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THE AIR IS FREE: Several companies have marketed air-to-nitrogen converter systems.<br />
study involving 54 new and 44 used tires<br />
running 7,345,497 tire miles in drive-axle<br />
service, that the nitrogen-filled tires ran 26<br />
percent more miles before tread wear<br />
demanded replacement.<br />
<strong>In</strong> the case of the failed tires, a smaller<br />
percent of nitrogen tires failed physically<br />
(30 percent vs 57 percent), and they gave<br />
48 percent more miles before failing than<br />
did the air tires. This 48-percent improvement<br />
was due, Sperberg concluded, to the<br />
tire bodies lasting longer and not the<br />
better wearing properties of the tread.<br />
More recent testing conducted by<br />
Drexan Corporation, the Canadian distributors<br />
of Parker Hannifin’s Tire$aver<br />
system, with a major Winnipeg-based<br />
truckload fleet showed similar results.<br />
Two trailers recently measured showed 25<br />
percent tread wear after 180,000 km with<br />
3-5 psi pressure loss after 11 months, and<br />
38-percent tread wear after 208,000 km<br />
with 6-10 psi pressure loss after 12 months.<br />
According to Konrad Mech, vice president<br />
of Drexan Corp., fleets that closely<br />
monitor tire condition and tire-related<br />
maintenance costs could easily see a full<br />
payback on a nitrogen generator system<br />
within three to six months. “The more rigorous<br />
the maintenance program, the clearer<br />
the payback is,” says Mech. “The system<br />
we recommend to medium-sized fleets<br />
www.drivetrainplus.com<br />
• Axles<br />
• Drivelines<br />
• Aftermarket parts<br />
• Ride control products<br />
• Emissions technologies<br />
• Complete braking system<br />
• Clutches and transmissions<br />
• Trailer products and suspensions<br />
• ABS and stability enhancement systems<br />
1762<br />
FOR<br />
MOREINF<br />
<strong>In</strong> <strong>Gear</strong><br />
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON<br />
NITROGEN TIRE-FILLING GEAR,<br />
SEE THE FOLLOWING PROVIDERS:<br />
Champion Pneumatic, Princeton, IL<br />
800-232-0865 - 815-875-3321<br />
www.championpneumatic.com<br />
Drexan Corp., Burnaby, BC<br />
TireSaver<br />
604-431-6400<br />
www.parkertiresaver.com<br />
�<br />
<strong>In</strong>gersoll Rand, Annandale, NJ<br />
908-238-7000<br />
www.irtools.com/products/nitrogen<br />
Nitronics Systems, <strong>In</strong>c. Lafayette, CO.<br />
TireLast<br />
303-604-1187<br />
www.tirelast.com<br />
(300 power units and 500-1000 trailers)<br />
represents a $12,300 investment. It costs<br />
about $1,000 to install and requires about<br />
$600 in annual maintenance. There are no<br />
ongoing costs other than what a shop<br />
would normally incur in the operation of<br />
the compressors, labor, etc. The improved<br />
tread wear, longer casing life, increased<br />
retreadability, and lower failure rate, all<br />
attributable to nitrogen fills, will quickly<br />
become apparent to a fleet that watches its<br />
numbers closely.” ▲<br />
For technical or<br />
sales assistance,<br />
please contact your<br />
local ArvinMeritor<br />
representative:<br />
John Birtwistle<br />
519-577-8498<br />
MARCH 2006 67
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