Since nitrogen molecules are bigger than normal air molecules, it is harder for them to leak out. This means a tire filled with nitrogen will maintain air pressure longer. A normal tire filled with regular air loses an average 1 to 2 PSI pounds per square inch per month. But this improvement is slight — only about 1. This is partly because air is already made up of 78 percent nitrogen and just under 21 percent oxygen, with the rest a mix of water vapor, carbon dioxide and other gases.
When tires are filled from a nitrogen air pump this ups the percentage of N2 to between 93 and 95 percent. There are more cons than pros for changing to N2 tires. This can cost you time and money.
That would be a mistake, Pszczolkowski says. The government agency concluded that using nitrogen does reduce tire degradation by limiting oxidation. Oxidation refers to the damage caused by exposing tires to the oxygen in regular air, which can make rubber become brittle.
However, this is not a practical concern for most consumers, because they replace the tires long before degradation is a problem.
In our experience, passenger tire service life is dependent on both wear how even it is and how many miles a tire goes and age. Tires are designed to be used with air, and degradation is not a problem for regular tires used and maintained properly.
Nitrogen may aid this because it seeps out at a slower rate. Pressure changes over time, with temperatures affecting the air density and the air permeating the rubber. Check tire pressure once a month, when the tires are cool in the morning, and top off as necessary with regular air. There is a stronger case to be made for nitrogen for high-tire-pressure, heavy-duty applications, ranging from large commercial trucks to airplanes.
But based on our experience with passenger cars and these test results, consumers would be better served—and would save their money—by just using air in their tires and checking them monthly. There is nothing wrong with using nitrogen in passenger cars and trucks, but it does take commitment and potentially cost.
Nitrogen users should be diligent about topping off only with nitrogen to ensure they are getting the intended benefits. See our tire ratings and buying guide. Yes, you absolutely can. Is it worthwhile? Not that much! You should go for ii you are an F1 driver or take part in racing competitions.
With the help of high-performance nitrogen-filled tires, you will be able to shave off a few valuable seconds off your lap time. Also, there are a few inconveniences of using nitrogen:. It is expensive. Unavailability of top-up stations. Only a handful of tire shops offer the nitrogen-filling service. It means that you have to be in a line to inflate the tires. In addition, if you have to fill up with regular air for some reasons, it will dolute the nitrogen in the tires, which will wear off the benefits.
Weighing the performance enhancements and other facilities against cost and convenience, it seems that filling the tires with nitrogen or a mix of nitrogen and air is not worth it for everyday driving. You can rather spend that money on a tire pressure gauge.
Shall you go for it? Part of this crazy misconception is the myth that tires filled with regular air are an additional hazard in a fiery crash because the oxygen is fuel for the fire.
The green cap comes with tires that are inflated with nitrogen when you purchase them, such as the tires you may get from Costco like we previously mentioned. You must be logged in to post a comment.
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