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Old August 18th, 2008, 09:23 PM   #4 (permalink)
joe_padavano
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Allan R View Post
3. I use nitrogen in my tires. They run cooler and I almost never have to adjust pressure (once a year if needed). I was told that nitrogen molecules are larger than air, so they don't leak down in summer OR WINTER. It also prevents moisture buildup inside the wheel.
At the risk of taking this off-topic, ya might want to study your chemistry again. First, air isn't a molecule, it's a mixture of gases, with 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and traces of other stuff. Second, nitrogen is atomic number 7, oxygen is atomic number 8. A nitrogen molecule is SMALLER than an oxygen molecule.

The reason that NASCAR teams use dry nitrogen is the "DRY" part. It's the water vapor in air that causes the expansion and thus changes the stagger of race tires with temperature. Of course, what's the first thing the tire gorilla,...er, TECHNICIAN does at CostoMart when installing your tires? He swabs the beads with a water/glycerin mixture. Ya think any of that water gets INSIDE the tire? Even a little far outweighs the amount of water you'll get if you inflate with air.

Sorry for the rant. Soapbox mode off....
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