Don't Put AIR In Your Tires

Nitrogen is the best choice for tires; many experts agree. NASCAR, Formula 1 racers, Indy racers, Tour de France bicycle riders, Space Shuttle, moon buggy, military and commercial aircraft (including US Navy F/A-18's), many large truck fleets, large off-road excavation equipment, and many other organizations concerned about tire safety and efficiency use Nitrogen.

Safer Tires
In 7 million miles of truck tire testing, Nitrogen inflated tires lasted longer.
* Tire failures were reduced by 50%
* Tread life was increased by 25-30%
* Fuel economy was increased by 5-6%

Newer cars with Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems alert the owner when
the tire pressure drops. By 2008 all new vehicles are required
to have this system standard. Nitrogen does not have the same
fluctuations as air and it maintains a more stable pressure.
Save Time and Money
* Dramatically slows pressure loss from permeation
* Stabilizes pressure and virtually eliminates pressure fluctuations due to temperature change
* Reduces tire oxidation
* Eliminates interior wheel corrosion
* Reduces running temperatures
* Decreases false alarms and activation of Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems

Air is about 1/5 Oxygen, and oxygen, especially at high pressures and temperatures, is a very reactive element. When oxygen reacts with things, the process is called oxidation. When oxidation is extremely rapid, it's called "burning".
That's one reason Nitrogen is used in off-highway and aircraft tires. These tires run so hot they can actually catch on fire. Nitrogen doesn't support combustion, so nitrogen-filled tires don't add fuel to the flames. And Nitrogen helps prevent slower forms of oxidation also.
Safer Driving
* Improves Performance
* Improves steering
* Improves handling
* Improves braking
* Reduces chance of tire failure
While both Nitrogen and oxygen can permeate rubber, Nitrogen does it much more slowly. It might take 6 months to lose 2 psi with Nitrogen, compared to just a month with air. And Nitrogen is far less reactive. It doesn't cause rust or corrosion on steel or aluminum, and it doesn't degrade rubber. Wheel surfaces stay smooth and clean, rubber remains supple and resilient.

According to Road and Track:
"Nitrogen makes an excellent tire inflatant for several reasons, many of which were mentioned [previously]. Nitrogen is inert and oxygen-free, so it does not oxidize the rubber in the tire or support corrosion or rust in wheels. Nitrogen does not leak as readily and tires retain their inflation better than with compressed air, and it handles heat better than oxygen-bearing compressed air too."

Frequently Asked Questions About Nitrogen

What are the benefits of proper inflation?
With the right amount of air pressure, you will achieve optimum tire performance. This means your tires wear longer, save fuel and help prevent accidents. The "right amount" of air is the pressure specified by the vehicle manufacturer, which may be different on the front than the rear tires on your particular model car or light truck. The correct air pressure is shown on the tire placard (or sticker) attached to the vehicle door edge, door post, glove box door or fuel door. If your vehicle doesn't have a placard, check the owner's manual or consult with the vehicle manufacturer, tire manufacturer or your local tire dealer for the proper inflation.

Can I see for myself if my tires are properly inflated?
It is difficult to tell just by looking at radial tires whether they are underinflated. It is important that tires be properly inflated. Failure to maintain correct inflation pressures may result in rapid wear and uneven tread wear, improper vehicle handling and excessive heat buildup which may result in tire failure. (Evidence of air loss or repeated underinflation requires tire removal and expert inspection.)

Air pressure enables a tire to support the load, so proper inflation is critical. It is impossible to determine whether tires are properly inflated just by looking at them (see photo). That's why it's important to check your tires using an accurate tire gauge which can be purchased at your tire dealer, auto supply store or other retailer.

When operating a vehicle equipped with radial tires, it is difficult to notice when a tire has lost air, or is near flat.

Tires lose air normally through the process of permeation. Changes in outdoor temperature can affect the rate in which your tire loses air. This change is more pronounced in hot weather. Generally speaking, a tire may lose one or two pounds of air per month in cool weather, and even more in warmer weather. Underinflation is the leading cause of tire failure, so check inflation pressure regularly.

Never "bleed" or reduce air pressure when tires are hot. It is normal for pressures to build up as a result of driving.

Make sure all tire valves and extensions are equipped with valve caps to keep out dirt and moisture. Have a new valve stem assembly installed whenever a tire is replaced.

Underinflation or overloading creates excessive stresses and heat, and can lead to tire failure. This could result in vehicle damage and/or serious injury or death. Proper inflation extends tire life and saves fuel.

Maintain the inflation pressure listed in the vehicle owner's manual or on the tire placard.

What is the science behind the use of Nitrogen in tires?
Using nitrogen instead of compressed air has distinct advantages, which lead to immediate benefits for the vehicle owner.

1. It has more mass, so it migrates through the tire three to four times slower. The result: Tires hold their psi longer.

2. It runs about 20% cooler. Less heat results in less tire degradation.

3. It drastically reduces oxidation on the rim and inner-liner (nitrogen systems almost totally eliminate oxygen -- the cause of oxidation -- from the mix).

