nitrogen in my tires?

[vegas_rider]

hey guys,

another noob issue lol....i'm still just getting familiar with the bike and pre ride checks, but i was checking the tire psi (which the dealer had all the way up to 50 psi front and rear!) and noticed a little sticker by the valve on the rim that says "nitrogen"

i'm going to make an educated guess here, and say that there's nitrogen in there, and i have to have a special way to fill them up now??? on the triumph, i used to just fill them up with a bicycle tire pump when they needed some air lol.

also, any good reason why the dealer may have had the PSI that high? the PSI ratings in the owneer's manual should be the same specs regardless of what kinda tire is on there right? my only guess was that the tires on my bike are not the originals, and maybe have different specs...

[vegas_rider]

k just read another article on another forum regarding nitrogen in tires, and some bmw rider's on there claim it's bunk and has no real benefit unless you're in an aircraft due to the temps at cruising altitude.

next question, let's say i have the front to 33PSI for solo riding, but one day wanna bump it up to 36psi for some 2 up riding...if there IS nitrogen in there arleady, will it be bad if i just use the bicycle pump to get the extra 3 PSI??...lol.

[iowabeakster]

First, I would make sure that your pressure guage is accurate. Those pencil slider types are awful.

Tire pressure is something that people play around with a bit, depending on weight (like you mentioned) or tire brands and in conjunction with suspension settings. It's just something to fiddle with and find your own preference. I've run pressures as low the manual says...up to 40/41 (front/rear). FWIW, my dealer tells the customers to run 40/40.

I strictly use the Premium Brand 78% nitrogen blend for my tires. No complaints.

[Airman]

First, I would make sure that your pressure gauge is accurate. Those pencil slider types are awful.

Tire pressure is something that people play around with a bit, depending on weight (like you mentioned) or tire brands and in conjunction with suspension settings. It's just something to fiddle with and find your own preference. I've run pressures as low the manual says...up to 40/41 (front/rear). FWIW, my dealer tells the customers to run 40/40.

I strictly use the Premium Brand 78% nitrogen blend for my tires. No complaints.

You are funny ! Just for the record, the use of 100% nitrogen in aircraft tires has much to do with the fact that nitrogen doesn't burn. An issue when you have red hot brakes and high tire temperatures after landing. I've not heard , but it would not surprise me if racing teams used nitrogen in their tires. You may not be aware of it, but new aircraft now have nitrogen generators. (Not for the tires, but for the fuel tanks)

I'm in the camp that runs on the high side of the tire pressures. 39-40, 40-41. I am somewhat lazy about checking however. Don't ask me how I know, but it would appear that when the rear tire gets down around 20 psi the bike will really roll you into a corner if entered slowly. I didn't know tire pressures would make drastic handling differences like that.

[boxermania]

Airman

First, I don't use iowabeakster's cheap brand as I use the New/Improved 78% N2, 21% O2 and 1% ride enhancing additives.

Actually the use of N2 in airplane tires (now also being offered on some high end cars....good conversation starter at the club) has to do with two things:

1) Air has moisture and the airplane tires go from ambient to extremely low temps at cruise altitude and mpoisture in the tire air will solidify. You don't want to land an airplane at ~150 knots with a chunk of ice in your wheels.

2) Air has, albeit minute amounts, contaminants that promote the oxidation of the binder in the rubber. As above, something you don't want to be concerned about during the landing. N2 is inert.

If your tires are indeed inflated with N2, the PO must have been anal as unless you have the N2 and fittings accesible it becomes a Royal Pain, is best to convert back to breathing air and keep those tires inflated.

In closing, we have a distinguished member that shall remain nameless to protect the innocent, that filled his tires with HE and inflated to 100 psi. His mileage doubled, unfortunately, everytime he dismounted the bike it started to lift requiring a good length of rope to keep his ride tied down.

[kantuckid]

So, does this mean that those persons living in the higher latitudes are running around with ice in their tires?

[frederic]

Considering there is already 78% Nitrogen in the atmosphere, you would not be getting more N2 by using a 78% mix of Nitrogen. I can understand using 100% Nitrogen would, in theory, help keep set tire pressure longer. However, I doubt the difference would be noticeable.

In terms of tire pressure, i also tend to keep it at around 42/40.

[iowabeakster]

Considering there is already 78% Nitrogen in the atmosphere, you would not be getting more N2 by using a 78% mix of Nitrogen.

WHAT!!! The dude working the air compressor in my garage has a lot of explaining to do...he's been charging me 5 bucks to top up my tires.

[snowprick]

Fill your tyre with air. PERIOD.

[towerworker]

I find that running nitrogen in my tires raises the pitch of the tire squeal when I burn out at intersections.

[R4R&R]

Seriously, using nitrogen in the tires not only voids the warranty, but causes an unwanted resonance with the twin throttle bodies leading to a sudden urge to change out all oils with synthetic.

Remove all nitrogen from your tires IMMEDIATELY!

[Airman]

Considering there is already 78% Nitrogen in the atmosphere, you would not be getting more N2 by using a 78% mix of Nitrogen. I can understand using 100% Nitrogen would, in theory, help keep set tire pressure longer. However, I doubt the difference would be noticeable.

In terms of tire pressure, i also tend to keep it at around 42/40.

Really ? Is that 42 front / 40 rear ? How well does that work ?

[Arbee]

Seriously, using nitrogen in the tires not only voids the warranty, but causes an unwanted resonance with the twin throttle bodies leading to a sudden urge to change out all oils with synthetic.

Remove all nitrogen from your tires IMMEDIATELY!

[MattPie]

Considering there is already 78% Nitrogen in the atmosphere, you would not be getting more N2 by using a 78% mix of Nitrogen. I can understand using 100% Nitrogen would, in theory, help keep set tire pressure longer. However, I doubt the difference would be noticeable.

In terms of tire pressure, i also tend to keep it at around 42/40.

Really ? Is that 42 front / 40 rear ? How well does that work ?

I run roughly 38/40 (front/rear). Sometimes 36/38 if I'm riding some twisties, or 40/42 up to 42/44 if I'm traveling with gear. Anything less than 36/38 on the street and the rear end seems to get a little loose, I assume from the side walls buckling. Track days I run 32/34, but the heat build up probably gets the working pressure up a bunch so they don't feel soft there.

I've been running Conti Road Attacks for the last bunch of miles so that's where all the pressures come from. I have a set of brand new Pilot Road 2's that will be my next set, so it'll be interesting to see if my preferred pressures change. (I'm trying the new tires just to see, I've been pretty happy with the RAs)

[bikermeow]

Considering there is already 78% Nitrogen in the atmosphere, you would not be getting more N2 by using a 78% mix of Nitrogen.

WHAT!!! The dude working the air compressor in my garage has a lot of explaining to do...he's been charging me 5 bucks to top up my tires.

At $5 per pop, after 6 runs you can buy an airman compressor

[frederic]

Considering there is already 78% Nitrogen in the atmosphere, you would not be getting more N2 by using a 78% mix of Nitrogen. I can understand using 100% Nitrogen would, in theory, help keep set tire pressure longer. However, I doubt the difference would be noticeable.

In terms of tire pressure, i also tend to keep it at around 42/40.

Really ? Is that 42 front / 40 rear ? How well does that work ?

Yes 42 in front 40 in the back and 42/42 when riding 2up. Somehow I like the feel of hard tires. I deflate them a bit when I ride in the fall cold weather or on the spring sandy roads.