Nitrogen in my tires..can I refill with regular air?

Khurram · 06-12-2009, 05:38 PM

So tomorrow I will be picking up my m3 which has been in storage for a month after I completed the lease assumption.

The original lessor just told me that the tires are filled with nitrogen and I should refill them with nitrogen when the pressure gets low.

My question is-

If I can't find a nitrogen refill station or if I just don't want to pay for nitrogen, can I just add regular air to them mixed with the nitrogen that is already in there or would I need to completely deflate the tires all all nitrogen and then refill with regular air?

I've read some of the supposed pro's of nitrogen but I just think for my normal street use it would be a waste of money.

Khurram · 06-12-2009, 05:41 PM

Just did a search and found my answer.
Since air is 78% nitrogen it will just drop the purity of the nitrogen but there should be no adverse effects.

Cisco-M3 · 06-12-2009, 06:18 PM

Filling your tires with Nitrogen is about as good an idea as a left-handed knife

MysticBlue · 06-12-2009, 06:24 PM

NO!!!!!!!! Don't do it! You can't mix air with nitrogen. That's really bad. Nitrogen and Oxygen, combined with a fuel source and an ignition souce can combust.

26.2 · 06-13-2009, 06:52 AM

Screw nitrogen and air----go find some hydrogen!

sg///M3 · 06-13-2009, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 26.2

Screw nitrogen and air----go find some hydrogen!

Will that reduce unsprung weight?

Gigolas · 06-13-2009, 08:38 AM

just fill them with helium !!! It will make your car lighter thus faster !!!

immiketoo · 06-13-2009, 09:43 AM

I filled mine with H20. Since it can't be compressed, my ride is tight!

TopDown · 06-13-2009, 10:16 AM

I like to use a a combination of gasses in the following amounts:

N2 - 78.08%
O2 - 20.95%
Ar - 0.93%
CO2 - 0.04%

I find this combination works well for street driving, and it's readily available.

immiketoo · 06-13-2009, 11:22 AM

^^^^ Nice, is that combo suitable for breathing? Just being safety conscious....

kmarei · 06-13-2009, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TopDown

I like to use a a combination of gasses in the following amounts:

N2 - 78.08%
O2 - 20.95%
Ar - 0.93%
CO2 - 0.04%

I find this combination works well for street driving, and it's readily available.

and where the hell are we supposed to find this far fetched mix??

JCtx · 06-13-2009, 02:31 PM

Leave nitrogen for airplane tires, which see drastic temperature changes in the same day. On a car, it's like using premium gas when regular is required: overkill. You're better off checking your tire pressures regularly. Which you have to do even with nitrogen, as it also slowly leaks over time. Take care.

ff1600 · 06-15-2009, 12:25 PM

The reason for using something other than air-you-breathe is to eliminate water vapor from inside the tire. So race teams use dry nitrogen or co2.

Unknown water vapor content makes it difficult to predict tire pressure changes as the tire gains heat. You can be reasonably certain that the air compressor used to mount your tires has created an amble amount of water vapor in the air supply, to say nothing of the fluid used to make it easier to slip the tire on the rim. So you need to evacuate the tire after mounting and setting the bead, then fill with dry nitrogen (or co2).

I see no advantage on the street.

anthony @ eas · 06-15-2009, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sg///M3

Will that reduce unsprung weight?

Haha. Actually... now I'm really curious about that

How cool would that be.

**ben@tirerack** · 06-19-2009, 05:00 PM

Go helium, not hydrogen. Hydrogen has that whole "highly flammable" issue. Helium is almost as light, and not flammable. But those smaller molecules will permeate out through the rubber faster. So save your money and buy some titanium lug bolts