4. It is environmentally safe.

Nitrogen is an odorless and colorless gas that makes up more than three-quarters of the air we breathe, which explains why it is environmentally safe. It is relatively non-combustible, non-flammable and non-corrosive, as opposed to oxygen, which in its natural form can be all three of the above. Oxygen makes up close to 21% of the atmosphere.

Is Nitrogen explosive?
No, in fact, nitrogen is very inert and extremely safe. Nitrogen is the most commonly used chemical in the USA. It is used for storing and packaging of snack foods, coffee, and other food items. It does not support combustion, which is why it's used in race cars and aircraft tires.

Will Nitrogen improve the tire pressure monitoring system on my vehicle?
Yes. Nitrogen will help maintain proper inflation in your tires and reduce the number of faults detected by the TPMS.

Do I still need to check tire pressure?
Yes. But, you will find the tire pressure to be more consistent over temperature changes.

What about my spare tire?
You should certainly inflate your spare with nitrogen to help maintain proper inflation when it comes time you need to use it. Because of the slower air pressure loss of nitrogen through the sidewalls, your spare is more likely to be at proper pressure over a long time than if it was filled with regular air.

Is Nitrogen compatible with my internal tire balancing [powder,beads,fluid]?
Absolutely, in fact, you couldn't find a better operating environment for an internal tire balancing product than a tire filled with nitrogen, due to the absence of moisture.

What do I do if I have to add air?
No problem at all. The small amount of air you may add at some point will still be a very small percentage of the total mixture of air/nitrogen in the tire. Fill a slow leaking tire with air, and when you get back to Sunliner Tire and Automotive, let us know to purge and refill the tire with Nitrogen once the leak has been repaired.

What is Nitrogen?
Nitrogen is a dry, inert gas used to inflate airplane tires, off-road truck tires, military vehicle tires, and race car tires for improved performance, more tire mileage, better fuel economy, and increased safety.

Why did race cars, military and off-road vehicles switch to Nitrogen?

Air is about 1/5 Oxygen, and oxygen, especially at high pressures and temperatures, is a very reactive element. When oxygen reacts with things, the process is called oxidation. When oxidation is extremely rapid, it's called "burning". That's one reason nitrogen is used in off-highway and aircraft tires. These tires run so hot they can actually catch on fire. Nitrogen doesn't support combustion, so nitrogen-filled tires don't add fuel to the flames. And nitrogen helps prevent slower forms of oxidation also.
Nitrogen prevents other types of corrosion as well. Oxygen and moisture corrodes aluminum and steel wheels. Oxygen also reacts with rubber, another type of "corrosion". When this corrosion starts, the small particles break off and form rust and dust, which can clog vavle cores, causing them to leak. The rough surfaces created from the corrosive action on the wheels leads to tire beads that don't seal properly, causing additional leaks. Oxygen also ages the inner liner, the thin layer of rubber inside the tire whose function is to keep air away from the carcass.
As the inner liner ages, more and more air molecules can pass through it, causing more pressure losses. These pressure losses in a truck tire can average 2 psi a month as a result of the air passing through the sidewalls. As it passes through the rubber, the oxygen can also corrode the steel cords, causing them to rust too.

How does Nitrogen help?

While both nitrogen and oxygen can permeate rubber, nitrogen does it much more slowly. It might take 6 months to lose 2 psi with nitrogen, compared to just a month with air. And nitrogen is far less reactive. It doesn't cause rust or corrosion on steel or aluminum, and it doesn't degrade rubber. Wheel surfaces stay smooth and clean, rubber remains supple and resilient.

Valve Core

Nitrogen also will not degrade the rubber seal in the valve core which extends valve core life and helps prevents core leaks. Small bits of dust and debris as a byproduct of oxidative corrosion to the wheels and alloy rims can lodge in the valve core seat, causing air leaks.

Water in the air

The air around us is full of water vapor. Compressing air concentrates the water in it. Draining the water from your compressor tank daily helps, but unless you have a really efficient air dryer system, chances are that there's a lot of water in your compressed air.
When you compress air, it takes up much less volume, but the percentage of water by volume is greatly increased.

...and what harm does this moisture cause?

Water vapor in compressed air acts as a catalyst, accelerating rust and corrosion. Water vapor also absorbs and holds heat. And when it changes from liquid to vapor, water expands tremendously in volume.

As a result, tires inflated with wet air tend to run hotter and fluctuate in pressure more. That's one of the reasons why racing tires, where fractions of a psi can radically change the handling characteristics, are inflated with dry nitrogen.

Will my tires have 100% Nitrogen after they are filled?

We purge the tires twice to remove as much air as possible, the end result is about 98% nitrogen.

 

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Nitrogen and Tire Safety links:

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Rubber Manufacturer's Association Tire Safety Tips
Why don't they use normal air in race car tires?
Modern Tire Dealer