Thread: Nitrogen in tires

So this season I will be using the nitrogen. Now at work we are using it for painting instead of compressed air so I have free unlimited access to it. I also have the ability to control the temperature in the lines up to 180 degrees. I was talking to John Bickle today, and he said the guys he knows that are using it (correctly) are having really good luck with it. We'll see how it goes.

Originally Posted by RedRider

Good luck how?

The only problem, or rather the reason most don't use it is when the racers are at the tracks and need their tires changed, the tire guys have 15 sets of tires that need changed. They don't properly purge the air out, if they have nitrogen. If you mix nitrogen with some oxygen it’s a waste of time. More less a hassle. The guys that are using it are primarily doing it themselves. With the nitrogen the pressures stay a lot more consistent with hot and cold throughout the race. They will still grow a little from cold to hot but way less than regular air. That means from track to track, or outside air temp to temp you don't have to jack with the pressures like you do with air. It will take a little messing with to find out what that growth is, but after that they should stay pretty consistent.

Originally Posted by Richard636

On the phone? I gotta call him tomorrow. I need some leather work done and a set of warmers.

Exactly why I was talking to him.

I'm not too smart, explain to me how you purge out the "air"...

Originally Posted by Baketech

I'm not too smart, explain to me how you purge out the "air"...

Some of the guys use two valve stems. He said if you bead the tires with it you'll be fine too. I have a line that will fit a valve stem and the other end fits the car AC machine. I can use it to vac out the tires possibly, then inflate and deflate the tires 5 or 6 times to make sure its out there. Same with my air tank for the extra. Actually with the air tank I can just vac it down to -15 lbs and fill.

Originally Posted by 08silvercbr

Some of the guys use two valve stems. He said if you bead the tires with it you'll be fine too. I have a line that will fit a valve stem and the other end fits the car AC machine. I can use it to vac out the tires possibly, then inflate and deflate the tires 5 or 6 times to make sure its out there. Same with my air tank for the extra. Actually with the air tank I can just vac it down to -15 lbs and fill.

Sounds like a lot of work for minimal gain. Especially in a non-competitive, hobby sort of way.

Just sayin'...

Originally Posted by 08silvercbr

I have a line that will fit a valve stem and the other end fits the car AC machine. I can use it to vac out the tires possibly, then inflate and deflate the tires 5 or 6 times to make sure its out there. Same with my air tank for the extra. Actually with the air tank I can just vac it down to -15 lbs and fill.

Unkay...have fun with that...

Originally Posted by BizJetGuy

Sounds like a lot of work for minimal gain. Especially in a non-competitive, hobby sort of way.

Just sayin'...

Are your bench racing skills really that rusty?

That's pretty cool you guys are using N2 in your guns.

It is a better gas for tire fills if you're committed to using track time experimenting with it. Be careful, it will not expand as much, meaning your tire pressures are too low at temp. Tire pressures too low overheat the tire.

Originally Posted by luvtolean

That's pretty cool you guys are using N2 in your guns.

It is a better gas for tire fills if you're committed to using track time experimenting with it. Be careful, it will not expand as much, meaning your tire pressures are too low at temp. Tire pressures too low overheat the tire.

This is what I was wondering about....For some dolt like me it means I'd have to figure out what my pressures were and then make sure I ran the N2 with enough pressure to be sure the minor expansion still got me where I was trying to be.

AKA - I wouldn't even if it was free, unless I was being paid for track time and not the other way around. But thats just my

Originally Posted by luvtolean

...Be careful, it will not expand as much, meaning your tire pressures are too low at temp. Tire pressures too low overheat the tire.

How would/does that affect a tire where they give you the warm tire pressures?

The Pirelli sheet from NESBA shows warm tire pressures.

Originally Posted by BizJetGuy

Sounds like a lot of work for minimal gain. Especially in a non-competitive, hobby sort of way.

Just sayin'...

Hey what the.. "non-competitive"?

Originally Posted by luvtolean

That's pretty cool you guys are using N2 in your guns.

It is a better gas for tire fills if you're committed to using track time experimenting with it. Be careful, it will not expand as much, meaning your tire pressures are too low at temp. Tire pressures too low overheat the tire.

The nitrogen was a big difference with the paint. I had to relearn how to spray.

What I'm guessing is setting it 2 lbs lower than my hot pressure, take a few laps and have my garage bitches get me a quick reading.

Originally Posted by seamus

How would/does that affect a tire where they give you the warm tire pressures?

