. I’d forgotten air is 78% nitrogen (long time since high school chemistry).
I like D Martinez’s comment about bleeding out the other gasses
Found a couple articles that explain more:
http://blogs.consumerreports.org/cars/2007/10/tires-nitrogen-.html
and
http://ahotcupofjoe.wordpress.com/2008/07/05/nitrogen-filled-tires-a-scam/
I just fill mine with compressed air to 22% higher than recommended pressure…bleed off the extra gases out o fthe tire and now have 100% nitrogen!! **Just use the proper amount of air!! **
I see no value in using 100%. Only in an extreme racing situation, and by that I do not include track days…
It is of no benifit to the motoring public.The number one concern should be—what is the tire pressure?
The pressure is so important that in Nascar teams sometimes adjust in .5 psi increments to achieve better handling.
We should be concerned with with regular checking and maintaining pressure to the recommended +/- 2 psi (depending upon our gauge).