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New Tires ok New Air?
OK, putting new tires on the Steer, and trying out full Nitrogen instead of air (72%Nitrogen). Read a lot up and talked to several Tire Dealers/Companys, what is the common thought on this not so common usage. Cars/Trucks getting increased value what about the Bus?
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5 Replies
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I followed a lot of messages about this when it had lots of traffic a while ago. Seems to have quieted down lately.
My take on nitrogen is maybe fine for the over the road trucker at 12000 plus miles a month. As for our casual use of our bus I have maintained the policy of clean dry air. Getting dry air is easy as we travel with really top grade air dryer on our buses. Attaching a hose and just monitor the kick in and out of the compressor.
This was done on our former Country Coach and doing the same way on the Marathon.
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Roger,
What is the increased value you mentioned?
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Tom,as I understand from my reading (and I am not a chemist ) the Nitrogen ,due to its molecular size, has less chance of leaking to the atmosphere. I am sure it would escape quite readily through any “exit” . The mileage savings that are touted , are miniscule, especially the mileage I am accumulating. Moisture within the tire could be a problem but as mentioned above, using air from the bus instead of another outside source (portable Air Compressor) should be drier and possibly help the deterioration. I changed out these 2 tires at 4 yrs of age due to rapidly increasing weather checking on the sidewalls noteably close to the rim itself. I am a bit negligent on using tire covers when the bus sits for a month or so, especially in this torrid summer heat and direct sunlight as I do not have a barn or structure as of yet.
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Rodger, If you are going to stay in the bus business, a barn is the best money you can spend. Saves possible exspense on Paint , roof,tires, awnings just getting it out of the elements. Buses are sort of like people, they like to go outside and play but like to have a nice place to come in out of the weather. Rental is another option.
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We have had tire manufacturers’ representatives at a couple of rallies. When asked about the use of nitrogen they universally and very diplomatically made it clear there was no measurable benefit. If you ever want to see a topic more widely debated than OTR air versus roof airs google nitrogen in tires.
My guess is if it is so good and so important to do then anyone filling tires with nitrogen will first pull a vacuum on the tire to pull out all that bad air. That’s my bias showing through.
As to tire covers, if keeping sunshine off the tires is important, can anyone explain to me why the inside drive axle tires that never see the sun get dry rot? Ditto on the walls of the outside tires towards the center of the coach, ditto air bags, etc. If you want to extend the life of tires the manufacturers are in full agreement that nothing is more effective than driving. The rubber materials used release compounds that contribute to resisting degradation of the tires by the constant flexing from driving.
Absolutely correct the best money ever spent on our coaches is covered shelter, and particularly housing that minimizes temperature swings.
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