The Pirelli sheet from NESBA shows warm tire pressures.

I'm going to talk to the Pirelli guy when I buy my next set of tires, but the plan is to set my pressures cold, get the warmers on and check hot pressures. I shouldn't get much growth at all. Like I said, I'd guess 2 psi growth at the most. Another thing I need to find out.. If my warmers get the tires 172 degrees, depending on the track, my tires might not get that hot after a session. The best way is to have someone that can check my pressures right off the track. Anyway, if it doesn't work I'm not out anything. I can always let it out and fill it with compressed air. To me, the curiosity has me. I think it will be a good change.

What I'm guessing is setting it 2 lbs lower than my hot pressure, take a few laps and have my garage bitches get me a quick reading.

With the tires toasty on the warmers, that's about where I'd start.

IF my tire vendor couldn't give me data on N2 pressures.

Originally Posted by luvtolean

With the tires toasty on the warmers, that's about where I'd start.

IF my tire vendor couldn't give me data on N2 pressures.

What I'm wondering.. the Pirelli’s like 152 degrees and my warmers have 2 settings. 130 and 172. I've never really been able to get a good infrared reading on the tires off the track. The outside surface cools down so fast. Almost need someone standing right off the track with the temp gauge. I know what my pressures are, but don't know my tire temps.

Originally Posted by 08silvercbr

What I'm wondering.. the Pirelli’s like 152 degrees and my warmers have 2 settings. 130 and 172. I've never really been able to get a good infrared reading on the tires off the track. The outside surface cools down so fast. Almost need someone standing right off the track with the temp gauge. I know what my pressures are, but don't know my tire temps.

never heard them giving a temp, just the hot pressures. I'll tell ya 1.5-2lbs is a huge difference in them though. my last track day I didn't have enough time before I got there to get them on the warmers for awhile before the first session so I didn't bother. That first session they felt like absolute crap, took it easy cause it was also cold out and came in and checked. yup both tires off 1.5-2pounds. Added a little and threw the warmers on, checked just before going out next time and they were good again.

Originally Posted by 08silvercbr

Almost need someone standing right off the track with the temp gauge. I know what my pressures are, but don't know my tire temps.

Waitadamnminnit....you've got this thing down to nitrogen in the tires, but don't have onboard tire sensors....

Surely that's negative paddock points right there...

Originally Posted by Baketech

Waitadamnminnit....you've got this thing down to nitrogen in the tires, but don't have onboard tire sensors....

Surely that's negative paddock points right there...

Well sheep assured me this would be a feature available on his on board wooly computer, but every time I go to the web site it says "coming soon".

Originally Posted by 08silvercbr

Well sheep assured me this would be a feature available on his on board wooly computer, but every time I go to the web site it says "coming soon".

But it only works with a Nitrogen mix not pure Nitrogen

I'm going to run helium in the 'tard tires this year. It will help the tires float over the bumps.

Originally Posted by slickwill

I'm going to run helium in the 'tard tires this year. It will help the tires float over the bumps.

It's going to make your bike sound like Donald Duck though.

Originally Posted by Baketech

Waitadamnminnit....you've got this thing down to nitrogen in the tires, but don't have onboard tire sensors....

Surely that's negative paddock points right there...

But he makes up for it by having "garage bitches."

Schwwiiiiing....

Originally Posted by ONEvcs

It's going to make your bike sound like Donald Duck though.

HAHAHAHA...I lol'ed at that for sure.

08 and richard, glad you guys got talking to John, He's a GREAT resource for sure.

I thought that garage 10 was the only smoking garage frank...

Originally Posted by RedRider

So will the nitrogen let you hit 160 this year?

Look at me.. Look me in the eyes.. You know it. Just make sure you snag a radar gun for a few days

Originally Posted by ONEvcs

It's going to make your bike sound like Donald Duck though.

Originally Posted by SerialThriller

But he makes up for it by having "garage bitches."

That must have went over cbr929re's head.

Originally Posted by NorthernRR

I thought that garage 10 was the only smoking garage frank...

There will be smoke coming out of 4 (ish). It will be coming right out my ass.

Originally Posted by SerialThriller

But he makes up for it by having "garage bitches."

I am not gonna be his bitch. I'll give him a hand whenever possible though.

Originally Posted by 08silvercbr

That must have went over cbr929re's head.

I had some stuff to do before work yesterday

Originally Posted by CBR929RE

I am not gonna be his bitch. I'll give him a hand whenever possible though.