An increasing number of often individuals are asking if we run nitrogen in our RV tires. I need to admit, each single time somebody would ask me it took me a second to course of the query in my head earlier than I might reply. The reply was at all times ‘No’, however then I obtained to pondering, ‘Ought to I be?”. Let’s dive into it.
The combination of the conventional air we breathe, and subsequently run by means of an air compressor and into our RV tires is round 78% Nitrogen, 21% Oxygen, and 1% different gasses. So no, It gained’t trigger any hurt, however increasingly individuals are paying an upcharge to have pure nitrogen put of their RV Tires.
Why Would You Put Nitrogen In RV Tires?
This pattern obtained its begin on the earth of Motorsports like NASCAR, Indy, Formulation and so on. The rationale behind it was constant tire pressures all through the race, since nitrogen doesn’t escape by means of the rubber in the identical method that common air will when the tires are below extreme temperatures, in addition to a extra constant stress change by means of the warmth ranges.
So, for instance in case your tires are sitting within the Pit on an 80 diploma day, and so they get thrown on the quickest automobile on the tremendous speedway, the pit crew is aware of precisely what the stress in them goes to be once they get warmed up. Tremendous important math at 200 miles an hour within the Florida solar in August. Not a lot in your half-ton towable RV.
How Do You Refill It When It’s Low?
There are going to be instances when for completely no motive in any respect, or since you clipped a curb with the aspect wall, that your tire can be low on stress. Some, not all tire retailers will be capable to refill the nitrogen in your tire for you, however how far-off is it? I’ve been to the entire 48 Continental United States and cannot for the lifetime of me keep in mind seeing one signal on the interstate that stated the subsequent fuel station had a Nitrogen Filling Station.
You possibly can’t drive it there on a ‘flat’ tire anyway, you’ll destroy it. In the event you pump that may of repair a flat into it, nicely, that could be a mixture of compressed air and inexperienced goopy stuff. Positively not the pure nitrogen we’re discussing right here right this moment.
What Do I Do?
In my trustworthy opinion, and I’m however a easy man, and I simply run that good ole free air out of no matter air compressor I can discover. No however severely, this may increasingly sound like a ‘my daddy and his daddy earlier than him did it this manner’ sorts of logic, and possibly it’s, however that is a kind of instances that these outdated timers had been proper.
One of the best factor you are able to do is examine your tire stress frequently. If checking your tire stress is one thing that you simply simply merely aren’t going to do, you’ll be able to at all times get a Tire Stress Monitoring System that may warn you when one in every of them is low on stress.
I really purchased one myself over a 12 months in the past after we began dwelling within the RV full time. It nonetheless hasn’t been put in. I simply added Test Tire Pressures to my ‘Leaving Day Guidelines’ and whereas I’m consuming my espresso within the morning, stroll across the RV and pop the tire gauge onto the tires. The additional benefit of this, you really have a look at your tires so if there’s a bizarre put on sample on the tread, or a gash within the sidewall, you’re going to find out about it earlier than making an attempt to beat the tempo automobile up the doorway ramp onto the freeway.
What’s The Verdict?
I might truthfully say the reply is a strong No.
You don’t NEED to be working nitrogen in your RV Tires. If the tire store goes to throw it in free of charge with the 6 new 10 ply tires you simply purchased, then certain, why not. It isn’t going to harm something to have it in there. But when you will must pay 10 or 20 bucks a tire to have it put in, I personally would save that cash for the gasoline invoice on the fuel pump. Or, use it to select up a very good high quality tire stress gauge.
