Should I Fill My Car's Tires with Nitrogen?

LJF999 on 19/04/2018 - 14:55

So this morning I brought my car to the dealer for the 1st 15k service, since I bought this car from the dealer the first service is complimentary.

I was pretty happy it wouldn't cost me anything.

I just received a call from the dealer's service department says my car will be ready to pick up at 4:30pm and it is in good shape blah blah, and the only thing is the tires need to fill with nitrogen gas, which will cost me $50.00. On the phone I asked does this necessary the guy responded yes this is recommended. I said ok.

After I hang up, I started to thinking do my tires require to fill with nitrogen? As we know, 78% of air is nitrogen so when inflating tires 78% come out from the compressed air will be nitrogen. Is it worth to spend $50.00 to fill the tires where I can get it for free with normal compressed air?

Is it just a sales trick they try to recover something from the complimentary service?

If the nitrogen gas is better for the tires, is 50.00 is a reasonable price?

My car is a mid to large size SUV with 20 inches wheels.

Automotive Tyre

Comments

  • PissLUR on 19/04/2018 - 14:58
    +70

    yup. no real benefit. waste of money imho.

  • cypher67 on 19/04/2018 - 14:59
    +16

    A quick google search:

    Summary
    - The benefits of using nitrogen in tyres are largely overstated.
    - While using nitrogen in passenger car tyres may produce some benefits in some applications, it is questionable if the average motorist will derive any measurable benefit from its use.
    - Using nitrogen does not remove or reduce the need to check tyre pressures as the risk of a puncture or a slow leak is not altered.
    - Nitrogen cannot replace regular maintenance. Regardless of what inflation gas is used, maximum tyre life will only be achieved if the vehicle and tyres are properly maintained. That means regular checking of tyre pressures, wheel balance and alignment.

  • nocure on 19/04/2018 - 15:00
    +37

    Is it just a sales trick they try to recover something from the complimentary service

    Yes

  • [Deactivated] on 19/04/2018 - 15:01
    +38

    It’s a scam
    Don’t waste your money

    • cornholyio on 23/04/2018 - 10:14
      +1

      How does one know it's pure nitrogen in the tire anyway?

  • grog on 19/04/2018 - 15:03
    +48

    "the guy responded yes this is recommended"

    100% dealer bullshit

    • retiredfeline on 19/04/2018 - 15:09
      +14

      What the guy didn't add was it was recommended by themselves, lol.

      • Euphemistic on 20/04/2018 - 08:10
        +14

        Recommended to increase dealer profits. Along with a wiper blade switch, and air conditioner system clean.

        • Charity on 20/04/2018 - 17:42
          +17

          And a polish of the number plate screws for increased aerodynamics

        • Oliver on 21/04/2018 - 18:52

          what's wrong with a wiper blade switch?

        • Euphemistic on 21/04/2018 - 19:21
          +2

          @Oliver: it oftennisnt necessary, and costs a lot more than buying and installing yourself.

    • Krankite on 22/04/2018 - 06:38

      If it was part of the recommended service it would be included. If it was recommended by the guy getting paid 50 dollars well…

  • JF999 on 19/04/2018 - 15:07
    +4

    Thanks guys.
    Probably too late for me to call to tell them just use normal compressed air.

    • No on 19/04/2018 - 17:37
      +68

      Thats most likely what they used anyway.

      • twinbag on 20/04/2018 - 15:32
        +14

        More likely they didn't do anything at all.

    • retiredfeline on 19/04/2018 - 19:08
      +22

      You're lucky they didn't charge you $39 ($50 x 78%) for using normal compressed air, lol.

    • spaceflight on 20/04/2018 - 18:00
      +10

      Fill a balloon from you tyre, then use that to displace the air in a cup.

      Drop a lit match in the cup. If it goes out your will know you have nitrogen in your tyres.

      • JungliChilli on 21/04/2018 - 06:15
        +2

        I reckon op should give this a shot. Video it and send it to aca. I have not trusted car dealers and mechanics for a very long time now.

      • muncan on 23/04/2018 - 08:10
        +5

        ✅ A mushroom cloud means they used hydrogen.

