Helium

[2001Jeep]

Hey what would happen if I filled my tires with Helium and maybe loaded the back of the vehicle with as many helium balloons as would fit.

Probably good for 1/32 mpg!?

[NeilBlanchard]

Hello,

I could be wrong, but i think the helium molecule is so small, it would leak out more easily (through the tire and at the rim)? Helium itself is extremely stable, but I think that nitrogen is the way to go...

[2001Jeep]

Thanks for the response.

I was actually making a joke.

I do have nitrogen in my tires. Costco as standardized on it. I understand that nitrogen helps keep tire pressure longer and it minimizes heating. What i don't understand is that normal air is mostly nitrogen. Does that small amount of oxygen and other elements in air make that much of a difference inside a tire??

By the way, I have not over inflated my tires. Even at a side wall pressure of 35 my Cherokee is really squirrelly especially on the highway. The front tires are only supposed to be at 28 pounds.

[NoCO2]

I've heard of this whole nitrogen tire filling movement recently. What exactly are the advantages to using nitrogen as opposed to just regular air? I've been filling with air and haven't really noticed any problems with leakages or anything.

[AXMonster]

Its not really much to do with Nitrogen, but more to do with water.

Air contains a small percentage of water vapour. When compressed this reforms into water and can enter the tyre when pumping it up.

As the tyre heats up the water vapour can evaporate and increase the pressure in the tyre as it takes up more room.

Nitrogen does not contain water vapour so does not cause as much pressure increase when hot. It also has larger molecules than the rest of the gasses in air, so does not leak out of the tyre as quickly.

[2001Jeep]

Check out this study from Consumer reports

http://blogs.consumerreports.org/car...nitrogen-.html

[Tango Charlie]

Careful with the helium or this might happen...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXlKQbNCRRQ

[wingbatwu]

the air we breathe is at least 75% nitrogen... I don't see the other 25% making much difference

[NeilBlanchard]

Hello:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth%27s_atmosphere

It contains roughly (by molar content/volume) 78.08% nitrogen, 20.95% oxygen, 0.93% argon, 0.038% carbon dioxide, trace amounts of other gases, and a variable amount (average around 1%) of water vapor.

[Red]

I've heard on JF that if you mount 10,000 balloons to the roof rack of an XJ you would see a 3-5 MPG gain depending on road conditions. It also increases your flotation over sand and mud. The only downside is trees, which is why its not run often