Nitrogen vs. Air in Winter Tires

[Carbon]

Originally Posted by cavalier35

I'm wondering if there's any benefit to filling my winter tires with nitrogen because of the big change in elevation and temperature.

Nitrogen will mean that you can go about 1.5 times as long before filling up again. That may be 2 months vs 3 months or 4 vs 6 months or 6 vs 9 months. It would depend on the value you put on time checking and refilling tires. That time in the coldest weather is probably worth more than it is in mild weather. Some people express shock at going 6 months without checking the air in tires.

Regarding the quality of air in winter vs summer, the air you add in the winter would usually be drier than in muggy summer. Drier is a little better. Some people

Note that some folks get emotional over nitrogen fills. It definitely has value, but the value to a given person may be less than the cost or convenience factor. I use air. Airlines and race cars use nitrogen. I expect the presidential limo uses nitrogen or even argon.

[Blogson]

I lived in rural Minnesota with winter temps. sometimes -35F, inflated my winter tires only with our on-farm compressor, and never had a tire balance problem as long as I had the tires balanced when first having them installed onto the wheels (used same wheels both summer and winter). In cold weather the winter tires often had flat spots from standing overnight, but those soon disappeared when driving.

[djb383]

Originally Posted by cavalier35

That's the exact same thing I was thinking, but then read they do purge the tire of any air............

Wonder how a tire is purged of air????????

Our local 'yota dealership adds $295 for the nitrogen pkg on all the new 'yotas on their lot. Me thinks they just swap out the black valve stem caps for green ones.

[pico]

Originally Posted by Blogson

I lived in rural Minnesota with winter temps. sometimes -35F[...]

Ah! A brother Minnesotan! I remember the Seventies when at -40F our tires would stay flat on the bottom side until we 'thumped' them back into shape by driving.

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[Blogson]

Originally Posted by pico

Ah! A brother Minnesotan! I remember the Seventies when at -40F our tires would stay flat on the bottom side until we 'thumped' them back into shape by driving.

.

Wasn't it quite an earth (or vehicle) shaking experience when the tires somehow became coordinated so that all four flat spots hit the pavement at the same times?

[ashtonybb]

yeah, it is a GOOD IDEA if we really need an air all the time. why dont we look for to purchase a PORTABLE AIR TANK. there's 5 galloon air tank that i've seen online for less than 30$.

what do you think? this is cheaper than buying the nitrogen air. at least 5-7$ per tire, in Canada.

[blackdograv]

I fill mine with helium. Mileage is drastically increased as the car now weighs about 150 pounds. Couple of times on a hot day I have, however, come back to the parking lot to find my car floating about 4 or 5 feet off the ground.

[vanib]

Originally Posted by cavalier35

haha...my winter tires don't have pressure sensors in them, so I have to look at the warning light as soon as I switch to my winter tires.

or fix the TPMS light! There is a thread about rigging it, or even putting a switch on it (How to disable TPMS (How to turn off TPMS light)). Some have even gotten the Toyota Techstream and MVCI where it seems you can put the TPMS off.

It is also very easy to just pull the trim off the console and put an electrical tape.

I am in Canada. No TPMS!

[drzsmum]

Costco does it for free. I would not pay for it but seems to have been great. Never had to add air and I check them quite regularly. I do run 35psi instead of 32 and it gives a bit of a buffer for winter.

[blackdograv]

Originally Posted by vanib

I am in Canada. No TPMS!

Good for you, eh?!
I'm no republican but in this case, I say government has no business mandating that all cars must have pressure monitoring systems. Next they'll be mandating heated seats and ipod USB interface.