    • tonybaby on 21/04/2018 - 14:28

      Air is 80 percent nitrogen anyway

    • Geryatric on 22/04/2018 - 18:45
      -3

      $50 is a very reasonable price for 4x 20” tyres remembering this is parts AND labour.

      Yes all tyres manufacturers now recommend nitrogen filling for best performance and longevity .. look up Kumo, Bridgestone, Pirelli website etc

      Nitrogen also escapes at a slower rate so tyres will maintain the correcte pressure for longer. Less maintenance etc

      • Euphemistic on 22/04/2018 - 20:50
        +1

        Show me some real science behind it for normal road cars and I might rethink. $50 to hook up a hose and inflate a tyre is reasonable? Don’t think so. I wonder how much nitrogen actually costs. It is probably in the order of a dollar per tyre.

        • Geryatric on 22/04/2018 - 21:33

          Each to their own, 30 minutes of my time is worth more to me than $50

        • bejahi on 22/04/2018 - 22:10
          +1

          @Geryatric:
          You've spent 30 minutes writing comments on this thread…

        • Euphemistic on 23/04/2018 - 06:34

          @Geryatric: I’m pretty sure you could spend the $50 on something that provides a real world benefit though. Nitrogen doesn’t in normal road cars.

        • Geryatric on 23/04/2018 - 07:13

          @Euphemistic:
          I get it for free as others have commented. Comment was $50 is reasonable charge from a dealership as these things go

        • Geryatric on 23/04/2018 - 07:13

          Does chemistry count?

        • Euphemistic on 23/04/2018 - 07:40
          +1

          @Geryatric: it is not worth $50 to have you tyres filled with nitrogen. At best they are going to let the air out and refill with good moisture free nitrogen. The tyre will still contain air, they don’t remove what is already in there, so the tyre won’t be moisture free which is what you really want but your nitrogen content will be up to 92% nitrogen. Worst case they are going to top up your tyre with cheap nitrogen and make no difference at all. Dealers have a reputation for takin shortcuts so it is highly likely the apprentice has wandered around the car and you end up with a tyre with about 80% nitrogen, not 78% from the atmosphere.

          It will never be worth $50 for the little benefit it provides unless the tyre is filled from a vacuum.

          Just because you get it for free doesn’t mean you aren’t paying for t in another way either.

  • Corrugated Ironman on 19/04/2018 - 15:14
    +8

    Name and shame JF999
    Get your money's worth ❗️❗️

    • opilot87 on 20/04/2018 - 19:54
      +4

      Name and shame! Name and shame! Name and shame!

      • sprsl on 21/04/2018 - 12:52
        +6

        🔔🔔🔔

  • trustnoone on 19/04/2018 - 15:14
    +4

    Not sure how your finances are, but even if it is a little scammy, I think its not a super bad issue. While I wouldn't actively go out and try to get it done if I had a car, I wouldn't be overly annoyed, seems like a really cheap way of learning about the dodgyness and at least you get to try yourself something different and new, so at least its not like a massive loss.

    • tomsco on 19/04/2018 - 16:02
      +5

      While you are correct that it is a cheap lesson, if as others have said it's not needed, I would be calling the dealer out on it.

    • terrys on 20/04/2018 - 08:07
      +1

      " you get to try yourself something different and new, "
      Except the "try" is try as in " Would you like to pay more to drink circularly polarised water from your tap rather than the heterosyncapated type?

    • SlickMick on 20/04/2018 - 13:16
      +1

      yes, and an isolated incident of not getting the discounted price at Woolies isn't super bad either, but if we have any chance of stopping unethical behavior we have to jump on every occurence.

      Yes, it's way inconvenient to kick up a stink and demand your few cents or $50 in this case, but for the sake of the next victim, we must not be silent.

      • Euphemistic on 20/04/2018 - 13:27
        +1

        nitrogen only sells because there are benefits, it isn't a straight out scam. Yes, these benefits dont apply to normal road cars, but plenty of people will pay for 'premium' products to get limited benefits.

        • SlickMick on 20/04/2018 - 13:30

          are we talking about a normal road car?

