[DeTomaso] Tires, Tire Life, and Nitrogen

[Trevor Fougere]

Compressed air 78 percent nitrogen, 21 percent oxygen, and 1 percent other
gases by volume. 
 
And whatever water vapor may be in there (not a lot).
 
Filling your tires with nitrogen eliminates moisture, and it replaces
smaller oxygen molecules with larger nitrogen molecules, reducing the rate
at which the air can permeate through tire walls (always somewhat porous).
 
In theory, such a tire might retain pressure longer, improving tire life.
 
Giving that the tires will be on a Pantera, and you check their pressure
regularly, I would consider the net gain to be largely inconsequential, let
alone worth the additional cost. Particularly if you intend to adjust the
pressure with more Nitrogen.
 
Oh...some tire places will give you cool little green valve stem caps...to
replace your really cool Pantera ones from the POCA store.
 
Trevor
#3797