DOHC-LSR
10-06-2006, 12:26 PM
http://choosetoprosper.com/nitrogen-in-car-tires.html
Selling Nitrogen In Tires – Is It All A Lot Of Hot Air?
By James Burchill
Actually... no. But it will require a little explanation and some
basic chemistry discussion so here goes...
The earths atmosphere is composed primarily of Nitrogen (78%),
the remaining balance is a mixture of Oxygen (21%) and a small
percentage of Ozone, Argon and Carbon gases. Isn’t it ironic that
the very gas (oxygen) that sustains life also causes organic
materials to decompose and metals to rust?
Remove The Oxygen And Stop The Rot
To stop this decomposition you simply need to remove the oxygen
from the ‘air’. (Incidentally, removing oxygen also means that
you remove water because water is two parts Hydrogen gas, and one
part Oxygen gas.)
Removing Oxygen from products is not new, we do it all the time
with our food and drink. In fact, if we did not remove the oxygen
our food would not likely last long enough to make it into the
hands of the consumers – or it would taste stale and unappealing.
Nitrogen In Tires
Here are a few other benefits of using Nitrogen in tires:
[1] Nitrogen is denser than Oxygen: This means the larger
molecules escape less easily from tires resulting in a more
gradual loss of pressure over time. According to the Michelin
Tire Manual, a tire that is inflated with Nitrogen loses its
pressure 3 times slower than if it were inflated with air.
[2] Nitrogen is moisture free: Pure Nitrogen inflated tires
experience less steel belt and rubber degradation. Nitrogen use
also reduces valve and wheel corrosion.
[3] Nitrogen provides longer tire life: Nitrogen inflated tire
run cooler and require less maintenance according to the Goodyear
application bulletin.
[4] Nitrogen is non-flammable: Nitrogen technology has been used
in aircraft, military and race car technology for over thirty
years.
Does Joe Consumer ‘Get It’?
But can we expect ‘Joe Consumer’ to start paying for this new
‘air’ anytime soon? As always, the answer is “it depends.” If
enough businesses and corporations get behind the idea and
promote it steadily, uniformly and explain the numerous safety
and cost savings, then eventually the message should make it
through.
However, you do need to be realistic – it’s still considered by
Joe Consumer to be ‘new’ and anything ‘new’ is usually avoided
until it becomes familiar – it’s called the product adoption
process.
It’s Still Weird Science
The other point to consider here is ‘selling Nitrogen’ is still
science – and most people are not that comfortable with the whole
science thing. And if you recall I mentioned that regular
everyday air is 78% nitrogen anyway – so what would they be
paying for?
Regular air is approximately 80% nitrogen anyway, are we to
believe that an extra 20% makes all the difference… Ironically we
now know that the answer is yes.
A Moral Dilemma
You and I both know that if using Nitrogen means your client’s
tires last longer they will save money by not having to purchase
as many tires. So Nitrogen use could mean less tire sales… And
that’s the moral dilemma for you. Do you want to make a few
dollars on tire inflation services that might ultimately reduce
your tire sales or do you want to keep on doing business the way
it is now?
Make Mine A Light Air
One thing’s for sure, with regular air and ‘diet air’ (or is that
Air2 with half the carbs…) Nitrogen as a tire inflation option
will slowly seep into the main stream (and yes the ‘seep’ pun was
intentional).
Now take a deep breath… you just inhaled 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen
and a few other lesser gases. Could you tell? Did it taste or
smell different? That’s part of the challenge isn’t it. If
regular customers are wary about the things they cannot see, what
makes you think selling ‘new air’ is going to be any easier.
JAMES C. BURCHILL is a 20-year veteran entrepreneur and
information technology executive who now provides strategic
marketing consulting services to a select group of clients. He is
a published author, a passionate advocate of technology and the
Internet, as well as an avid study of classical advertising and
marketing strategies (which he uses during ‘Internet alchemy’
experiments.) James is an expert in information and data
management, Internet marketing and online networking. A self
confessed 'information and technology enthusiast', James brings a
wide range of valuable skills to any venture. Of singular note is
James' ability to assimilate complex subject matter and produce
clean clear 'easy-to-understand' messages. James has been
interviewed many times and caused quite the media buzz when a
client ‘double-dog-dared’ him to prove you can get front page
coverage for $0. The details and that ‘dumb stunt’ are now part
of EBay legend. Currently James lives in Ontario, Canada with his
wife and family, their Siamese cat and one very nervous fish.
