Fill with Nitrogen Only
 

I was flying with Malaysia Airlines on a Fokker 50 and saw on the tire the notation: Fill with nitrogen only. I am guessing this is not specific to the Fokker 50. What fills, say, a 747-400 or a B777

I've read that all aircraft tires are inflated with nitrogen. It prevents water vapor entering. Any tires that go over 190 mph usually get inflated with nitrogen...including F-1 cars. They are starting to inflate regular car tires with nitrogen now as well...supposedly helps with gas mileage. :)

All three of my cars have nitrogen in all the tires. (bought the tires at Costco and that's what they fill up with) The Costco guy even completely deflated my spare tires and filled them up with nitrogen.

Nitrogen does seem to work as advertised. I notice very little pressure change even after a few months. (but it is still very important to check the tire pressure on a regular basis with a quality tire gauge)

Oh, and Costco puts green caps on the tires to remind you(or other mechanics) not to fill them up with regular air.

It also prevents oxidation of the "rubber" inside the tire.

Cheers,
Geoff Glave
Vancouver, Canada

I'm not an expert...and can't remember too much from HS Chem (that was a WHILE ago)
 

What about Gas expansion when in flight? Would Nitrogen expand less?

No. Assuming ideal behavior there is exactly zero difference. Non-idealities are most certainly infinitesimal.

Alos, combustion mitigation

This has more to do with the nitrogen will have zero water vapor in it and thus less rubber degregation. FWIW tires are loaded with antioxidents.

MisterNice

I just wish my low profile tires would last up to New York City pot holes long enough to bother putting nitrogen into them.

100,000 miles, only one has died of natural causes.