        • Euphemistic on 20/04/2018 - 14:04

          @SlickMick:

          My car is a mid to large size SUV with 20 inches wheels.

          Not sure whether that classifies as a normal road car, but for a mid to large size SUV with 20 inches wheels nitrogen in the tyres would provide no tangible benefit..

        • LlamaOfDoom on 21/04/2018 - 07:24
          +1

          @Euphemistic:

          In your expert opinion as a……?
          The best thing you could do for your ride is change those 20s out for 16 or 17s.

        • Euphemistic on 21/04/2018 - 07:39

          @LlamaOfDoom: my expert opinion as a sceptic. If someone offers me an upgraded widget or other snake oil I’ll do some research to see if it is of benefit to me. In this case, nitrogen provides negligible benefit for normal cars. It has benefits for aircraft tyres and possibly race cars, but not enough for normal cars to be worth paying $50 for.

        • Earl of Lemongrab on 21/04/2018 - 21:43

          @SlickMick:

          Formula1 tyres are filled with nitrogen.

        • SlickMick on 22/04/2018 - 17:18

          @SCHMUCK:
          If it was the OP's Formula1 car, I wouldn't suggest he was ripped off.

  • pjetson on 19/04/2018 - 15:20
    +7

    Wouldn't it be better to fill your tyres with helium?

    • D C on 19/04/2018 - 16:12
      +7

      No.

      One of the "advantages" of inflating with pure (yeah sure lol) nitrogen vs regular air (that's 79% nitrogen anyway) is because oxygen atom are smaller nitrogen ones they escape from your tyres faster, so pressure drops faster. (And the oxygen makes the rubber go brittle.)

      With helium being even smaller than both, your tyres will end up flat faster.

      I've no doubt you can convince the "nitrogen is better" idiots of it's benefits though.

      Another "advantage" is regular air has water in it, which along with the oxygen will causes your alloy rims to rust, not a problem with nitrogen. Those who paid the slight attention in science class are no doubt thinking "erm alloy rusts?"

      • pjetson on 19/04/2018 - 16:45
        +4

        I think you took me too seriously, D C.

        Anyway, it's been a long time since I was at school, but I'm pretty sure they said back then that all atoms were the same "size". Different atoms can have different masses, but they're all the same size. Or maybe I wasn't listening properly.

        • retiredfeline on 19/04/2018 - 17:10
          +12

          You weren't listening properly. :)

        • pjetson on 19/04/2018 - 20:07
          +1

          @greenpossum: I just googled it and it looks like both views are represented.

        • D C on 19/04/2018 - 20:18
          +4

          Nah, I wish you all the luck with you newly inflated bouncy helium tyres.

          Hydrogen would work better though, and you make that yourself pretty easily.

          Some say atoms are all the same size, as the weight (more protons etc) goes up so does the charge, which pulls the electrons in closer. Other say not quite, but the difference is bugger all.

          I'm still a bit skeptical oxygen atoms get get through rubber while nitrogen can't.

          And it's not even the lack of oxygen that's the point of nitrogen fill, it's not having any water. As the tyre heats the water expands, so that increases the tyre pressure. You could get the same effect using dried compressed air, maybe nitrogen is less hassle or something.

          All bollocks anyways.

        • FunkyHoratio on 20/04/2018 - 09:21
          +1

          They are not the same size at the subatomic level, but in proportion to the distance between atoms in a compound (more than one atom) the difference is tiny. Since these gases are O2 and N2, i.e. made up of 2 atoms, the distance between those atoms is different.

        • pjetson on 20/04/2018 - 19:34
          +5

          Hydrogen would work better though, and you make that yourself pretty easily.

          I thought it was methane that I made myself pretty easily.

        • the4thzodiac on 21/04/2018 - 16:23

          @FunkyHoratio: you mean molecule.

      • spaceflight on 20/04/2018 - 17:57

        Another "advantage" is regular air has water in it,

        Except for that compressing air reduces its ability to hold moisture so the air from a compressor is pretty dry.

        will causes your alloy rims to rust

        That's why you cover the outside in plastidip to keep all oxygen and moisture away!

