Should Nitrogen Be Used in Tires
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Should Nitrogen Be Used in Tires

Car tires are usually filled with compressed air. What we breathe is a mixture of 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen, and the rest is a combination of water vapor, carbon dioxide, and small concentrations of so-called "noble gases" such as argon and neon.

Should Nitrogen Be Used in Tires

Improperly inflated tires usually wear out faster and increase fuel consumption. But there is no point in explaining how important it is to drive the car with the tire pressure set by the manufacturer. According to some experts, it is with nitrogen that you will achieve this better, and you will need to check the pressure less often.

Every tire loses pressure over time as gases seep through the rubber compound, no matter how dense it is. In the case of nitrogen, this "weathering" occurs 40 percent slower than in the surrounding air. The result is more stable tire pressure over a longer period of time. Oxygen from the air, on the other hand, reacts with the rubber as it enters it, leading to a thermal-oxidative process that will gradually degrade the tire over time.

Racers note that tires inflated with nitrogen rather than air are much less responsive to sudden changes in temperature. Gases expand when heated and contract when cooled. In a particularly dynamic situation, such as racing on a track, constant tire pressure is extremely important. This is why many drivers rely on nitrogen in their tires.

Water, which normally enters tires along with air in the form of moisture droplets, is the enemy of a car tire. Whether in the form of vapor or liquid, it causes large pressure changes when heated and cooled. To make matters worse, water over time will corrode the metal cords of the tire and the inner sides of the rims.

The water problem is solved by using nitrogen in the tires, since pumping systems with this gas supply it dry. And in order for everything to be more correct and to remove water and air, it would be best to inflate the tires with nitrogen several times and deflate them to clear other gases.

Should Nitrogen Be Used in Tires

In general, these are the benefits of using nitrogen in tires. With this gas, the pressure will remain more constant, in which case you will save a little money on fuel, as well as on tire maintenance. Of course, it is possible that for some reason the tire inflated with nitrogen will also deflate. In this case, do not inflate it with good old air.

Speaking to Popular Science, an expert from Bridgestone said he would not prioritize any component. According to him, the most important thing is to maintain the correct pressure, no matter what is inside the tire.

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