Nitrogen has the advantage of not having moisture which results in less pressure gain as the tires get hot. I'm not sure if this would be an issue for autocrosses, but it could be for track days where tires could get over 200F.

The nitrogen cylinders have very high pressure and if the cylinder is at the race track it can also be used for pneumatic tools eliminating the need for a compressor. Again, if you drive your car to the event you are probably not taking a generator and compressor.

The high pressure tank (2000psi I think) is a potential risk in an accident. Maybe less of a concern strapped in an enclosed trailer; maybe more rolling around in a trunk.

Many dealers and tire service centers offer nitrogen, usually at price. Unless there is access to a nitrogen filling source on a regular basis it would be hard to maintain and adjust.

And even when it is used the net result is really only 95% nitrogen. Even vacuuming the tire isn't a complete solution and collapsing the tire when the vacuum is created could damage its structure.

A search of the forums found only a couple of posts discussing it.

Is anyone using nitrogen in their tires?

 

I use nitrogen, just adjust the pressure before leaving for the track. Never bothered about vacuuming or anything.

 

I run a special mixture of 78% nitrogen and check pressure regularly.

-- Chuck

 

Nope.

No available nitrogen at the circuit which you may need if temps change or it rains etc, which means you would then have to mix with air, and then you're into unknown expansion territory. N2 does still move in pressure a bit too.

Good old air is fine as I know exactly how much I need when cold.

 

I fill the tires at home using a desiccant, and use a trailer. I don't usually add air at the track.

I don't see more than 1 psi increase between autox runs.

 

I've used it for the past 3 years in the tires and the shocks. More predictable rise in pressures. Was surprised at how much the pressure still rises with nitrogen.

If it's raining when your tire guy mounts your race tires, be prepared for some moisture in the tire and wild pressure increases.

-Paddy

 

I've tried it for a while, although never with my own nitrogen tank. A few local tire places do nitrogen. It really wasn't very different at all. Maybe their nitrogen was just horrible. But I fill my air and air tank from my compressor with normal air with a desiccant inline and I felt like the nitrogen actually swung more in pressures.

I've often thought about getting a tank so I can play with shock pressure and then trying the nitrogen tire experiment again without having the tire shop as a variable, but I'm not too hopeful about it.

 

I lease a big tank from airgas and use a 500psi regulator and 500psi hose from Goodyear. I pack the tank for each track weekend.

 

Me too!

Thinking about switching to Hydrogen for reduced unsprung weight.

 

I should have added using a dryer on the air line.Intercomp even sells a unit that vacuums and fills 4 tires with dry air simultaneously.

How often do you need to replace the dryer?

What type of racing? What type of trailer do you have? How do you secure it? Do you vacuum the tire or just bleed the air used when it was mounted?

That could really make your on track performance explode. Maybe try helium?