Does nitrogen really make a difference or is it like some people you know … full of hot air and empty promises?
First you’ll need to know “what is nitrogen?”
Nitrogen (for those who forgot their periodic table from high school, the element symbol for nitrogen is N) is a colorless, odorless, inert (this means without life) dry gas which is used as a replacement for air where oxidation is undesirable.
Nitrogen makes up about 78% of the air we breathe. Because of their large size, nitrogen molecules are the least permeable and stay in your tire longer. Common for many industries, nitrogen is used by NASA, the U.S. Military, in heavy construction and in commercial aircrafts (FAA required).
Nascar drivers (like hottie Jeff Gordon) know that tires filled with nitrogen instead of compressed air exhibit less pressure change with temperature fluctuations, providing consistent tire inflation pressures during a race as the tires heat up. It improves the car’s performance without incident, bringing the driver closer to that chequered flag!
Other Great Benefits of Nitrogen:
ü Increases Tread Life - Nitrogen is not as affected by temperature as air and holds little if any moisture. If you’re constantly adding air, your tires aren't lasting as long. Using nitrogen will maintain a more even tire pressure over the life of a tire, keeping you rolling further on down the road.
ü Slower Inflation Loss – No, not our economy inflation … we’re talking tires here! A tire inflated with regular compressed air will lose about one and a half to two psi of pressure per month. Most of the pressure loss is due to oxygen molecules permeating through the tire rubber. Tires inflated with Nitrogen can take up to six months (unlike our economic inflation that will take up to 100 years to level out) to lose one and half psi pressure per month making inflation levels last longer.
ü Reduced Wheel Corrosion - Rim rust caused by condensation from water vapor and other gases can get caught in valves and create slow leaks in tires. Nitrogen is completely dry, just like an "extra-dry martini" with little to no dry vermouth. Nitrogen eliminates the potential for condensation versus using a compressed air hose that collected water and never purged properly.
ü Improved Fuel Efficiency –Nitrogen eliminates moisture and replaces small oxygen molecules with larger nitrogen molecules. This reduces the rate at which compressed gas sneaks through porous tire walls and maintains optimal pressure for a longer period of time. Proper inflation reduces rolling resistance giving you optimum fuel economy and improved MPG meaning those trips to the beach to work on your tan will cost you less money!
ü Improved TPMS Performance – Unlike a wacky hormone PMS alert, the Tire Pressure Management System (TPMS) is an electronic device in your car that alerts you when the tire pressure changes to low, unsafe levels. Nitrogen in your tires means they’ll need to be filled less often (hence fewer visits to the gas station for air) and the tires maintain higher pressure making the alerts less frequent. Nitrogen will not corrode or negatively affect a TPMS in any way.
Are you among the 85% of Americans who doesn’t regularly check their tire pressure? Since tires filled with regular compressed air lose between 1-2 pounds of pressure per month, you may want to consider getting off the couch and taking a minute or two to check the pressure. At the risk of sounding like your mother, ‘it could save your life.’
The best time to check the tire pressure is when the tires are cold because air expands as it gets warmer so the pressure will be higher. Wait at least an hour to get an accurate reading. Consult your owner's manual or the sticker on the door of the driver's side for the Pounds per Square Inch (PSI) recommended. A properly inflated tire along with filling it with nitrogen means longer tread life, better gas mileage and decreases the risk of overheating the tires and causing dangerous blowouts.
BTW - do you have a spare tire?
Visit Echo Lube because their service delivers every time just like using Nitrogen to fill your tires!
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