Brian Nystrom

Oz wrote:
> To set the record straight Nitrogen has less moisture than the air we
> breathe. When a tire heats up it expands. The less moisture in a
> tire the less expansion. Tire expansion or overinflated tires MAY
> increase fuel economy (by decreasing rolling resistance) slightly...
> BUT as a tire expands the contact patch (rubber on the road) decreases
> causing your traction, handling, and ride comfort to diminish. An
> over-inflated tire is also more prone to puncture or to damage (ie
> when you run over a pot hole, etc). The guy from Costco just didn't
> quite have his facts straight... but he is headed in the right
> direction, and we know that it is NEVER possible that someone could
> have their facts straight but the person listening to the sales pitch
> was the dummy that couldn't accurately recall or didn't understand the
> concept........ no this is not possible........

Before you go accusing others of not knowing what they're talking about,
you should get your own facts straight. You've GROSSLY exaggerated the
effects of moisture in the air in a tire. The truth is that from a
practical matter, it simply doesn't make any difference. If you want the
truth, go to the following link:

http://www.straightdope.com/columns/070216.html

Putting nitrogen in car tires won't hurt anything, but it's not going to
make any performance difference over the life of a typical car tire
either, especially if you check your tire pressures once in a while. If
you can get if free anytime you want, great, but if you have to pay for
it or go out of your way to get it, you're wasting your time and money.

The guy at Costco is still an idiot.