Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Nitrogen in Car Tires

It is increasingly common to find service centers that offer nitrogen filling of tires or wheels. This, like trends in clothing, has become a fad that many vehicle owners practice because of its benefits compared to filling tires it with standard air.

Nitrogen tire inflation

Doubts are always generated concerning this issue due to the significant number of benefits that are obtained according to most service centers. It is possible to load our tires with nitrogen, but you have to take into account that nitrogen is not found in a large percentage of tire repair shops.

In this way, we can find about 75% of the nitrogen in the air. This makes us wonder why there are so many benefits that can be obtained if we already have about 75% of the nitrogen in our tires with regular air? Could it be possible that with 100% nitrogen, we are lucky enough to get the variety of benefits that offered by the different car care centers that provide this service?

Let’s make a list of all the pros that are offered by using only nitrogen for the tires.

Advantages of filling tires with nitrogen

• The tire holds the exact tire pressure for a longer time.
• There is more excellent stability in the inflation pressure at different temperatures.
• It helps to save fuel.
• Nitrogen extends the life of the tire.
• It also protects the rims against oxidation.
• In the event of a puncture or nail in the tire, it deflates more slowly than with air.

In this way, we see how the benefits are many in exchange for 20% more nitrogen, but is this really true, or is it pure marketing?

The reality is that if we find benefits, not so obvious to save 10% of fuel, but if there are some positive points within this procedure. Perhaps the two most important would be the fact that we obtain more excellent stability of inflation pressure at different temperatures, which indicates that the variation in pressure with the cold tire compared to when it is already hot is almost non-existent.

Unlike when it is done with standard air, where we can find up to 2 pounds of difference from cold to warm, the other advantage we can see is that the inflation pressure will remain correct for a longer time so that the nitrogen will have a harder time escaping from the tire. Usually, the average of 6 months of duration with the correct inflation pressure in average, which with standard air, usually has a period of 30 days.

Why these benefits of nitrogen?

In the nitrogen, we can find that the molecules are larger than those of oxygen. This principle relates to maintaining the tire pressure for longer as well as its density is little variable to changes in temperature so that the pressure is always maintained at optimum.

Also, take into account that for every pound of pressure below the optimum can add a 0.3 of fuel consumption. This is directly associated with the use of nitrogen and with the optimization of consumption. Even so, that it would not be relevant if you are always aware of the pressure when you use standard air.

On the other hand, when using nitrogen, we avoid the oxygen present in the air, so there is no oxidation inside the ring’s metal walls. You must also read here how electronic inflation pressure monitoring works.

Disadvantages of using nitrogen

• You have to pay every time a tire is inflated
• Not everywhere you find this service.

These could be the two main disadvantages, while the air compressor that you can find in any gas station is free, the ones that use nitrogen requires for you to pay some money.

Now, even if you have the money to pay the nitrogen, everyone commonly has the problem that they cannot find the service anywhere near them. This sometimes would force us to drive long trips until you find an excellent tire repair center with the available nitrogen. So sometimes, filling with nitrogen air will depend on where we are.

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