Tire repair

[Qbedobedoo]

For about 9-10 months, one of my tires kept losing air; started out losing it slowly where I had to inflate it every month or so, but continuously got worse, to where I had to inflate it every 3-4 days.

I took the car in for my routine services and of course I mentioned it to the service crew, but each and every time they told me nothing was wrong with the tire, but that I should bring it in once it was low again. I was however unable to keep bringing it in, I work a lot, so I've been constantly inflating that one tire. They had it in their shop 3 times in total.

Two weeks ago it was low again, while I had arranged 2 days off (YAY), so I took it in again. This time they actually found a nail on the inside of the tire, but they were unable to repair it, so I would need two new tires. However, they didn't have any available, so I would have to wait until the next afternoon for them to arrive. I told them no and asked them to simply inflate the tire so I could take it to a tire shop.

I chose a tire shop very close to where I live and they instantly found the nail, and offered to fix it for free.!!!! I was absolutely stunned!! Not only were they able to fix it (unlike the Hyundai (s)tealership), but they did it for free. The manager at the shop told me I could get Nitrogen in all 4 tires for $40 total, and that they would keep it up for the life of the tires. I wasn't sure, as I have heard pros and cons to Nitrogen in your tires, but I figured I'd do it, especially since he fixed my tire for free.

Now after having driven a full tank of gas on those Nitrogen-filled tires, I find that I also get about 2 MPG more than before (I did the same driving as before, same routes to work, same conditions etc.)

I'm just curious why Hyundai couldn't fix the tire, when the local tire shop could?? I can't help but be a bit sceptical as to their level (or lack) of expertise. I did contact the manager at the Hyundai in question about a week ago, but he has yet to respond.

Attached is a picture of the nail on top of a pack of Orbits gum.

 

[Mark_888]

Personally, I find it hard to believe that anyone would take their car to a Hyundai dealer for tires (or tire repair). I am also not sure why it would surprise anyone that a tire shop would know more about tires than a Hyundai mechanic.

For a given tire pressure, you don't actually get better MPG with nitrogen, but your tires will stay at proper inflation longer with nitrogen than with air (has something to do with the size of the molecules and their tendency to leak out of the tire). When your tires stay at proper tire pressure, your MPG is improved.

Nitrogen supposedly also holds less water or water vapor than oxygen (air is about 79% nitrogen and 20% oxygen). That has some benefits in preventing rust and corrosion, but not sure how important that is with alloy wheels.

 

[Gunkk]

Don't order Italian food at a French restaurant.

I prefer the local family owned non-chain tire shop. It's their business to SERVICE tires right. Their equipment is first class (road-force balance, non marking tools). They have great prices, competent help, and quick service.

Nitroten...

There are two effects, major and minor (which is which depends mostly on where you live):
The major benefit, for wet climate folks like me, about Nitrogen filled tiers is that the gas is completely dry. Most shop air compressors lack effective driers that will remove all the water. The pressure inside a tire filled with "wet air" will drop more as temperature drops below dew point and the water inside condenses. You will see this on the first cold day of fall/winter when your TPMS light comes on. This matters much more in wet climates like Florida than dry ones like Arizona.

The minor benefit is that as Mark says is that pure nitrogen will leak out slower than the O2 present in air. See: http://www.getnitrogen.org/pdf/graham.pdf Conspiracy theorists take note: that is written by an Air Products employee, who is in the business of selling nitrogen gas and delivery systems. Real people take note: the physics is sound and the effect is real.

So now you say you want to get Nitrogen in your tires. Ask the shop how many fill/purge cycles they are going to do. If it's not at least 5 or so, then you're getting ripped off, as with insufficient purging they won't sufficiently remove the wet & O2-containing air already present in the tires. And the wet soapy water a tire tech slathers all around the inside of the bead does not help...

 

[homeofstone]

Personally, I find it hard to believe that anyone would take their car to a Hyundai dealer for tires (or tire repair). I am also not sure why it would surprise anyone that a tire shop would know more about tires than a Hyundai mechanic.

For a given tire pressure, you don't actually get better MPG with nitrogen, but your tires will stay at proper inflation longer with nitrogen than with air (has something to do with the size of the molecules and their tendency to leak out of the tire). When your tires stay at proper tire pressure, your MPG is improved.

Nitrogen supposedly also holds less water or water vapor than oxygen (air is about 79% nitrogen and 20% oxygen). That has some benefits in preventing rust and corrosion, but not sure how important that is with alloy wheels.

^what he said. +1

 

[Qbedobedoo]

I don't find it unreasonable to take your Hyundai car to a Hyundai mechanic for whatever issue you may have with it..

I know there's nothing magical about the Nitrogen in the tires in regards to the MPG, was merely making an observation.

 

[Southern Boy]

I run my tires with a nitrogen fill and all of the statements posted here from Mark 88, Gunkk and Homeofstone I have found to be true.

After the initial purge and fill of the tires in 2011 I only had to add about a pound of nitrogen a month later.

Since then the tire pressures have remained the same regardless of temperature.

I check the tire pressures at least once a month.