Nitrogen Tire Inflation

Nexa Formula BMW Race Team uses Parker Hannifin for Nitrogen Tire Inflation

Parker Hannifin has supplied its Tiresaver nitrogen tire filling equipment to Nexa, the Formula BMW UK champions.  According to Nexa, the Tiresaver units allow the race teams to fill their tires within their demanding time specification.  More informtion on the Formula BMW Race Series can be found here:

Formula BMW Racing UK

  

Sema Show 2008

I will be unable to update my blog over the next week, I will be attending the Sema Show in Las Vegas, NV.  We will be unveiling some new nitrogen tire filling products at Sema , so it should be an exciting time.  The link to the Sema Show is given below. 

Sema Show

I will be checking email, so if anybody needs to get in touch to discuss nitrogen tire inflation, feel free to emai me at jlucidi@parker.com.

Marion County, FL Now Rides on Nitrogen Filled Tires

The Marion County, FL Sheriff's Department is making the switch to nitrogen tire inflation, joining their colleagues in Hillsborough County.  Marion County conducted a study, and they believe switching to nitrogen for tires will save them $92K year.  Here is the link that provides this information:

Marion County Nitrogen Tires

Where Can Drivers Get Their Tires Filled with Nitrogen?

The Get Nitrogen Institute is a non-profit group that touts nitrogen tire inflation and its benefits.  These include longer tire life, maximized fuel economy, safety, and a smaller carbon footprint.  As a service to drivers, they track locations where one can have their tires filled with nitrogen.  You can find that dealership locator here:

Get Nitrogen

A New Idea for Nitrogen Tire Inflation

There are numerous auto service locations are providing nitrogen for tires in today's marketplace.  This is a valuable service that should more than pay for itself in maximized gas mileage and tire life.  However, some new proactive dealers are offering a lot more than just a nitrogen tire fill.  They are charging the same amount ($29.95 - $59.95) but providing the consumer with a tire protection program including Sign and Drive Roadside Assistance and Tire Hazard Protection.  The Roadside package provides unlimited towing, flat tire assistance, fluid exchange, etc. and is similar to the AAA program.  The Tire Hazard program ofers up to $150 of tire protection per year.  These are great services to couple with nitrogen inflation.  If there are any dealers out there looking to improve their nitrogen filled tire offering, do not hesitate to contact me at jlucidi@parker.com.  We can provide these plans to enhance your offering. 

Here is a copy of the tire hazard plan itself. 

Download tire_program_fliers_haz1501.pdf

High Purity Nitrogen Tire Inflation

NHTSA recently finished some testing on nitrogen filled tires, and the results were very positive.  These results were recently presented at ITEC 2008, and received rather favorably by the tire industry representatives in attendance.

One really interesting aspect of this study was the results of high purity nitrogen.  We have been saying for years that the "sweet spot" for nitrogen tire filling for cars and light trucks was 93.4% purity.  Anything higher, and Oxygen leaks back into the tire, due to partial pressures.  Numerous manufacturers tout higher purity nitrogen as a benefit for the dealership, but this study proves thats not the case. 

As crazy as that sounds, NHTSA found that when tires are filled to purities above the partial pressure, Oxygen actually leaks back into the tire.  BACK INTO THE TIRE.  From the study: "Tires inflated with N2 lost or gained O2 to approach the equilibrium partial pressure."  This means that manufacturers (and dealers) touting 99% tire purity are setting their drivers up for failure.

I have attached the results of the study below: 

ITEC 2008: Effects of Nitrogen Inflation Gas

Nitrogen Purity in Tire when Filled with Compressed Air

One of the more common questions I get about nitrogen tire inflation is actually a pretty intriguing one.  If oxygen leaks out of an air filled tire, wouldn't the driver end up with nitrogen inflated tires after a period of time?  Good question, but what is the answer? 

Air is comprised of 78.1% nitrogen, and nitrogen inflated tires typically have a purity of 95% nitrogen.  I measured the nitrogen purity in air filled tires of various ages to determine how this oxgen migration affects nitrogen purity.  Not one tire I measured had a nitrogen purity of 78.1%, every one was higher indicating significant oxygen permeation had occurred.  The findings:

• Tires aged <1yr yielded purities ranging from 80% to 82% nitrogen. 
• Tires aged 1-2 years yielded purities ranging from 82% to 84%. 
• Tires aged >2years (but typically less than 5 yrs) yielded purities ranging from 83% to 88%. 

A lot of the older tires seemed to be in pretty poor shape, with low quality rubber and inadequate tread.  It appears tires would have to be in service for a long period of time to approach a respectable level of nitrogen.  Not to mention that the air filled tire is still seeing significant ammounts of moisture and contamination over the life of the tire.  Nitrogen filled tires have no moisture (-50F dewoint) and are contaminant (liquid & solid free). 

So the answer is yes, normal migration of oxygen through an air filled tire yields a higher nitrogen purity.  But the tire is only nitrogen enriched, not truly nitrogen inflated.  And the benfits of a clean, dry inflation gas are not going to be realized.