[Rono63]

Do all G8X come with Nitrogen inflated tires?
Mine came with these caps, which I assume means my tires are inflated with Nitrogen.

[M0J0]

No, nitrogen is an addition when you sign the papers. It is a pointless addition too. Nitrogen is something you only need when you are racing. They tried to sell me it too along with extra insurance etc.

[HorsePower]

Originally Posted by M0J0

No, nitrogen is an addition when you sign the papers. It is a pointless addition too. Nitrogen is something you only need when you a racing. They tried to sell me it too along with extra insurance etc.

My dealer didn’t even try to sell it to me. Guess they know me by now.

[KylianHamilton]

What's the benefit of having N2 in your tires?

[Rono63]

It's supposed to be some what more stable.

I was not charged for it. Payed MSRP with no extra add on.

[ano0oj]

Originally Posted by KylianHamilton

What's the benefit of having N2 in your tires?

Less prone to significant pressure change with temperature

[NightWriter]

Many dealers sell it at ridiculous premiums. If it's a couple bucks, go ahead and splurge if you'd like, but it's not worth the minuscule differences.

https://www.consumerreports.org/tire...s-a6260003694/
https://www.aaa.com/autorepair/artic...late-car-tires

[Limegrntaln]

I wouldn't call it worthless. I think the dealers overcharge for it, but they need to pay for their equipment they purchased to provide the nitrogen fill.

Nitrogen is an inert gas, meaning that its not flammable. It's also lighter than the air it displaces, meaning there are no explosive blowouts, like when you pop a balloon, with a needle.

We used it exclusively in the airline industry, for filling tires. The gas is more stable, which means there is less of a pressure difference, from cold to hot. So, as our tires get hotter, from use, the pressure fluctuation, is less.

When tires filled with Oxygen, heat up, you can expect to see a temperature difference between 4° to 7° F . While the swing with Nitrogen may be 0° to 2° F, causing a lower heat cycling range, effectively, slightly, lengthening tire life, from less heat damage.

[chris3g]

you guys realize that air is nearly 80% nitrogen to start with right? It is impossible to get 100% nitrogen into your tires. Realistically, you're getting it filled out of poorly maintained equipment by a tech who doesn't give a shit. Maybe you are getting 90% N2 instead of the 78% you get with regular air. Very much not worth it outside of specific circumstances.

[Ximian]

Originally Posted by Limegrntaln

Nitrogen is an inert gas, meaning that its not flammable. It's also lighter than the air it displaces, meaning there are no explosive blowouts, like when you pop a balloon, with a needle.
...
When tires filled with Oxygen

While there are benefits to nitrogen in tires, the bigger benefit is using dry air which is what nitrogen fills do better than regular air machines. The pressure changes for nitrogen with temperature are still the same, the physics doesn't change. Moisture in the air in the tire will make pressure changes more drastic when the temperature changes.

The usual air compressor machines at gas stations are going give you a mix of water vapor and air where the air is 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and the rest is "other" because that's what our air consistent of. Nobody is filling tires with air that has substantially more oxygen.

If you're filling your tires on a very humid day, that water vapor displaces nitrogen, oxygen, and other gasses. What you get now is maybe 1% water vapor and 99% air as opposed to maybe 0.5% water vapor and 99.5% air. (These are made up numbers)


When you do a nitrogen fill, those air content ratios are changed where the best machines get you as close to 99% nitrogen as they can and the rest is "oxygen, other." Typically, the nitrogen contents aren't close to 99% and much closer to 78%. However, it is much dryer air so the pressure will be relatively more stable compared to regular air/water vapor mixes.

Take a look at this tire filling machine that drys compressed air or nitrogen - https://www.intercompracing.com/docu...ner-Racing.pdf

If your dealership has that, use it and worry much less about your tire pressures.

[NightWriter]

Originally Posted by Limegrntaln

I wouldn't call it worthless. I think the dealers overcharge for it, but they need to pay for their equipment they purchased to provide the nitrogen fill.

