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There's a $1000 nitrogen "generator" available from Harbor Freight for pumping up tires. Search for item 95105 at http://www.harborfreight.com.

Nitrogen is a lighter gas than oxygen, but I doubt this would make much difference. Less than 1 pound per tire? Even helium wouldn't help much.

But if there was some shop that offered inflation with pure nitrogen, for an extra dollar or so, I'd like to hear about it.

A lot of tire retailers offer nitrogen inflation. I say if it is offered free then take it. However, once you have it in there any time you need a top off you would have to go back as mixing regular air with nitrogen basicly makes the tire like a regular air filled tire.

I think air is like 60 or 80% nitrogen anyway.

My concern is that people that put nitrogen in their tires might be less likely to make sure they are at the correct pressure and if they do find they are low might also drive longer on under inflated tires before they get them topped off.

Ultimately I don't think MPG wise it is significant.

I would not do it for FE reasons if it costs extra money. There really is no benefit on that front if you are in the good habit of checking your tire pressure frequently, which is a wise thing to do no matter what gas is in the tire. My understanding is that the one real benefit of filling from a bottle is the reduced (negligible) moisture content. Filling on a humid day can result in condensation later, and quite a bit of liquid water sloshing around over the life of a tire. I don't know if it's all that terrible but I have seen evidence that it does happen.

I don't know whats up with this nitrogen junk now days. I haven't seen one tire shop thats doing it right to start with.

I have a nitrogen bottle, vacuum pump, regulator and most every thing needed to do it right. And its not worth my time.

To just mount a tire and gas it isn't worth the effort.

You have to make sure the tire and rim are at least rag dry. Then mount it up. Then set bead. Then pull a vacuum and boil any moisture out. The refill with nitrogen. If you don't do this. There is still moisture in the cavity. So whats the point. If your not fighting super heat in a tire or tuning for stagger or other handling issues. Whats the point? If you want a nitrogen filled tire to preform you have to treat it like a freon condensing unit. Any trace of moisture will ruin any thing you think you have gained.

There is nothing sound about this for passenger cars at all.

But if you have the gas and the tools to do it right and maintain it. Then knock yourself out. PLEASE!!!

Keeping up with oil changes, basic tire psi and keeping ones car clean will do more for mpg then this fad will ever do.

psy

psy

Yeah, I have heard about these recommendations, and I agree. It doesn't sound like it's worth it. Keeping the tires filled with ordinary air should be good enough.