Should You Use Nitrogen Or Air In Car Tires

Using nitrogen instead of air has been a popular practice adopted by many race car drivers. Some tire manufacturers have indicated it provides for better fuel efficiency while others recommend against it for both safety and cost reasons.

What many people fail to realize is compressed air is approximately seventy-eight percent nitrogen and, twenty-one percent oxygen and a mixture of water vapor and other gases. This is traditionally what most tire shops is accustomed to using and minimizes the need for specialized equipment to inflate tires. Using pure nitrogen will likely limit the options open to the car owner, as well as pose potential logistical issues throughout the life of the vehicle.

There will likely be additional costs incurred and when purchasing tires can be an expensive proposition to start with, most tire shops opt for using cheaper compressed air.

Why would you opt for using pure nitrogen over compressed air in your tires?

Compressed air is more likely to seep through the rubber compound used to manufacture tires. Using pure nitrogen will provide a more stable tire pressure for a longer period of time.

Race car drivers noted as well tire pressure remains more constant through changing temperature swings. Tire pressure will remain fairly consistent when nitrogen is instead of compressed air even as the tire warms while driving. This will offer better handling and fuel economy, as well as extend the overall life of the tire.

When compressed air is used water can build up inside the tire that can ultimately lead to corrosive damage on the rim. It can also lead to premature rotting of the rubber in the tire. This water or water vapor results in swings in the tire pressure as you drive that could result in poor fuel economy and poor handling during changing driving conditions.

Tires inflated with nitrogen avoid this build-up of water because each tire has to be purged of any air. The process of inflating the tires using this gas means each tire has to be inflated and purged several times in success to remove any unwanted oxygen in the tire. This will also remove any unwanted water.

This process can be time consuming for your tire technician and result in additional costs in both gas charges and additional time charges.

Using pure nitrogen in your tires may also limit your options should your tire pressure drop for some reason. Not every gas station or tire shop has this type of technology installed. You may be forced to top up with compressed air until you can get to service station with the capability to purge and re-inflate your tire.

Critics of using pure nitrogen in tires for safety reasons have little basis for their claims. Race car drivers traveling at much higher speeds continually stress their tires in conditions not seen by regular drivers. In fact, the better handling and ride created by tires inflated with pure nitrogen enhance safety.

Ultimately it will come to a matter of preference. Drivers may opt to have more stable tire pressure and a better ride with enhanced handling and braking over convenience when making the decision to use nitrogen or compressed air in their tires.

Barry has been writing articles for over 6 years. Come visit his latest website at http://www.studdedwintertires.ca which helps people find the best deals on studded winter tires and information related to winter snow tires. He can also be found providing blogging tips on social media and relationship building on his own personal blog.

By Barry W Wheeler