Are there any advantages of inflating bicycle tires with CO2 compared to air?

Question

Car tires can now be inflated with nitrogen gas, and there are many well-publicized advantages for it. Unfortunately, the same is not practical for bicycle tires. I was windering if CO2 inflators would offer similar benefits -- e.g. lower leakage and livelier ride compared to air-inflated tires? Thanks.

Answer 1

No advantage to speak of - it's a lot of hype about nitrogen and Co2 ain't nitrogen.

Answer 2

If you are in a bike race where every second counts CO2 is the way to go. For normal repairs when time is not an issue use a pump, when you are out of CO2 you are out of luck, use or also carry a pump.

Answer 3

CO2 is about speed of filling a tire and convenience of not having to carry a bicycle pump.  It is not about getting a lively ride or having fewer leaks.  Keep in mind those little CO2 cartridges add to the humankind's massive waste stream unless you go to the time and effort to recycle them.

Filling automobile tires with 100% nitrogen is really just adding a silly cost to inflating tires.  The atmosphere is already 80% nitrogen.  There is nothing other than buyer's satisfaction from filling tires with 100% nitrogen.

Hope this helps.

Answer 4

I've never detected any difference in performance or leak rate.  (the nitrogen thing for cars is nonsense too)

CO2 inflators are simpler, faster, and more reliable than pumps for on the road repair.    When inflating at home, though, I use my floor pump.

Answer 5

you want a "livelier" ride?  i don't think there is a performance differnce.  the real difference is in the convenience of filling the tires, especially when you are away from your floor pump.

Answer 6

There is no advantage to nitrogen. Remember air is 70% nitrogen in the first place. Further, the claims that nitrogen will not leak out quickly are wrong. Oxygen is a bigger molecule than nitrogen. What is leaking out of tires with just air in them is primarily nitrogen.

As for CO2, it doesn't impart anything special. It is just faster to use a couple cartridges over a hand pump.

Answer 7

Air = 78% nitrogen

CO2 = well, CO2

Only difference is that well, air is free and CO2 isn't.  Also CO2 inflates fast while air takes awhile to pump up.  If you're lazy, or you don't want to carry a full-size frame pump then CO2 is the way to go.  If you want to make sure you don't ever get stuck without a way to inflate your bike then use air. 90 PSI = 90 PSI...