AZURES3

After having a punctur repair fixed the other day they filled the tye with Nirogen gas, they then on my request filled the other 3 tyres. They recomned it on high performance cars, as used by Formula 1 teams. It does not expand when hot and pressure needs checking onlya bot once every 6 months. I have to recomned it on long drives and fast cornering etc it really has improved the ride and handling on my S3. Don't understand why but it does.

Colin M

I think you'll find they use nitrogen because it's inert and will not provide oxygen to a fire if the tyres did catch alight. All aircraft use nitrogen in the tyres for that reason.
I'm afraid it does expand with heat and there is no reason why you should not need to check your tyre pressures as normal as that is to do with leaks across the pressure differential around the sidewall and valve.
As for the ride and handling? Nitrogen forms the bulk of air, so I can't see you'd notice a difference. Now if you put helium in the tyres, maybe!

Nick B

I believe that racing cyclists have tried helium but the tyres won't maintain pressure for very long as the helium molecules can pass through the rubber. Nice idea though.

Colin M

Is that why they always have squeaky voices?

Nick B

No, that's the lycra shorts!