Nitrogen is an inert gas, meaning that its not flammable. It's also lighter than the air it displaces, meaning there are no explosive blowouts, like when you pop a balloon, with a needle.

We used it exclusively in the airline industry, for filling tires. The gas is more stable, which means there is less of a pressure difference, from cold to hot. So, as our tires get hotter, from use, the pressure fluctuation, is less.

When tires filled with Oxygen, heat up, you can expect to see a temperature difference between 4° to 7° F . While the swing with Nitrogen may be 0° to 2° F, causing a lower heat cycling range, effectively, slightly, lengthening tire life, from less heat damage.

It's not worthless, but it's more important for extreme temperature variances (like aircraft tires experience, and racing). For regular road use, you're still going to need to check and top off air (or nitrogen) periodically. And if you are paying for it at a dealership/shop, casually ask to see their tanks to verify they're not shortchanging you with a lower-grade 78% N2, 21% O2 combo (aka air).

[Limegrntaln]

Originally Posted by Ximian

While there are benefits to nitrogen in tires, the bigger benefit is using dry air which is what nitrogen fills do better than regular air machines. The pressure changes for nitrogen with temperature are still the same, the physics doesn't change. Moisture in the air in the tire will make pressure changes more drastic when the temperature changes.

The usual air compressor machines at gas stations are going give you a mix of water vapor and air where the air is 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and the rest is "other" because that's what our air consistent of. Nobody is filling tires with air that has substantially more oxygen.

If you're filling your tires on a very humid day, that water vapor displaces nitrogen, oxygen, and other gasses. What you get now is maybe 1% water vapor and 99% air as opposed to maybe 0.5% water vapor and 99.5% air. (These are made up numbers)


When you do a nitrogen fill, those air content ratios are changed where the best machines get you as close to 99% nitrogen as they can and the rest is "oxygen, other." Typically, the nitrogen contents aren't close to 99% and much closer to 78%. However, it is much dryer air so the pressure will be relatively more stable compared to regular air/water vapor mixes.

Take a look at this tire filling machine that drys compressed air or nitrogen - https://www.intercompracing.com/docu...ner-Racing.pdf

If your dealership has that, use it and worry much less about your tire pressures.

Originally Posted by NightWriter

It's not worthless, but it's more important for extreme temperature variances (like aircraft tires experience, and racing). For regular road use, you're still going to need to check and top off air (or nitrogen) periodically. And if you are paying for it at a dealership/shop, casually ask to see their tanks to verify they're not shortchanging you with a lower-grade 78% N2, 21% O2 combo (aka air).

Correct, we are offering the ultra geek out, on why dealerships push nitrogen fill. But is it all that big of a deal on a daily driver? Not likely.

[Forzanerazzurri]

Nitrogen has been proven pretty reliably to show no material improvement for passenger car tires. The fact that places charge money for it is even worse.

[Limegrntaln]

Originally Posted by Forzanerazzurri

Nitrogen has been proven pretty reliably to show no material improvement for passenger car tires. The fact that places charge money for it is even worse.

It's all in the cost of equipment. Are dealers getting their Nitrogen Delivered in Cylinders, or are they buying Nitrogen machines? Nitrogen machines, dont produce nitrogen, they use a membrane system, that removes Oxygen from the air, leaving Nitrogen.

Why Nitrogen?

Nitrogen is Air – without the bad stuff. Air is about 78% Nitrogen, 20% Oxygen with moisture and some other gases. Tires loose pressure because air goes right through the rubber. This is called permeation. The Oxygen in air escapes much faster, causing quick initial pressure loss. Laboratory guides rate the permeability rate through rubber of Oxygen at 23.3 vs. Nitrogen at only 9.43. Oxygen, CO2 and Helium all leak faster than Nitrogen. Oxygen is also reactive. “Oxidation” weakens, dries and cracks rubber. It can also damage Alloy rims and break-down sealants. Moisture can corrode valves from the inside causing problems with proper valve closure. All problems with regular air are accelerated by pressure. Nitrogen is the best solution. Nitrogen inflated tires maintain a more consistent tire pressure across different temperatures. Tire performance is more reliable and efficient when recommended tire pressure is maintained and heat is reduced. Most auto dealers recommend Nitrogen inflation exclusively for vehicles with tire pressure monitoring systems to prevent heat-related pressure warnings from your vehicle.

