nitrogen in tires was: aluminum wheels

[Dave Hord]

 >> Someone dropped me a line stating he has heard of places where they
fill > >>your tires with pure nitrogen as opposed to air---I've never >
heard of it but it >may be the answer.

 >An old bicyle racer trick (urban legend, actually). Bicycle racers fill
their tires >with helium to make the bike lighter.

Helium is pointless in tires..but yes, nitrogen CAN be used and DOES have
an advantage.  Filling your tires with pure nitrogen essentially ensures
there is no residual water moisture in the tires at the time they are
filled up.  Due to the fact that there is no water moisture, your tires
will not increase their pressure much with heat.  Thus, a tire filled at
32psi with nitrogen when cold will be closer to 32psi when hot, then a tire
filled with just normal 'air'.

The advantage comes for track racers (full track, not Solo II), as the
optimum pressure (determined through testing) remains after the car leaves
the pits.

Of course, if the rules allow it...using a bleeder valve is far easier
(bleeds extra air over a pre-determined pressure).

There is no advantage to using nitrogen in a street vehicle.

-Dave

*Note...this was essentially taken from Caroll Shelby's "Drive to Win"*