Visit http://www.JamesBurchill.com for details.
Selling Nitrogen In Tires – Is It All A Lot Of Hot Air?
By James Burchill
Actually... no. But it will require a little explanation and some
basic chemistry discussion so here goes...
The earths atmosphere is composed primarily of Nitrogen (78%),
the remaining balance is a mixture of Oxygen (21%) and a small
percentage of Ozone, Argon and Carbon gases. Isn’t it ironic that
the very gas (oxygen) that sustains life also causes organic
materials to decompose and metals to rust?
Remove The Oxygen And Stop The Rot
To stop this decomposition you simply need to remove the oxygen
from the ‘air’. (Incidentally, removing oxygen also means that
you remove water because water is two parts Hydrogen gas, and one
part Oxygen gas.)
Removing Oxygen from products is not new, we do it all the time
with our food and drink. In fact, if we did not remove the oxygen
our food would not likely last long enough to make it into the
hands of the consumers – or it would taste stale and unappealing.
Nitrogen In Tires
Here are a few other benefits of using Nitrogen in tires:
[1] Nitrogen is denser than Oxygen: This means the larger
molecules escape less easily from tires resulting in a more
gradual loss of pressure over time. According to the Michelin
Tire Manual, a tire that is inflated with Nitrogen loses its
pressure 3 times slower than if it were inflated with air.
[2] Nitrogen is moisture free: Pure Nitrogen inflated tires
experience less steel belt and rubber degradation. Nitrogen use
also reduces valve and wheel corrosion.
[3] Nitrogen provides longer tire life: Nitrogen inflated tire
run cooler and require less maintenance according to the Goodyear
application bulletin.
[4] Nitrogen is non-flammable: Nitrogen technology has been used
in aircraft, military and race car technology for over thirty
years.
Does Joe Consumer ‘Get It’?
But can we expect ‘Joe Consumer’ to start paying for this new
‘air’ anytime soon? As always, the answer is “it depends.” If
enough businesses and corporations get behind the idea and
promote it steadily, uniformly and explain the numerous safety
and cost savings, then eventually the message should make it
through.
However, you do need to be realistic – it’s still considered by
Joe Consumer to be ‘new’ and anything ‘new’ is usually avoided
until it becomes familiar – it’s called the product adoption
process.
It’s Still Weird Science
The other point to consider here is ‘selling Nitrogen’ is still
science – and most people are not that comfortable with the whole
science thing. And if you recall I mentioned that regular
everyday air is 78% nitrogen anyway – so what would they be
paying for?
Regular air is approximately 80% nitrogen anyway, are we to
believe that an extra 20% makes all the difference… Ironically we
now know that the answer is yes.
A Moral Dilemma
You and I both know that if using Nitrogen means your client’s
tires last longer they will save money by not having to purchase
as many tires. So Nitrogen use could mean less tire sales… And
that’s the moral dilemma for you. Do you want to make a few
dollars on tire inflation services that might ultimately reduce
your tire sales or do you want to keep on doing business the way
it is now?
Make Mine A Light Air
One thing’s for sure, with regular air and ‘diet air’ (or is that
Air2 with half the carbs…) Nitrogen as a tire inflation option
will slowly seep into the main stream (and yes the ‘seep’ pun was
intentional).
Now take a deep breath… you just inhaled 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen
and a few other lesser gases. Could you tell? Did it taste or
smell different? That’s part of the challenge isn’t it. If
regular customers are wary about the things they cannot see, what
makes you think selling ‘new air’ is going to be any easier.
JAMES C. BURCHILL is a 20-year veteran entrepreneur and
information technology executive who now provides strategic
marketing consulting services to a select group of clients. He is
a published author, a passionate advocate of technology and the
Internet, as well as an avid study of classical advertising and
marketing strategies (which he uses during ‘Internet alchemy’
experiments.) James is an expert in information and data
management, Internet marketing and online networking. A self
confessed 'information and technology enthusiast', James brings a
wide range of valuable skills to any venture. Of singular note is
James' ability to assimilate complex subject matter and produce
clean clear 'easy-to-understand' messages. James has been
interviewed many times and caused quite the media buzz when a
client ‘double-dog-dared’ him to prove you can get front page
coverage for $0. The details and that ‘dumb stunt’ are now part
of EBay legend. Currently James lives in Ontario, Canada with his
wife and family, their Siamese cat and one very nervous fish.
Visit http://www.JamesBurchill.com for details.