[2011ninja]

This is why non car people think I'm out of my mind.

We will debate the value of nitrogen to standard air pumps to inflate tires.

This is a safe place for these discussions.

And now I know a lot more about nitrogen

[Limegrntaln]

Originally Posted by 2011ninja

This is why non car people think I'm out of my mind.

We will debate the value of nitrogen to standard air pumps to inflate tires.

This is a safe place for these discussions.

And now I know a lot more about nitrogen

[KylianHamilton]

Think I'll opt for the Helium option to make the car a little lighter

[s58]

Originally Posted by KylianHamilton

Think I'll opt for the Helium option to make the car a little lighter

Gotta reduce that unsprung mass as much as possible!

[M4CompConv/X7]

Originally Posted by KylianHamilton

Think I'll opt for the Helium option to make the car a little lighter

With the size of a Helium molecule, it will leak out so much faster.

[androidtopp]

Originally Posted by M4Comp/x7

With the size of a Helium molecule, it will leak out so much faster.

Remember also that helium nuclei are identical to alpha particles, so as it leaks out, you get radiation poisoning. Or something like that.

Seems like you should pay for nitrogen just for the safety aspect...

[Forzanerazzurri]

Originally Posted by Limegrntaln

It's all in the cost of equipment. Are dealers getting their Nitrogen Delivered in Cylinders, or are they buying Nitrogen machines? Nitrogen machines, dont produce nitrogen, they use a membrane system, that removes Oxygen from the air, leaving Nitrogen.

Why Nitrogen?

Nitrogen is Air – without the bad stuff. Air is about 78% Nitrogen, 20% Oxygen with moisture and some other gases. Tires loose pressure because air goes right through the rubber. This is called permeation. The Oxygen in air escapes much faster, causing quick initial pressure loss. Laboratory guides rate the permeability rate through rubber of Oxygen at 23.3 vs. Nitrogen at only 9.43. Oxygen, CO2 and Helium all leak faster than Nitrogen. Oxygen is also reactive. “Oxidation” weakens, dries and cracks rubber. It can also damage Alloy rims and break-down sealants. Moisture can corrode valves from the inside causing problems with proper valve closure. All problems with regular air are accelerated by pressure. Nitrogen is the best solution. Nitrogen inflated tires maintain a more consistent tire pressure across different temperatures. Tire performance is more reliable and efficient when recommended tire pressure is maintained and heat is reduced. Most auto dealers recommend Nitrogen inflation exclusively for vehicles with tire pressure monitoring systems to prevent heat-related pressure warnings from your vehicle.

None of that is of a material enough benefit to justify paying for or even worrying about Nitrogen. Especially for the "lease it for 3 years and trade it in" BMW crowd. For example, oxidation of rubber and corrosion of rims from oxygen in your tires is not even close to being a reasonable concern for any of us. This is getting a tad ridiculous.

[Limegrntaln]

Originally Posted by Forzanerazzurri

None of that is of a material enough benefit to justify paying for or even worrying about Nitrogen. Especially for the "lease it for 3 years and trade it in" BMW crowd. For example, oxidation of rubber and corrosion of rims from oxygen in your tires is not even close to being a reasonable concern for any of us. This is getting a tad ridiculous.

Agreed, these are extreme circumstances when comparing them to everyday road cars. I have seen some massive corrosion in places where it's cold and wet all the time. Like the East Coast and the UK. But I'm sure it's not to this level.