06-12-2009, 05:38 PM	#1
Khurram Lieutenant 49 Rep 409 Posts Drives: 2012 Panamera 4 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Stamford, Connecticut iTrader: (0)	Nitrogen in my tires..can I refill with regular air? So tomorrow I will be picking up my m3 which has been in storage for a month after I completed the lease assumption. The original lessor just told me that the tires are filled with nitrogen and I should refill them with nitrogen when the pressure gets low. My question is- If I can't find a nitrogen refill station or if I just don't want to pay for nitrogen, can I just add regular air to them mixed with the nitrogen that is already in there or would I need to completely deflate the tires all all nitrogen and then refill with regular air? I've read some of the supposed pro's of nitrogen but I just think for my normal street use it would be a waste of money.
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06-12-2009, 05:41 PM	#2
Khurram Lieutenant 49 Rep 409 Posts Drives: 2012 Panamera 4 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Stamford, Connecticut iTrader: (0)	Just did a search and found my answer. Since air is 78% nitrogen it will just drop the purity of the nitrogen but there should be no adverse effects.
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06-12-2009, 06:18 PM	#3
Cisco-M3 Enlisted Member 0 Rep 30 Posts Drives: 00 t/a Join Date: May 2009 Location: Colorado iTrader: (0)	Filling your tires with Nitrogen is about as good an idea as a left-handed knife
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06-12-2009, 06:24 PM	#4
MysticBlue Lieutenant Colonel 369 Rep 1,887 Posts Drives: '20 M5C, '09 M3 DCT Coupe Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Eastern Oregon... They call 'em rigs here iTrader: (0)	NO!!!!!!!! Don't do it! You can't mix air with nitrogen. That's really bad. Nitrogen and Oxygen, combined with a fuel source and an ignition souce can combust.
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06-13-2009, 06:52 AM	#5
26.2 Private 11 Rep 95 Posts Drives: 2008 M3 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: North Carolina iTrader: (0)	Screw nitrogen and air----go find some hydrogen!
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06-13-2009, 08:38 AM	#7
Gigolas Private First Class 34 Rep 121 Posts Drives: Join Date: Jan 2009 iTrader: (0)	just fill them with helium !!! It will make your car lighter thus faster !!! __________________
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06-13-2009, 10:16 AM	#9
TopDown Captain 90 Rep 615 Posts Drives: 2017 G30 540i M Sport Join Date: May 2007 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0) Garage List 2002 BMW Z3 Roadster [0.00] 2007 BMW 335i Coupe [0.00] 2012 BMW 335i Sedan [0.00] 2006 BMW M Roadster [0.00] 2017 BMW 540i [0.00] 2015 BMW 428 Gran C ... [0.00]	I like to use a a combination of gasses in the following amounts: N2 - 78.08% O2 - 20.95% Ar - 0.93% CO2 - 0.04% I find this combination works well for street driving, and it's readily available. __________________ Mine G30 540i M Sport Hers F36 440i Gran Coupe
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06-13-2009, 02:31 PM	#12
JCtx Major General 258 Rep 5,012 Posts Drives: No BMW yet Join Date: May 2008 Location: El Paso TX iTrader: (0)	Leave nitrogen for airplane tires, which see drastic temperature changes in the same day. On a car, it's like using premium gas when regular is required: overkill. You're better off checking your tire pressures regularly. Which you have to do even with nitrogen, as it also slowly leaks over time. Take care.
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06-15-2009, 12:25 PM	#13
ff1600 Private First Class 51 Rep 108 Posts Drives: 2018 F80 M3 CP 6mt YMB/SB Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Near Sears Point iTrader: (0)	The reason for using something other than air-you-breathe is to eliminate water vapor from inside the tire. So race teams use dry nitrogen or co2. Unknown water vapor content makes it difficult to predict tire pressure changes as the tire gains heat. You can be reasonably certain that the air compressor used to mount your tires has created an amble amount of water vapor in the air supply, to say nothing of the fluid used to make it easier to slip the tire on the rim. So you need to evacuate the tire after mounting and setting the bead, then fill with dry nitrogen (or co2). I see no advantage on the street.
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06-19-2009, 05:00 PM	#15
ben@tirerack M3Post Supporting Vendor 87 Rep 964 Posts Drives: 740i Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: South Bend, IN iTrader: (0)	Go helium, not hydrogen. Hydrogen has that whole "highly flammable" issue. Helium is almost as light, and not flammable. But those smaller molecules will permeate out through the rubber faster. So save your money and buy some titanium lug bolts __________________ _______________________________________________ I have accepted a new position at Tire Rack and am no longer in the sales department. gary@tirerack.com is available to assist with M3 questions.
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