How much helium could you put into car tires? Enough to make a difference?

[BrunoPuntzJones]

I'm not much of a car person, and it's been a while since I've had my chemistry/physics classes and don't care to actually figure it up.

How much air do tires actually hold? Volume wise.

I'm not really serious of course, it was just a thought.

I think it'd be pretty funny to tell people who ask that your car handles better because it weighs less since you used helium

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Dunno, but helium would leak out overnight leaving you with 4 flats

 

[Kalvin00]

Bwaha...I can see a car bouncing up in the air in front of me because it hit a bump

 

[Ronstang]

Stop using your brain....you are damaging it!!!!!!! Give it to someone who will actually put it to good use.

BTW....if you find someone that stupid then tell them that since the seasons are changing it is time to let all the summer air out of their tires and put in winter air.

 

[Jhill]

I've always wanted to fill a football with enough helium to make it really light. Then punt it 200 yards away while my friends worship me.

 

[HappyPuppy]

I have heard of using nitrogen in tires, but not helium.

 

[FoBoT]

you should actually put a gas that is heavier than air/nitrogen in your tires

 

[DannyBoy]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
you should actually put a gas that is heavier than air/nitrogen in your tires

really?

Like what

 

[Ronstang]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
you should actually put a gas that is heavier than air/nitrogen in your tires

Clue us in Einstein.

 

[boyRacer]

Originally posted by: HappyPuppy
I have heard of using nitrogen in tires, but not helium.

yep... nitrogen is much more predictable... and keeps pressure much more constant. plus if you use helium...you'll lose pressure eventually.

 

[Feldenak]

Originally posted by: Jhill
I've always wanted to fill a football with enough helium to make it really light. Then punt it 200 yards away while my friends worship me.

Heh, you mean like Jackie Sherrell accused Auburn of doing because the punter was averaging around 50 yards/punt?

 

[FoBoT]

i am sure any Dense Gas will do

how about some nice

Sulfur hexafluoride
or
Freon12
or
cyclohexane

i am sure there are other candidates

 

[silverpig]

Originally posted by: DannyBoy

Originally posted by: FoBoT
you should actually put a gas that is heavier than air/nitrogen in your tires

really?

Like what

Radon


I guess krypton would work...

 

[silverpig]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
i am sure any Dense Gas will do

how about some nice

Sulfur hexafluoride
or
Freon12
or
cyclohexane

i am sure there are other candidates

Or you could put a viscous liquid in there... Kill both your acceleration and your braking distance at once

 

[DannyBoy]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
i am sure any Dense Gas will do

how about some nice

Sulfur hexafluoride
or
Freon12
or
cyclohexane

i am sure there are other candidates

Oh right yeah, and those are readily available at your local shell garage are they?

 

[Evadman]

Originally posted by: DannyBoy

Originally posted by: FoBoT
i am sure any Dense Gas will do
how about some nice
Sulfur hexafluoride
or
Freon12
or
cyclohexane
i am sure there are other candidates

Oh right yeah, and those are readily available at your local shell garage are they?

They are all deadly.

You fill your tires with nitrogen. Nitrogen cuts down on the PSI changes with tempeature. Helium will migrate right through the tire over time, making it appear you have a slow leak.

 

[crab]

Airliners use nitrogen. Put air in those tires, and it may react with the tire or wheel and explode because of the extreme temps and pressures they experiance. Additionally, air usually has a higher humidity content, and will corrode and even freeze.

 

[ChefJoe]

Don't use cyclohexane, it's a liquid at RT. Being an organic solvent, it could start dissolving your tires.

 

[RossGr]

Nitrogen cuts down on the PSI changes with tempeature

At the pressure and densities of gas in your tires, the ideal gas law:

PV=nRT

holds.

So Pressure (P) = nRT/V
n = the number of moles of particles present
R = Universal Gas constant= 8.3 J/mole K
T= Temperature
V = Volumn

No where do I see where it matters if you use pure N2 or air (80% N2)

 

[glugglug]

Ideally, if you want to cut down on pressure changes with temperature, you should fill the tires with LIQUID, not gas. Water has too high a cohesion and freezes too warm. hmm..... Mercury-filled tires would be interesting.....

 

[DannyBoy]

Originally posted by: glugglug
Ideally, if you want to cut down on pressure changes with temperature, you should fill the tires with LIQUID, not gas. Water has too high a cohesion and freezes too warm. hmm..... Mercury-filled tires would be interesting.....

would be fun getting the car to move...

 

[FoBoT]

this is funny

 

[ElFenix]

i think you should use self-supporting tires with foam inserts. never have a flat.

 

[Jombo]

Originally posted by: ChefJoe
Don't use cyclohexane, it's a liquid at RT. Being an organic solvent, it could start dissolving your tires.

haha, fun reply to a fun thread topic.. ugh

 

[Ronstang]

Originally posted by: RossGr

Nitrogen cuts down on the PSI changes with tempeature

At the pressure and densities of gas in your tires, the ideal gas law:

PV=nRT

holds.

So Pressure (P) = nRT/V
n = the number of moles of particles present
R = Universal Gas constant= 8.3 J/mole K
T= Temperature
V = Volumn

No where do I see where it matters if you use pure N2 or air (80% N2)

Then you aren't looking hard enough because using N2 versus air makes a big difference on the racetrack where the tires see extreme temperatures.