Is there any advantage to using nitrogen gas instead air in tires? Is it more fuel efficient or more comfortable? It prolongs the life of the tires.
The air we inhale contains 78% nitrogen (21% O2) and 21% oxygen (21% O2). The rest is water vapor (CO2) and argon (N2). Other gases are not visible to us.
Pure nitrogen is a good choice for tires.
First, less nitrogen is emitted from tires than oxygen. Let’s expand the topic a bit. Over time, oxygen in the tire’s air escapes through tiny holes. This causes the tire to burst. On average, you can see a 10-15% increase in pressure each year. This ratio is much lower for tires with nitrogen. This will ensure that your tires pressures remain stable over the long-term. The racers quickly discovered that tires containing nitrogen rather than air had less pressure variation as temperatures changed. The pressure drops quicker as the tires heat up. In race cars, even a half-psi drop is significant.
Another reason is nitrogen’s dry nature. It doesn’t contain any moisture so it does not react with other substances. The structure of oxygen contains water vapor and it reacts well with many substances. Bad for the tires: Moisture buildup. The pressure of the tire, whether it is a liquid or a vapor, changes more with temperature variations than that of dry air. It can also increase the corrosion of aluminum or steel rims. You can feel the moisture in the air when you press on the tires’ valves with your finger.
Because nitrogen is a more durable compound, tires with nitrogen will last longer. Because there is less pressure loss, it also helps to improve fuel economy. You will have less corrosion risk due to less moisture in your tires. There will be no difference in your driving comfort or your brake system.
