$250 peace of mind

[dieseldodge]

Didn't feel warm and fuzzy with the Castle Rock tires that came on my new Flagstaff. After doing my homework decided I'd prefer some Goodyear Endurance tires instead. So I bought a set (4), had them mounted and balanced for a bit under $500. An added plus was they made the rear of the Flagstaff stand up a bit more compared to the Castle Rocks (something it needed with my set-up).
I just sold the Castle Rocks for $250. So I ended up with the tire I wanted, balanced (the Castle Rocks were not), plus the trailer now sits a bit better when on the truck....for $250. The only down side is the Castle Rocks had nitrogen in them and I just had 'air' put in the Goodyears.

I'm a happier camper now.

[Cowracer]

Originally Posted by dieseldodge

Didn't feel warm and fuzzy with the Castle Rock tires that came on my new Flagstaff. After doing my homework decided I'd prefer some Goodyear Endurance tires instead. So I bought a set (4), had them mounted and balanced for a bit under $500. An added plus was they made the rear of the Flagstaff stand up a bit more compared to the Castle Rocks (something it needed with my set-up).
I just sold the Castle Rocks for $250. So I ended up with the tire I wanted, balanced (the Castle Rocks were not), plus the trailer now sits a bit better when on the truck....for $250. The only down side is the Castle Rocks had nitrogen in them and I just had 'air' put in the Goodyears.

I'm a happier camper now.

Your new ones have nitrogen in them. They just have 20% oxygen in them too...

Tim

[5picker]

Originally Posted by Cowracer

Your new ones have nitrogen in them. They just have 20% oxygen in them too...

Tim

Agreed. (well 20.95% oxygen-LOL!)

"By volume, dry air contains 78.09% nitrogen, 20.95% oxygen, 0.93% argon, 0.04% carbon dioxide, and small amounts of other gases. Air also contains a variable amount of water vapor, on average around 1% at sea level, and 0.4% over the entire atmosphere."

We've beat this dead horse a zillion times and there are instances where 100% nitrogen is effective... trailer tires isn't one of them.

[dieseldodge]

I just assumed there was some nitrogen in 'air', I just didn't know how much. Now I do.
5picker....why don't you feel all nitrogen is an effective application for trailer tires?
BTW...it occurred to me that another 'perk' I got with the recent switch to the Goodyears is 6 months newer tires. I should have waited till spring to make the switch, but I just wanted rid of the Castle Rocks. The fella that bought my 'old' Castle Rocks will be replacing some 20 year old tires on his horse trailer. Seems like a better use for them (Castle Rocks) than on my Flagstaff.

[5picker]

There are advantages to 100% nitrogen filled tires.
Aircraft and the Space Shuttle require it.
Not because of the Nitrogen so much but rather the lack of water vapor Nitrogen provides.
But let's face it, were aren't subjecting trailer tires to the temperature extremes of aircraft.


100% Nitrogen filled trailer tires are usually pretty expensive to fill.
Most places around here charge 10$ per tire.
So, unless you have a buddy that has a buddy, it can get rather costly to fill them with Nitrogen and that just isn't worth it.

Remember air is (round numbers) 80% Nitrogen anyway.
To purge the 20% you'd have to fill/release and fill a tire several times to get the benefits of 100% Nitrogen. Again, not worth it, especially at $10 per fill.

There is talk (smoke and mirrors) that Nitrogen filled tires don't lose air as quickly (Nitrogen molecules larger) and that is true to a degree but go back to the 80/20% mix which air is and only 20% of the air in a tire is trying to escape because of smaller molecules not all 100% as they want you to believe.

Tire pressures do maintain their stability better with 100% Nitrogen but again, that is because of the lack of water vapor. Most good tire shops and even most home compressors have a water separator on the system so it's not like you are filling them with really saturated moisture.

There can be a LOT of discussion about Nitrogen filled tires and I've simply touched on a few things that often arouses my interest in these discussions but most of it ends when the cost is considered.

If Nitrogen was free and cost nothing to inflate your tires, Id be the first in line to reap the minute benefits... but for the cost -vs- rewards as it is... no dice.

[Cowracer]

.

[dieseldodge]

Interesting. I've never given the nitrogen thing much thought, assuming it was primarily 'marketing'. I mean come on, the manufacturers first put crappy tires on their units in the name of being 'competitive', then fill them with nitrogen in an effort to impress?
My neighbor didn't even know what the green valve stem cap meant. When I told him and added that it isn't a big deal if he just adds 'air', he said that was good because that's what he'd been doing all along.

[HangDiver]

I just winterized my TT and while doing so I let the summer air out and filled up with winter air.

[OKI Marine]

Originally Posted by dieseldodge

Interesting. I've never given the nitrogen thing much thought, assuming it was primarily 'marketing'. I mean come on, the manufacturers first put crappy tires on their units in the name of being 'competitive', then fill them with nitrogen in an effort to impress?.

Hahaha. My camper even came with a "sticker" stating that the tires are Nitrogen filled.

[dbarr]

Originally Posted by OKI Marine

Hahaha. My camper even came with a "sticker" stating that the tires are Nitrogen filled.

I bought a matching spare wheel, no tire. Came with a pre-installed stem and green cap!