What to use to pump tires? Air? Nitrogen? Helium?

[shiphteey]

I am Bonneville bound next week but just heard of the gains to using Nitrogen in tires.  

Any other options as far as tire inflation is concerned?

Seems like a great way to go....just not sure how much $ this is gonna cost and where exactly I can get my tires filled.

Thoughts?

Thanks

A.

[Bob Drury]

Ship, I run nitrogen in all my tires on the truck, trailer and race car.  If you are running air in your tow vehicle tires and you shoot the tires with a laser gun, you will probably be around 30 degrees hotter on the sunny side.  With nitrogen, the differential in temp will be a lot less.  If you buy a regulator, Nitrogen is cheap, and you can run your air tools off of it if you don't have a generator and air compressor.  Remember, air contains moisture, and combine with heat you are trying to build steam, hence pressure rises.......................................

[Rex Schimmer]

Bob is right about the advantages of using nitrogen, when is is refined from air (remember that air is about 80% nitrogen) the water content is reduced to very low levels and therefore pressure changes due to the water vapor expanding are greatly reduced. You can use air but it needs to come from a compressor that has a good working air dryer and if it is a disicant style of dryer even better.

Helium is also dry but the molecules are so small that they will leak through the side wall of the tire! and it is more expensive.

Rex