Nitrogen in Tires: Features, Advantages and Disadvantages

Why nitrogen gas is filled in Tyres of vehicles? Many vehicles use nitrogen gas to fill their tires as there are many compelling reasons for its usage. First and foremost, chances of the gas migration through the tires rubber is very less so that it will remain steady for a considerably longer span of time. Therefore, consistent pressure can always be expected even in case of tire heating up considerably. Also, non-availability of water vapor from normal compressed air means that there will be no pressure change compared to temperature swings. Further, absence of water vapor means that the corrosion of aluminum rim or wheel can also be avoided.

Hence, there can be more savings by using the gas. Is nitrogen in tyres good or bad? The gas has been used for a pretty long time now because airplanes, as well as racing cars, have used it for a long time. It's only that it has been extended now for commercial applications too. We look at the pros and cons of this technology to understand it better. Advantages of Using Nitrogen in Tires: Improved MPG - As compared to compressed air, tires having the gas will bleed very slowly. The gas can help fix this issue along with a better mileage and improved tire life. Oxidation blocked - Oxygen induces oxidation and it can convert rubber to brittle. Chances of malfunctioning and flat tire may increase. If nitrogen is there, it can help in blocking any oxidation of the internal rubber, resulting in improved durability. Enhanced Tire Life - It is a known fact that a correctly expanded tire lasts longer. If the gas is used instead of compressed air, it will stay within for greater time. This way, increased tire life can be expected. The Gas is Greener - The gas can be a superb green initiative. It helps in maintaining an improved mileage, augmented tire life and less emission. Hence, tire demand can be minimized resulting in less manufacturing and therefore, less usage of resources. This will have direct impact on shipment and overall, all of it can contribute towards the environment.

Disadvantages of Nitrogen in Tires: Service is Important - There is a school of thought that says that with the same level of maintenance, even compressed air can be as good. Better mileage and improved tire life can also be achieved by using normal air. Therefore, it places more onus on the driver than using the gas in a tire. Nitrogen is Comparatively Costlier - Nitrogen pumps may not be available as easily as compared to conventional air pumps. Moreover, they are expensive and each time they can burn a hole in the pocket! Can you put air in nitrogen filled tires? It is okay to fill in nitrogen in an otherwise air filled tire although absolute benefits will not be accrued. However, it can still be helpful without completely purging the air and filling it with nitrogen. If such a case happens, water vapor and oxygen can still be considerably reduced by the use of the gas as compared to tire with only normal air in it. Anyway, once the gas has been used, it is a prudent idea to use it from there on for getting the benefits in the long term. Merely using the gas for a couple of times as top-up may not be enough. How long does nitrogen last in car tires? Nitrogen is a gas that expands with increasing temperature and contracts at less temperature. Due to this property, when it is used in a tire, it stays there in it for considerably longer than normal compressed air. A normally inflated tire may lose 1.5 psi air in a month whereas for the gas filled tires, the same loss may happen over a period of 3 to 4 months or even longer. Moreover, during the winter seasons when the ambient temperature drops abruptly, one need not worry for the same as it still stays the same and air loss will not happen. How much does it cost to fill your tires with nitrogen? The filling cost can vary considerably, depending upon a number of factors like the tire pressure, size of the tire and if any other service by the dealer is being provided along with the fill. However, for each tire, the price may vary roughly from $3 to $10 and it can be subjected to other factors as discussed above. These days, there are a large number of dealers who specialize in providing nitrogen for tires. Moreover, there are many online tools to find out the nearest dealer that may be offering a nitrogen filling. Here, it should also be mentioned that only an authentic filler should be chosen.