The Advantages of Nitrogen Inflation for Vehicle Tires

Posted: Mar 29, 2012
Author: Country Town Tire & Auto Service Center

The air we breathe and use to inflate tires consists of 78% nitrogen, 20% oxygen and 2% water vapor and other gases. When using nitrogen as an inflation gas, the composition of nitrogen increases from 78% to near 100%. Most tire manufacturers have come out in favor of using nitrogen to inflate tires.

“Normal” air for tire inflation seeps out over a few weeks. It’sestimated that as many as 85% of American motorists do not check their tire pressure. When nitrogen is used, this loss of air can take up to six months or longer. You and your family will be far safer on nitrogen-inflated tires.

Here are three major benefits:

• Nitrogen maintains proper pressure for increased safety. The tires will maintain their pressure four to six times longer than air-filled tires.
• Tires will last longer. With the rising cost of tires, these wasted dollars can add up to major expenditure. Filling tires with nitrogen is a practical way to recover some of these losses. You can expect a 25-35% increase in tread life with nitrogen.
• Tires filled with nitrogen run 22% cooler than tires filled with compressed air. Cooler temperatures yield longer tire life. Oxygen causes rubber to become brittle, and also damages a tire’s inner liner.

Condensation from water vapor can get caught in valves, leading to rim rust. Nitrogen is completely dry, so it eliminates the potential for condensation. Nitrogen is an inert and non-flammable gas, and is totally safe. It’s available at all gas stations in the US.

Photo of a tire being filled with nitrogen: