Nitrogen in tires

[Sniper]

Would you recommend putting nitrogen in Toyo R888R tires and if so, what pressure?

[TKO MOTORSPORTS TEAM]

Would you recommend putting nitrogen in Toyo R888R tires and if so, what pressure?

If your taking your car to the track absolutely run nitrogen if you can. On the street air is fine. Dont gas stack. Dont put nitro in tire already partially filled air. Evac tire and then refill with nitrogen. If you can bring an air tank to adjust pressures. You can get nitro at walmart and they will fill your tank if you ask. Best source for nitro if you dont have access to cylinders.

Nitro
19-21 psi cold ( at the track)

27-34 psi hot ( at the track) adjust as needed for max grip

mark your valve stem on your tire with tire crayon or paint pen. You can keep an eye on tire slip on rim quick visual when you get back to pits.

Give yourself 1-2 laps for tires to get temp and pressure

[City]

It's an interesting question and I'd like to see the opinions.

Some of my findings/understanding:
Air contains over 75% nitrogen already.
Unless you can get all the air out of your tire before refilling, you can't inflate with pure nitrogen.
The benefit of none or less oxidation inside the wheel is much slower than the sun's UV rays break down the outside of a tire.

I gather that nitrogen slows the leakage of air as the molecules are larger, but if you check your tire pressure more often, wouldn't that yield the same result?

Anyway, I wouldn't bother with nitrogen. Just my .02

[BSLSK]

Likely wasted effort if you're just average Joe on the track. If you're Lewis Hamilton flying down Monza, then nitrogen for sure.

[JonB ~ PartsRack]

Likely wasted effort if you're just average Joe on the track. If you're Lewis Hamilton flying down Monza, then nitrogen for sure.


WHAT HE SAID.......

City..... you fill your tires 1.5 times to evacuate the ambient air

[TKO MOTORSPORTS TEAM]

It's an interesting question and I'd like to see the opinions.

Some of my findings/understanding:
Air contains over 75% nitrogen already.
Unless you can get all the air out of your tire before refilling, you can't inflate with pure nitrogen.
The benefit of none or less oxidation inside the wheel is much slower than the sun's UV rays break down the outside of a tire.

I gather that nitrogen slows the leakage of air as the molecules are larger, but if you check your tire pressure more often, wouldn't that yield the same result?

Anyway, I wouldn't bother with nitrogen. Just my .02

Good thoughts city. The oxidation theory never really thought of but basic science would say it holds true. Nitrogen is much more stable then air thats the reasoning behind running nitrogen " nitro" . On the street yes your correct no reason to run nitro but you can if you like. At the track its a great benefit to run nitro. Motorsports is all about removing the variables as much as possible. Less variables equals saftey, ease of operation, and lower lap times. If you run straight air in your tires at the track you will see an increase of 15-20psi from cold psi to hot psi along with that you get fluctuations during a lap. If you run nitro you will see 8-12 psi cold to hot psi change and fluctuation during a lap are much less . Tire psi directly effects contact patch, turn in, braking etc; So lets say your at the track running straight air in your tires and lap 2 your up to temp all good 26 psi. You come into turn 4 you hit your braking marker, turn in car sets, apex hit the exit and apply throttle all is good. Next lap same turn 4 except now your tires with air in them have 38psi . You now have a completely different car under you because you have lost grip due to excessive air pressure. Tire are your direct connection to the track surface small fluctuations make a big difference

[TKO MOTORSPORTS TEAM]

Likely wasted effort if you're just average Joe on the track. If you're Lewis Hamilton flying down Monza, then nitrogen for sure.

5 psi difference at the track even a novice driver will feel a difference

[JonB ~ PartsRack]

5 psi difference at the track even a novice driver will feel a difference


As a LONG time instructor for multiple marques, I Think Not.

Very Rare for a novice to have any instinctive seat-of-pants feel like that.

[Toxic]

Novice track day drivers I agree with Jon.

My experience is you definately know when you are 5 psi too high, especially the change to understeer I typically get despite my set up when the tires get too hot up front.

Here in Texas the few times I've run nitrogen I have noticed tire temp is more stable and thus grip changes are minimized across a session. Especially when I stack an instructor session with an advanced run group session back to back giving rides.

I haven't committed to it regularly, but I was impressed with not having to play as much with bleeding throughout the day and backing off late in sessions based on tire temps.

Man, like many of you I miss the track. Might need to drop back to green group by the time the 'Rona clears......:D:bth_smiley_formula1

[TKO MOTORSPORTS TEAM]

As a LONG time instructor for multiple marques, I Think Not.

Very Rare for a novice to have any instinctive seat-of-pants feel like that.

We have had many novice drivers feel small psi changes. If we are at track test day or race day our pits are always open to our customers for support. Question we get all the time from novice drivers " what tire pressure would you run". 9 times out of 10 they are running 5-10 psi to much pressure cold . ( with nitrogen). They make a 5 psi change and always feel a difference. 5 psi is a big change at the track; a zero experience driver will feel that change running back to back. Pro drivers feel 1-2 psi changes and experienced pro drivers can even tell you which tire.

