Nitrogen vs Air in tyres: Which is better

All of us are aware of the fact that a car tyre needs to be filled with air which can be easily filled at a gas station. However, there is an option of opting for nitrogen over regular air filling. But is that worth the effort and cost? Let’s fund out.

Nitrogen vs air

Regular air that is used to inflate car tyres contains oxygen, nitrogen and other gases. Considerable benefits are observed if nitrogen is exclusively used instead of regular air to inflate car tyres. Nitrogen has an edge over factors such as pressure stability, pressure loss and corrosion resistance. Choosing nitrogen over regular air can have certain environmental considerations. Nitrogen extraction and purification require energy and resources.

Points to note:

Tyre pressure

Tyre pressure is the amount of pressure inside the tyre of a vehicle. It is usually measured in kpa. Maintaining the right tyre pressure is essential in terms of parameters like vehicle safety, vehicle performance, tyre life etc.

Tyre pressure should be regularly checked, especially during winters as temperature can have an impact on it. Both underinflation and overinflation can lead to hazards. If a tyre is insufficiently filled, it can cause issues like increased stopping distance, poor handling, low fuel efficiency and in some cases tyre blowouts.

If a tyre is filled with too much air, then it has an increased tyre pressure which is also a problematic condition. This can lead to harsher rides, road hazards, and accelerated wear at the tyre tread centre.

Tyre inflation

This is a very significant aspect of vehicle upkeep. It is filling the tyres with the proper amount of air that is set by the manufacturer. This can affect major parameters such as safety, fuel efficiency, tyre longevity, performance and others. Correct tyre pressure which is a result of proper tyre inflation can significantly reduce tyre wear, uneven wear patterns etc. Optimal fuel efficiency can be ensured with the right tyre inflation.

Nitrogen filled tyres

These are tyres which are inflated with pure nitrogen instead of regular air which is a mixture of other gases including nitrogen. The main aim of nitrogen-filled tyres is to maintain stable tyre pressure which is needed for risk reduction of corrosion within the tyre and wheel. This ensures safety but can be a tad more expensive than tyres filled with regular air. Still, nitrogen-filled tyres are a wise choice as they have various advantages.

Benefits of nitrogen-filled tyres

There are multiple benefits of nitrogen which can be effectively used in tyres, such as:

Corrosion resistance

This is a significant advantage for vehicles with aluminium wheels as well as regular ones. Corrosion within the tyre and the wheel is substantially reduced by nitrogen in place of regular air.

Stability of tyre pressure

Nitrogen-filled tyres remain more stable in comparison to normal air-filled tyres when temperature changes play a role. This property of nitrogen makes it a good choice.

Less pressure loss

Nitrogen molecules have a larger size than oxygen molecules. Permeability of nitrogen is also slow which allows it to permeate through rubber slowly thus making it lucrative.

Final thoughts

However, it needs to be noted that nitrogen is not available for free at all gas stations. There is a significant cost that needs to be footed for filling your car tyre with nitrogen. Most stations might not have the option of filling nitrogen as well. Hence it needs to be planned well in advance.

Also, nitrogen is most beneficial for longer drives. So, if you are not driving your vehicle too much or for too long, you might want to give nitrogen a pass.

So, it depends on your requirements whether you should opt for nitrogen or not. It is not a mandatory requirement like a four-wheeler insurance plan.

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