Can we talk about tire pressure

[Magdave]

Just a reminder that with the temps falling it is a good time to check your tire pressure. When for an hour ride today and still had some instability over 65mph When I got home and let things cool down I checked my pressures. I have not checked them in 1 month but here is what I found Frt 14psi rear 24.5psi. A month ago they were Frt 18 rear 28. Could that be a factor in my squirrelly 65+ situation? Cooler temps always cause pressures to drop. Now the discussion. I have been driving Corvettes for over 10yrs in fact traded my '98 for the Spyder and found that using nitrogen instead of air had some benefit to it.
1. Air(oxygen) can and does weep through rubber.
2. Nitrogen does not

I know a lot of people say nitrogen is snake oil but my experience tells me differently. With air after a long drive my tire pressures were usually 4-5lbs higher when they were hot. With Nitrogen it was usually 2-3 lbs. With air every fall I had to add air because the TPMS would start yelling at me. I ran year round with nitrogen and cold tire pressure remained the same. Nitrogen molecules are larger that some of the gasses(oxygen) in air that weep through rubber. That is the scientific reason it does not weep as much. We all know racers use nitrogen because it simply is more stable and predictable for hot tires. Since we have 2 ply crappy tires I would assume they may weep even more. Yes I know air is 79% nitrogen but that 21% can and does shrink more with lower temps than pure Nitrogen does. I am considering going to full nitrogen on my Spyder and wonder if anyone else has and what results were?
Thanks for your thoughtful replies :thumbup:

 

[NancysToy]

No comment on the nitrogen, but if you checked your tires after a ride, even after a cool-down, you may wish to check them again in the morning. Tires should be checked cold, and it takes them a long time to reach ambient temperatures...especially tires as big as those the Spyder uses. JMHO

 

[Magdave]

No comment on the nitrogen, but if you checked your tires after a ride, even after a cool-down, you may wish to check them again in the morning. Tires should be checked cold, and it takes them a long time to reach ambient temperatures...especially tires as big as those the Spyder uses. JMHO

No I checked them cold 10hrs after the ride and they were set at the previous pressures cold but the ambient was 10-15deg higher at the time. I actually set them .5lbs higher than my 18/28 because I know the temps will be dropping in the next week or two.

 

[Jlbrandt]

Dealer told me to use nitrogen in rear tire. He says they are seeing better tire wear.

 

[DJFaninTN]

i use nitrogen in our cars and I can attest that my pressures stay constant. i've always gotten great tire wear since switching over years ago. when I finally get a spyder it will have nitrogen it all it's tires.

 

[Bob Denman]

Call me cheap ; but I think that a lot of the hoopla concerning the use ot nitrogen in tires is just an excuse to sell you something...
I use the cheap nitrogen that's got a little bit of air left in it ...and I check my pressures before hitting the road! :thumbup:

 

[Frank G]

I, also think you are making a big deal over nothing. Air up those crappy tires to the pressure you like and go out and ride. If not, go out and install some non crappy tires and inflate with whatever you see fit. my2$

 

[Bob Denman]

That two cents was worth at LEAST a nickel! :thumbup:

 

[Magdave]

i use nitrogen in our cars and I can attest that my pressures stay constant. i've always gotten great tire wear since switching over years ago. when I finally get a spyder it will have nitrogen it all it's tires.

Ya know thinking about how quickly the rear tire wears(and usually the center) I wonder how much of that is due to the 4-5 extra lbs that air causes when hot hmmm....

 

[happyspyder2039]

Just a reminder that with the temps falling it is a good time to check your tire pressure. When for an hour ride today and still had some instability over 65mph When I got home and let things cool down I checked my pressures. I have not checked them in 1 month but here is what I found Frt 14psi rear 24.5psi. A month ago they were Frt 18 rear 28. Could that be a factor in my squirrelly 65+ situation? Cooler temps always cause pressures to drop. Now the discussion. I have been driving Corvettes for over 10yrs in fact traded my '98 for the Spyder and found that using nitrogen instead of air had some benefit to it.
1. Air(oxygen) can and does weep through rubber.
2. Nitrogen does not