[Arizona Vipers]

Novice drivers may not "feel" it on track, but lap times will be noticeable for those that are keeping track with a 5psi difference.
When i get my slicks mounted, the wheel shop I use uses an evacuation process so it's mostly nitrogen and makes a huge difference on track. With air I need to start my michelin slicks sometimes as low as 17 to reach 29-30 hot, with full nitrogen, I'll start around 24psi to get that 29-30 hot

[Sniper]

So what pressure should I use for street use?

[TKO MOTORSPORTS TEAM]

So what pressure should I use for street use?

Hello Sniper
for the street cruising around town regular air is fine and mfg recommended tire pressure. keep it simple

[Sniper]

Hello Sniper
for the street cruising around town regular air is fine and mfg recommended tire pressure. keep it simple

Thank you!

[HOLLYWOOD]

Agreed. This was a marketing gig started many years ago. Yes, you can blend Nitrogen with "normal"air in a tire.

[TKO MOTORSPORTS TEAM]

Agreed. This was a marketing gig started many years ago. Yes, you can blend Nitrogen with "normal"air in a tire.

yes on street nitro and air mix no problem. If you take your car to track and want performance accuracy evac or purge tires and pure nitrogen.

[Unlimtd]

It's an interesting question and I'd like to see the opinions.

Some of my findings/understanding:
Air contains over 75% nitrogen already.
Unless you can get all the air out of your tire before refilling, you can't inflate with pure nitrogen.
The benefit of none or less oxidation inside the wheel is much slower than the sun's UV rays break down the outside of a tire.

I gather that nitrogen slows the leakage of air as the molecules are larger, but if you check your tire pressure more often, wouldn't that yield the same result?

Anyway, I wouldn't bother with nitrogen. Just my .02

78.09 percent.

[Unlimtd]

Another thing for a novice to keep in mind:

"Nitrogen is an inert gas — meaning it doesn't chemically react with other gases — and it isn't toxic. But breathing pure nitrogen is deadly. That's because the gas displaces oxygen in the lungs. Unconsciousness can occur within one or two breaths, according to the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board."

[SSGNRDZ_28]

Nobody has mentioned the reason nitrogen is more consistent. It is because nitrogen from a bottle is dry, there’s nothing else magic about nitrogen vs. air. Ideally you need to purge all moisture from the tire, the best way to do this is when it’s hot. The more this is done the better the benefit. More consistent and less pressure rise is the goal.

Doug

[Sniper]

I aired up new tires with nitrogen, was only $5 extra per tire.

[TKO MOTORSPORTS TEAM]

Nobody has mentioned the reason nitrogen is more consistent. It is because nitrogen from a bottle is dry, there’s nothing else magic about nitrogen vs. air. Ideally you need to purge all moisture from the tire, the best way to do this is when it’s hot. The more this is done the better the benefit. More consistent and less pressure rise is the goal.

Doug

A few of us mentioned why nitro is better its called " stable" or if you want to get real technical...... Fewer hydrogen atoms. Purging hot works but purging cold also works just as well. You will still retain 5-8%% atmosphere in the tire purging hot or cold ( also depends on altitude and humidity) . Since we are getting super technical. The only way to get less then 5-8% is to pull vacuum this is the true proper way to purge a tire for nitro fill. This also depends on altitude humidity not a much a concern doing vacuum Laguna seca or long beach you can pull more vacuum then at Utah motor sports park. It takes alot of extra time and a vac setup so we have only done this in the past for qualifying or race when time allows or its necessary. If your track viper guy keep it simple Tires off car or car on jack stands or car lift 1. pull you tire valves hot or cold doesn't matter let all the air out. 2. refill with nitro 3. set pressure and record 4. GO HAVE FUN.

[JonB ~ PartsRack]

For $5 extra you could have used HELIUM!

Helium Makes your rotating unsprung tire-wheel mass even lower, offset by the lighter-than-air gas.

winking snake: ~~~~~;<~

[Sniper]

For $5 extra you could have used HELIUM!

Helium Makes your rotating unsprung tire-wheel mass even lower, offset by the lighter-than-air gas.

winking snake: ~~~~~;<~

LOL

[sharmut]

Reviving this old thread.

Decided to try Nitrogen on the ACR-E with R7s for next year. Will compare to Racelogic historical data running normal air.
46367

I typically run 315x30x18 & 345x30x19 R7s, but occasionally switch the front to 295x30x19 or 315x30x19 and do note in my log book.

[TKO MOTORSPORTS TEAM]

Reviving this old thread.

Decided to try Nitrogen on the ACR-E with R7s for next year. Will compare to Racelogic historical data running normal air.
46367

I typically run 315x30x18 & 345x30x19 R7s, but occasionally switch the front to 295x30x19 or 315x30x19 and do not it in my log book.

You will see improvement across the data and more consistent lap times.