Keppie

My IS came from the dealer with nitrogen in the tires. Over the weekend I picked up a screw in 1 tire. The local tire shops do not have nitrogen. The dealer is 20 minutes away from my home. Is it OK to have 1 tire with regular air and 3 with nitrogen or should I go to Lexus and have them do the repair and put nitrogen in the tire so all 4 have nitrogen?

Jefe's IS

It will be fine. The air you breathe daily contains 70% nitrogen as it is.

Clay Easto

It will be fine. I would eventually get nitrogen in the 4th tire simply because it leaks out much more slowly than air. I buy my tires at Costco & they give you free nitrogen inflation.

Bichon

Actually more like 78%. Nitrogen has less moisture and reduces airloss through the rubber by about 1/3. Here's a nice summary about the benefits of Nitrogen from the Tire Rack. https://www.clublexus.com/forums/742924-post4.html

Kurtz

iTrader: (1)

Closer to 78% actually... the benefits of nitrogen in street tire use is -vastly- overstated... mostly by either people selling nitrogen or folks needing to convince themselves it was worth the $ they paid for it.

For free it's worth getting, for money not so much, and since normal air is mostly nitrogen anyway there's no harm at all to "mixing"

Koz

Good Advise!

Koz

htownis350

That's some great info!

You know what i do! i perposely drill a hole in my tire, fill the full of gel, and then place a screw in the hole i made! not only will you never lose air but you'll never have a flat!

Ha,! dont do it i do this on heavy equiptment where a compressor might be hard to get to for example(afgan and iraq)

Good info!

tmaung

I thought people put nitrogen in the tires because the high concentration is less susceptible to weather changes due to having only one element. Maybe I was misinformed... Anyone here a chemist?

Kurtz

iTrader: (1)

The tirerack post covers that- all gases change pressure with temp-

Keppie

I decided to have all 4 tires with nitrogen so I went to Lexus. While in the ship I asked them to check all tires for proper pressure since nitrogen is not available all over the place.

I have good news and bad news.

Good news. The small screw was only in the tread so when they removed it no air leaked.

Bad news. When I came home I noticed a 1" scratch/gouge on a wheel on the opposite side of the car. I set some photos to the dealership along with a nice explanation of why I thought the damage happened at the dealer. Tomorrow I will get a response.

Can a wheel with a 1" scratch be repaired? The scratch is just inside where the tire meets the wheel and the surface is flush. Keep in mind I have x-pack wheels. I miss spare wheels and tires.