*Cold* weather tire pressure reduction? (Would nitrogen help?) | FerrariChat
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*Cold* weather tire pressure reduction? (Would nitrogen help?)

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by Fast_ian, Jan 12, 2013.

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  1. Fast_ian

    Fast_ian Two Time F1 World Champ

    Sep 25, 2006
    23,397
    Campbell, CA
    Full Name:
    Ian Anderson
    #1 Fast_ian, Jan 12, 2013
    Hey,

    A question for those familiar with *cold* (~10 deg F) conditions;

    Chevy pickup with tire pressure monitoring said we have ~36psi in all 4 tires when we left toasty San Jose.

    Leave it outside in Tahoe overnight and when we take off in the morning the 'puter is telling us all 4 tire pressures are low (~25psi). Don't know if this is why the 'puter then "reduced power" - Friggin' thing wouldn't go above 25MPH.

    As we drive back down the TPM reports increasing pressure until we get back up to ~36PSI again.

    Would using nitrogen mitigate the effect?

    Cheers,
    Ian
     
  2. bosshog8

    bosshog8 Formula Junior

    Mar 13, 2011
    448
    Pinelands NJ
    Full Name:
    Demetrius
    #2 bosshog8, Jan 12, 2013
    No. Ideal gas law is PV=NRT. If you change the temp then the pressure and volume will change regardless of the gas.
     
  3. tazandjan

    tazandjan Three Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Jul 19, 2008
    39,301
    Clarksville, Tennessee
    Full Name:
    Terry H Phillips
    #3 tazandjan, Jan 12, 2013
    Iain- If you have wet air in your tires, differences in temperature will make a larger difference in tire pressure than if you had used dry air. The main advantages of nitrogen are that it is dry and inert (does not react with the rubber), but it still decreases in pressure with temperature, as noted above, so likely would not have made much difference for your problem. Plus it is almost impossible to get a nearly pure pure nitrogen atmosphere into a tire without several refills and drains to purge the existing air out of the tire. Purity gets higher on every purge, but so does the cost.
     

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