        • D C on 20/04/2018 - 18:59

          so the air from a compressor is pretty dry.

          Not dry enough. Ever seen how much water collects in the traps?

          An air compressor will eventually rust from the inside. Takes a while though, a bit less if you're lazy like most of us and ignore the drain valve.

          Thinking about it, the more you inflate your types the more water will accumulate inside (as it has no way to escape). I smell a business opportunity…

        • BartholemewH on 20/04/2018 - 22:56

          @D C:

          Agreed, there is shiploads of water in compressed air, that is why spray booths use commercial air drying units on their air lines.

      • dealman on 21/04/2018 - 21:27
        +1

        That's a complete load of crap..

        your alloy rims to rust,

        How many years of normal compressed air would it take for the rusting on the alloy rims to be significant / noticeable . I suspect you'll have discarded the car for other reasons long before you face any issues due to rusting rims.

        • D C on 21/04/2018 - 21:56

          Geez man, we know. Talk about "those who didn't pay attention…" At least read the next sentence in the post…

    • Osprey06 on 20/04/2018 - 14:24
      +1

      You'd be better to fill them with nitroglycerin.

    • idonotknowwhy on 20/04/2018 - 17:01

      Would it fly like those helium balloons?

  • toru on 19/04/2018 - 15:24
    -1

    Recently had to replace worn tires with new and Bob Jane fitter said filling with nitrogen means tyres don't deflate as quickly as normal com pressed air and BJ do free nitrogen top-ups if pressure deflates later on, so I did go ahead with nitrogen option.

    • Presence on 19/04/2018 - 16:23
      +24

      If you fill your tyres with normal air and only nitrogen can't escape then eventually, after many top ups, it'll approach 100% nitrogen.

      The truth is air doesn't escape on well maintained tyres anywhere near fast enough for it to be an issue.

      • laser on 19/04/2018 - 17:02
        +42

        Normal air is not good enough. Always use air from Blue Mountains or Bondi Beach.

        • FunkyHoratio on 20/04/2018 - 09:23
          +4

          I always use organic free range air that's been expirated from the most people possible.

        • Osprey06 on 20/04/2018 - 14:23
          +2

          @FunkyHoratio: Unlike food, you want to go for air with the least expiration.

        • BartholemewH on 20/04/2018 - 22:57
          +4

          @FunkyHoratio:
          Is there a vegan option?

    • Antikythera on 23/04/2018 - 10:28

      free nitrogen top-ups

      so the attendant can take the opportunity to alert you to the need for new types or a balance. companies love reasons for customers to return. especially the type easily fooled into using nitrogen.

  • chumlee on 19/04/2018 - 15:24

    $50 is a ripp off. Costco only use nitrogen to fill your tires

  • iratepirate on 19/04/2018 - 15:32
    +7

    They most likely won't even use nitrogen - they'll just put red caps on the valve stems and pocket $49 as pure profit. Other standard up-sells include "you need four new tires" and "the windscreen wipers need replacing"

    • D C on 19/04/2018 - 16:14

      Other standard up-sells include

      "and your brake pads".

      • Seaeagles on 21/04/2018 - 11:44
        +3

        I got that call last week while the car was is in for service.
        They said the pads have about 20% left on them.
        I told him that I had new tyres put on last week and the tyre shop said I had plenty of life left in the pads.

        Every time I drop the car off there always is a call an hour later about something. I usually say leave it to next time and let me know if it is required then. Very rarely get a call back about the same problem six months earlier that wasn't dealt with.

        • D C on 21/04/2018 - 15:14

          Happens with motorcycles too.

          One problem for them is most small motorcycles have a drum brake on the rear, complete with wear indicator that's very easy to read. Like this: http://drakesmotors.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/drum-brak…

          To make it even easier you get out your best red nail polish and paint the arrow & the lines.

    • MeesusEff on 19/04/2018 - 16:19

      I had that Windscreen wiper replacement call! Thing was that I had just replaced them a week ago with Wipertech's so I just said no thanks to everything. Was at the actual Honda dealership as well

      • iratepirate on 19/04/2018 - 16:33
        +1

        Even if you do need new wipers you can get twice the quality for a third the price of the stealership with two minutes shopping around.

