Inflating Tires With HELIUM

[EquatorHeat00]

What would happen if you inflated all 4 tires with helium instead of oxygen? Would it make the car SLIGHTLY lighter which would mean faster.

[Joe 1320]

It would leak out quicker than regular air. Nitogen is preferred for temperature benefits.

[The Old Man]

[Craig 94 TA GT]

Yup, helium molecules move at a much faster rate than oxygen molecules. "On the atomic mass scale, helium molecules weigh 2 units, oxygen molecules weigh 32 units. Big difference! [If we were talking about air instead of oxygen, the average weight of molecules of air is 29.]"

[RocKin1967]

some 1 likes science... lol

[Disifer]

Hydrogen would weigh half as much as helium . Only use it if you really need that last 1/2 ounce weight reduction.

[TruckMuddr]

probably work better with a tube in the tire. less spots for it to leak

[Injuneer]

Last I checked, the atomic weight of Helium was 4.

Rough guess as the volume of a tire.... assume 24" average (not outside) diameter, 12" section width, 6" height = approx 6.28' X 1.0' X 0.5' = 3.14 cubic feet.

At 32degF, 29.92"Hg (14.7psi(a) )the density of air is 0.0808 LB/cu ft. At 32psi(g) inflation pressure, that would be (46.7 / 14.7) x 0.0808 = 0.2567 LB/cu ft.

One tire contains roughly 3.14 cu ft X 0.2567 LB/cu ft = approx 0.81 LB of air.

Changing to Helium would reduce that to (4 / 29) X 0.81 = 0.11 LB of Helium.

Weight savings for 4 tires (assuming no spare) is 2.8 LB. In a 3,600 LB F-Body pulling 13.800 @ 100.0 mpg, the weight saving would improve the performance to 13.7968 @ 100.0255

Have fun....

[Jay 02 TA ws6]

Last I checked, the atomic weight of Helium was 4.

Rough guess as the volume of a tire.... assume 24" average (not outside) diameter, 12" section width, 6" height = approx 6.28' X 1.0' X 0.5' = 3.14 cubic feet.

At 32degF, 29.92"Hg (14.7psi(a) )the density of air is 0.0808 LB/cu ft. At 32psi(g) inflation pressure, that would be (46.7 / 14.7) x 0.0808 = 0.2567 LB/cu ft.

One tire contains roughly 3.14 cu ft X 0.2567 LB/cu ft = approx 0.81 LB of air.

Changing to Helium would reduce that to (4 / 29) X 0.81 = 0.11 LB of Helium.

Weight savings for 4 tires (assuming no spare) is 2.8 LB. In a 3,600 LB F-Body pulling 13.800 @ 100.0 mpg, the weight saving would improve the performance to 13.7968 @ 100.0255

Have fun....

HAHAHHAHAHAHAH!!!! That was awesome!

[Craig 94 TA GT]

Fred, you're right, He has an atomic weight of 4, and O of 16. I'm guilty of copying and pasting a quote without reviewing the info. Sorry...

[Injuneer]

No big deal... you mixed up the atomic number and the atomic weight. Happens all the time

And, while the atomic weight of oxygen is 16, it is present in the diatomic form O2 with a "molecular" weight of 32. Ditto with N2 = 28.

[ws6drbob]

Last I checked, the atomic weight of Helium was 4.

Rough guess as the volume of a tire.... assume 24" average (not outside) diameter, 12" section width, 6" height = approx 6.28' X 1.0' X 0.5' = 3.14 cubic feet.

At 32degF, 29.92"Hg (14.7psi(a) )the density of air is 0.0808 LB/cu ft. At 32psi(g) inflation pressure, that would be (46.7 / 14.7) x 0.0808 = 0.2567 LB/cu ft.

One tire contains roughly 3.14 cu ft X 0.2567 LB/cu ft = approx 0.81 LB of air.

Changing to Helium would reduce that to (4 / 29) X 0.81 = 0.11 LB of Helium.

Weight savings for 4 tires (assuming no spare) is 2.8 LB. In a 3,600 LB F-Body pulling 13.800 @ 100.0 mpg, the weight saving would improve the performance to 13.7968 @ 100.0255

Have fun....

I know who to talk to when I have have a chemistry exam

[Jay 02 TA ws6]

Last I checked, the atomic weight of Helium was 4.

Rough guess as the volume of a tire.... assume 24" average (not outside) diameter, 12" section width, 6" height = approx 6.28' X 1.0' X 0.5' = 3.14 cubic feet.

At 32degF, 29.92"Hg (14.7psi(a) )the density of air is 0.0808 LB/cu ft. At 32psi(g) inflation pressure, that would be (46.7 / 14.7) x 0.0808 = 0.2567 LB/cu ft.

One tire contains roughly 3.14 cu ft X 0.2567 LB/cu ft = approx 0.81 LB of air.

Changing to Helium would reduce that to (4 / 29) X 0.81 = 0.11 LB of Helium.

Weight savings for 4 tires (assuming no spare) is 2.8 LB. In a 3,600 LB F-Body pulling 13.800 @ 100.0 mpg, the weight saving would improve the performance to 13.7968 @ 100.0255

Have fun....

Oh, but wait Fred... since it's 2.8 lbs of rotating mass, aren't its effects calculated a little differently?

[wolfdogs]

well...for one thing.. you could get on your knees at cars shows, remove the valve core and suck in the hellium and talk funny for your friends!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!











Nitrogen has been used for years in aircraft tires and race car tires . it is not affected by temps and does not bleed out thru the porus inner linner nearly as fast as air...

its comming back now. many tire stores offer nitrogen tire fills in lieu of air.

we are looking at doing it in the govt. fleet. if you want to read the bennies...here's the whole scoop from Bridgestone:

go hear, and download the pdf and educate your bad selves......



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