Your Quick Guide to Nitrogen Tyre Inflation

• Tyres-Tips/Guides

For many years, purified nitrogen (N) has been used in racing cars for tyre inflation. This is because nitrogen is less prone to changes in pressure with temperature fluctuations. When tyres inevitably heat up during a race, this is an important reason. Aircraft also make use of purified nitrogen for their tyres because of its more inert or stable properties. The question is, how suitable is it for your everyday car?

The Benefits of Nitrogen in Tyres – are they justified?

To understand the benefits, it’s helpful to know what the makeup of both air and nitrogen is, and how this affects tyre inflation.

Chemical and structural differences

• Compressed air – consists of the same air we breathe, and is made up of 78% Nitrogen, 21% Oxygen, and 1% of other gases. It contains water vapour, which accelerates oxidation as well as more easily allows changes in pressure.
• Compressed purified nitrogen – generally made up of 93 - 99% pure nitrogen. Larger molecules mean less ability of the gas escaping through a tyres’ inner membrane. The lack of moisture makes it more stable even at higher temperatures.

The main benefits

1. Longer tyre inflation and slower rate of deflation
1. Under-inflated tyres costs you more in fuel
2. Properly-inflated tyres are safer, last longer, and perform better
2. Less chance of corrosion
1. Oxygen in compressed air-filled tyres that escapes corrodes aluminium and steel wheels.
2. Water vapour in compressed air-filled tyres act as a catalyst to further degradation and corrosion, which can clog valve stems causing the valves to leak.

The disadvantages

1. Upfront cost, thereafter top ups are free.
2. Inconvenience and lack of availability means you need to plan ahead because it’s not as accessible as compressed air.

Converting from Air to Nitrogen

If you’ve made up your mind to change over to nitrogen, you’ll need to find a service centre where they will remove the existing air from your tyres.

In Summary

The option to fill your car tyres with nitrogen is an individual choice. While there are certainly some benefits, consider the cost and whether the  possible inconvenience is worth the switch. More importantly, using nitrogen does not eliminate the need to check your tyre pressure, wheel balancing, and wheel alignment – regular tyre maintenance is still absolutely necessary.

Disclaimer: This information is for educational, or entertainment purposes only. It must not be construed as advice, legal, financial, or otherwise. We do not make any warranties about the completeness, reliability, and accuracy of this information. The views expressed in this article are the views of the author and not necessarily the views of Supa Quick.