[freepizza]

I am in the UK and there are some tyes garages that can put Heluim in the wheels. I was supprised to see that option :-k. What benefits from this? Anyone done this?

 

[deocamdata]

Maybe azot

 

[PetrolDave]

Nitrogen is popular amongst Nissan GT-R owners.

 

[Cockney Boy]

I use it all the time, makes for a quieter drive, easier on the Power Steering. And you dont need to check your tyres every week, Nitrogen is more dense that air, so it leakes less.

Many people say its a gimic, but why do so many people offer the service?

All i would say is dont fill your Motorbike tyres with it as the compounds dont like it for some reason.

 

[freepizza]

Thanks for the response guys,

I just checked the periodic table Nitrogen is 14 and air is 28. I think the saving is half. But Helium is 4.

But importantly according to

h**p://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/eng99/eng99085.htm

"helium diffuses readily into some metals.....causes embrittlment"

"helium diffuses very rapidly through rubbery materials"

"shock waves develop in tires upon touch down"

So I will stick to Air fo now. But you rightly say that Nitrogen seems to be the trend in many cases.

 

[Cockney Boy]

Sorry but i have mis-read your title.

Nobody in the UK will fill your tyres with Helium. This gas will cost an arm and a leg, and is not recommended as it is a very light gas compared to air and Nitrogen.

Do not fill your tyres with Helium unless you want an accident.

 

[PetrolDave]

Helium molecules are tiny - so it will likely diffuse out of the tyres and even the wheels.

Many people say its a gimic, but why do so many people offer the service

Because there's a lot of people out there wanting to make money...

There was some discussion on nitrogen filling tyres on several RS websites, the conclusion was that the benefits are very small and only significant if you do a lot of track days. So normal road users are paying for something with benefits they will probably never notice.

 

[PetrolDave]

I just checked the periodic table Nitrogen is 14 and air is 28. I think the saving is half. But Helium is 4.

Air is NOT an element so it does NOT appear on the periodic table!

Air is 78% nitrogen, 20% oxygen, with the remaining 2% being carbon dioxide and all the trace gases including neon, xenon, helium, etc.

 

[Cockney Boy]

Not wishing to speak in a nasal and un-interestnig acccent. here are the exact figures taken from my Commercial diving manual.

level at 15°C and 101325 Pa.


Nitrogen -- N2 -- 78.084%
Oxygen -- O2 -- 20.9476%
Argon -- Ar -- 0.934%
Carbon Dioxide -- CO2 -- 0.0314%
Neon -- Ne -- 0.001818%
Methane -- CH4 -- 0.0002% Helium -- He -- 0.000524%

 

[freepizza]

Oops not helium then

True Air is not in the Periodic table but the site I mentioned estimated air at a molecular weight of 28. Assuming they are correct.

I have checked out Quick fit they will fill Nitogen in each tyre for a pound each. I'm thinking about it.

 

[PetrolDave]

I have checked out Quick fit they will fill Nitogen in each tyre for a pound each. I'm thinking about it.

Waste of £5 IMHO.

 

[Cockney Boy]

IMHO £4 does make a difference to road noise and the steering.

 

[beengel]

From what I have read, if you want to control the PSI of your tire to the pound, and keep it there consistently, then you want nitrogen. If you are like the other 99.99% of the world, you have no need. It is more or less a track only benefit.

 

[Car_Girl]

Someone I know thought his tires were filled with Hydrogen - now wouldn't THAT be interesting? Ladies and gentlemen, please don't try that at home. Hydrogen is highly explosive. It took all my energy not to laugh at my friend when he told me that one.