Nitrogen In Tires: Is It Really Better Than Plain Air?

Some people think putting nitrogen in tires isn't a good idea. Others think the opposite. Even with this bit of controversy, there are some clear advantages in using nitorgen.

Less Moisture

You won't find any wetness or moisture in nitrogen. This substance helps to keep the wheels and valves from rusting so much. It can also help decrease the occurrence of degradation in the rubber and the steel belt.

Less Leakage

It gives longevity and doesn't require a lot of upkeep. This substance is not easy to catch fire. Compared to oxygen, nitrogen is thicker. In regard to tires, the molecules (larger ones) have a smaller chance of leaving the tires. It takes a while for them to lose pressure. With this substance, it will retain pressure more so than if there was plain air inside.

When you use it, the tires will be cooler than they would be if air were used. This helps the pressure to remain stable. add to the longevity of the tire and not waste gas mileage. Using air, in particular, compressed air contains plenty of water vapor. This is not necessarily productive because the heat will stay in. You can have a blowout with a mixture of the heat and added pressure. To prevent this, check the pressure when the tires are cold.

Oxygen Affects Tires

The inner liner can get old quick with oxygen. When this happens, air seeps in the rubber part. This creates an additional loss of pressure. Oxygen can also mess up the steel beads, causing them to corrode.

Even though nitrogen can also seep through rubber, it does so at a much slower rate. It can take approximately six months to lose a few pounds of pressure. With air, it's about a month or less. The dry nitrogen won't damage rubber like air will.

After this, you're probably wondering where you can get the stuff. Long haul truckers have it and it is available at some truck stops. The ones that have separate stations are attached to big cylinders. You can purchase small tanks for yourself. There are welding retailers that can fill them for you. If you don't know of any place for the tanks, check with eBay or other sites online.

Doing It Yourself

When having the tanks filled, be careful that you don't have too much in them. The ones you purchase should have a regulator with it. The regulator usually has a limit of approximately 50 psi.

Putting nitrogen in tires is relatively easy. Use a jack to lift up one wheel from the ground and let the air come out of the valve stem. After the air is gone, replace the valve stem with a new one. Put the nitrogen in place of the air and do the same with the other three tires. If you have a spare, you should include that one also. This will help to eliminate most if not all the hazard and oxidation issues.

It's going to take some people a while to get this concept. Once they do, they'll wish they did get it a while ago.