Tire is low .. where to fill in sj ?

[Topless]

Maybe stop by your local tire shop and check for a nail in the tire. It got low for a reason. Many tire shops will refill with nitrogen on request but any old compressor will give you a nice clean 80% nitrogen blend.

[Jaxonalden]

Why are you worried about refilling with nitrogen? All nitrogen is is a dry non flammable gas. In aircraft applications it's recommended to fill the tires with nitrogen (as opposed to dry air) because of the extreme temperature swings the tires go through (-60 thru 150 degrees in a matter of minutes). It provides a more stable, constant pressure.

Down here on the ground, there's nothing wrong with using compressed air. Preferably air from a compressor with a dehydrator. If not, so what, tire pressure and tire condition should be checked on a regular basis.

BTW, to truly fill a tire with nitrogen you first need to purge out all the air before filling the tire. Good luck going through that process.

Paying a dealership to air up your tires? Please

[nefarious986]

Thats exactly why I thought Porsche put Nitrogen in the cars stock ? It maintains pressure under heated use much better than regular oxygen. Less checking & maintenance plus some minor stuff with better mileage since your tires are always 'perfectly' inflated.

I could fill it with air, but considering I got this car 8 months ago (directly from Porsche, filled with Nitrogen stock I think ) and haven't need to deal with tire pressure, I would like to keep using Nitrogen.

I called a few local shops though, and they had no idea where I should go so I thought maybe a fellow P owner might know.

I think one suggestion from somewhere was Costco. Will check tomorrow. I'll let you guys know.

[gregdacat]

In the midwest we have a chain of tire stores named Tire Discounters. The one I go to tops my tires off with N2 for free. I think he sees it as an investment in getting my business when the Box needs new shoes. Don't know if you have Tire Discounters in your neck of the woods.

Costco has nitrogen. They may help you in a bind. They only fill for current customers.

I have been using nitrogen since the car was new. Great for the 5 months of winter storage.

[Kirk]

I've been looking locally myself, but for the nitrogen reservoirs on my coilover shocks. They use a schrader valve just like your tires. Les Schwab did not have nitrogen, but they suggested the Wal-mart tire center. I called them and they were clueless. A local place (also NorCal, but not the Bay Area) called Bob's Tires has nitrogen and will fill each wheel for $7.50. I'd try some of your local tire shops.

Honestly if you're not racing the car, then I think you're wasting your money. I seriously doubt that the tires come filled with nitrogen from the factory. I've never heard this before. However, your dealer may have deflated them and refilled them with nitrogen as a "perk" for the buyer. If you're low on pressure now, fill it with air and then when you find a shop with nitrogen just have them deflate the tire and refill it.

BTW, my solution is to just buy a nitrogen bottle from a welding supply shop. I'm going at lunch today to pick one up. This way I can adjust my shock pressure to my heart's content without paying $7.50 each time. Total cost for the bottle, gauge, regulator, and schrader attachment is going to be about $200 and then ~$15 or so to refill it once a year. I may do my tires too when I start autocrossing the car.

Kirk

[renzop]

Air is 72% Nitrogen. There is no good reason to use pure Nitrogen for tires. Sure there are reasons, just none of them are good enough to justify the cost/hassle.

1) Nitrogen does not expand as much as it is heated as air which results in more even tire pressures but to such a small degree as to not matter (1 - 2 psi)

2) Nitrogen does not oxidize tire insides as much as air. True, but the cost of N2 fills is greater than the increased tire longevity.

3) Its terminally tech-cool. True, you got me there :-)

4) Nitrogen tire fills are a great profit maker for tire shops and dealerships interested in wallet lightening of the clientele. True, you got me there :-)

[Cloudsurfer]

Originally Posted by nefarious986

It maintains pressure under heated use much better than regular oxygen. Less checking & maintenance plus some minor stuff with better mileage since your tires are always 'perfectly' inflated.

I could fill it with air, but considering I got this car 8 months ago (directly from Porsche, filled with Nitrogen stock I think ) and haven't need to deal with tire pressure, I would like to keep using Nitrogen.

I called a few local shops though, and they had no idea where I should go so I thought maybe a fellow P owner might know.

I think one suggestion from somewhere was Costco. Will check tomorrow. I'll let you guys know.

As have been pointed out, "normal" air is 72% Nitrogen. Your tires are not filled with Oxygen. I HIGHLY doubt your tires came filled with Nitrogen from the factory, or dealer for that matter.

To get into the technical side of this, we use Nitrogen in aviation due to its inert nature, on the ground here, particularly in a street car, there is practically no benefit. Maybe if you can get your tires filled for free, sure- go for it. But if you're going to pay a premium, its ridiculous, and yes, it's a fantastic profit center for any tire shop.

If you wanted to have "Nitrogen filled tires," you would first have to evacuate the air using a vacuum pump, and then pressurize with Nitrogen. I am sure no tire shops are doing this. Now, for remote reservoir shocks, its a requirement- again due to Nitrogen's inert nature, so that's a different situation.

Long story short, I would not worry about. Just use air, though preferably dry air.

Patrick

[Jaxonalden]

nefarious986,

As you can see from my third post that nitrogen is not worth the time or cost for the little to no benefit you'll receive. Just use free, dry air and take the money you would have spent and buy some beer and invite us over to talk cars.

[gregdacat]

I believe chosing to use N2 in your tires is no different than any other mod/hack. Some people like it, some don't. Some swear by desnorkling. Some say it is a waste. Some spend big buck on the stickiest tires, other say as long they last and look good, a tire is a tire. You pay your money and you make your choice.

Would I pay for N2 if it was $7.50 a tire, heck no. But I get it for free, so what is it going to hurt and it just may make a difference even if slight.

[Tool Pants]

Do the valves have green caps?