I know a lot of people say nitrogen is snake oil but my experience tells me differently. With air after a long drive my tire pressures were usually 4-5lbs higher when they were hot. With Nitrogen it was usually 2-3 lbs. With air every fall I had to add air because the TPMS would start yelling at me. I ran year round with nitrogen and cold tire pressure remained the same. Nitrogen molecules are larger that some of the gasses(oxygen) in air that weep through rubber. That is the scientific reason it does not weep as much. We all know racers use nitrogen because it simply is more stable and predictable for hot tires. Since we have 2 ply crappy tires I would assume they may weep even more. Yes I know air is 79% nitrogen but that 21% can and does shrink more with lower temps than pure Nitrogen does. I am considering going to full nitrogen on my Spyder and wonder if anyone else has and what results were?
Thanks for your thoughtful replies :thumbup:

I use it in my 11 Subaru & noticed a 2 MPG increase. Just not sure I want to spend $20 for 3 tires on spyder

 

[Magdave]

I use it in my 11 Subaru & noticed a 2 MPG increase. Just not sure I want to spend $20 for 3 tires on spyder

Yep that is the question. BRP should be doing it during setup IMHO.

 

[flaggerphil]

My dealer put nitrogen in my tires. I our race series most of the teams use nitrogen instead of "air."

That being said, every vehicle I've ever owned has had to have the tire pressure adjusted a bit over time.

 

[flybuddy]

Consumer reports did a study on this years back and found a 2.2 avg pressure loss in Nitro tires vs 3.5 for air (they didn't specify duration but the study lasted a year on 62 tires).
Also the nitrogen is not 100%, 93% is considered "pure" in the industry. That's only a 15% diff. Another issue is for those of us that check air monthly, how to you top off with nitro conveniently.

 

[samewok]

TPMS

I have a TPMS on my Spyder. I love it!!!

 

[Flanker]

No comment on the nitrogen, but if you checked your tires after a ride, even after a cool-down, you may wish to check them again in the morning. Tires should be checked cold, and it takes them a long time to reach ambient temperatures...especially tires as big as those the Spyder uses. JMHO

My thoughts, exactly.

 

[OldCowboy]

Nitrogen for non-racing vehicles is nothing more than snake oil for tires.

 

[happyspyder2039]

Nitrogen for non-racing vehicles is nothing more than snake oil for tires.

Personal preferance- like oil,Gas, laundry detergent, Dog/Cat food, hotdogs, steaks I could go on. What works for some may not for other so

 

[Bob Ledford]

Dave

i have both to deal with and really don't see any advantage to nitrogen. The SRX that my wife owns has nitrogen, my Silverado has compressed Air and so does the Spyder. The Spyder requires more attention then the other two" I guess it is the OEM Kenda Tires?

 

[Cruzr Joe]

Just a reminder that with the temps falling it is a good time to check your tire pressure. When for an hour ride today and still had some instability over 65mph When I got home and let things cool down I checked my pressures. I have not checked them in 1 month but here is what I found Frt 14psi rear 24.5psi. A month ago they were Frt 18 rear 28. Could that be a factor in my squirrelly 65+ situation? Cooler temps always cause pressures to drop. Now the discussion. I have been driving Corvettes for over 10yrs in fact traded my '98 for the Spyder and found that using nitrogen instead of air had some benefit to it.
1. Air(oxygen) can and does weep through rubber.
2. Nitrogen does not

I know a lot of people say nitrogen is snake oil but my experience tells me differently. With air after a long drive my tire pressures were usually 4-5lbs higher when they were hot. With Nitrogen it was usually 2-3 lbs. With air every fall I had to add air because the TPMS would start yelling at me. I ran year round with nitrogen and cold tire pressure remained the same. Nitrogen molecules are larger that some of the gasses(oxygen) in air that weep through rubber. That is the scientific reason it does not weep as much. We all know racers use nitrogen because it simply is more stable and predictable for hot tires. Since we have 2 ply crappy tires I would assume they may weep even more. Yes I know air is 79% nitrogen but that 21% can and does shrink more with lower temps than pure Nitrogen does. I am considering going to full nitrogen on my Spyder and wonder if anyone else has and what results were?
Thanks for your thoughtful replies :thumbup:

"2 ply crappy tires", just curious if you did any research on your Spyder before you bought it, seems that you are unhappy with everything related to Spyders. Just a observation from this end.

Cruzr Joe, a Happy Spyder Owner





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[Bob Ledford]

My dealer put nitrogen in my tires. I our race series most of the teams use nitrogen instead of "air."

That being said, every vehicle I've ever owned has had to have the tire pressure adjusted a bit over time.

racers also use nitrogen for another reason.... It is portable, cheap and high pressure for air tools and the adjusting of tire pressures for track conditions