        • AdosHouse on 19/04/2018 - 16:45

          Funnily enough, I used to find that the genuine Holden wiper blades were the best ones for the money. I think they were $10 each, but they lasted the longest and did the best clean. I found out what brand they were, and I found Autobarn sell them. Trico I think.

        • iratepirate on 19/04/2018 - 23:57

          @AdosHouse: I got some Wipertech ones from this deal :-
          https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/368067 for $19 a pair and can say they are better than the factory Holden ones I did have on, as to their usable life I'll have to get back to you.

    • macrocephalic on 21/04/2018 - 11:03
      +1

      My wife got the 'needs a wheel alignment' recently - on the first service of a brand new car. I rang and made them credit the $80 back - because they didn't get approval and I would have said no if they'd asked.

      • iratepirate on 21/04/2018 - 11:58
        +5

        I watched them take $500 of a little old lady when I went for my last service after she told them her husband had just died and he usually handled the cars.

        The tires they took off had even wear and would have lasted another 18 months easy.

        I bet she had to miss meals or medication to pay for their con.

    • Wallyt99 on 22/04/2018 - 09:20

      I just got tried to sell an Engine oil flush and a computer check of brake pads and alignment.

  • wallet72 on 19/04/2018 - 15:46
    +3

    don't forget 'stem lube'

    • macrocephalic on 21/04/2018 - 11:04

      How much should one pay for a stem lube?

      • Seraphin7 on 23/04/2018 - 10:00
        +1

        Depends if you're looking for the 30 minute or 60 minute service.

  • Fergy1987 on 19/04/2018 - 15:52

    Yeah I mean….you're not a race car driver……..save your $50 bucks and buy yourself something nice.

  • Cluster on 19/04/2018 - 16:14
    +16

    It's worth it for the following people:

    • If you're a top racing car driver trying to eek out the last millisecond from every lap on a professional race track

    • If you're a pilot of an aircraft that cruises at 35,000+ feet

  • foolsgold on 19/04/2018 - 16:14
    +2

    Recommend watching this:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCnWvMleVD0

  • tonsta on 19/04/2018 - 16:15
    +5

    for $50 you could buy your own nitrogen can and fill up all the cars in your neighborhood for that price.

  • Cluster on 19/04/2018 - 16:22
    +35

    I fill my car's tires with neon, because I'm noble.

    • pjetson on 19/04/2018 - 16:53
      +37

      I was trying to think of an atom pun, but all the good ones Argon.

      • [Deactivated] on 19/04/2018 - 20:23
        +18

        Puns are dead. You should just Barium.

      • bmerigan on 20/04/2018 - 21:18
        +5

        Haha! That's gold

        • Antikythera on 23/04/2018 - 10:34

          that is to be expected from ozbargain.com.AU

  • GG57 on 19/04/2018 - 16:57
    +3

    I bought a 2nd-hand car which the previous owner had bought the dealer after-sales add-on and filled the tyres with nitrogen. He was quite proud of it and gave us the paperwork (which from memory included roadside assistance for 12 months).

    Waste of money IMO.

    For $50, were they going to totally deflate each tyre and then re-inflate with nitrogen. If not, they are only topping up?

    • bmerigan on 20/04/2018 - 21:19
      +2

      Thats a great question to ask them: how do the get the existing air out?

  • laser on 19/04/2018 - 16:58

    Helium gas will make your car lighter and therefore make it go faster.

    • ronnknee on 19/04/2018 - 20:58
      +3

      Also add in some speed holes on the bonnet.

    • JIMB0 on 20/04/2018 - 12:34

      It will still have the same mass.

  • MathNerd on 19/04/2018 - 17:12
    +9

    Did they ask you if they could topup your headlight fluid too?

    • gazzas on 20/04/2018 - 18:00
      +1

      Don't forget the blinker fluid as well!

      • macrocephalic on 21/04/2018 - 11:05

        That's a special service, requires a left handed screw driver.

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