Nitrogen vs Air In Tyres – Why Nitrogen in Tyres

By Admin Reading time: 8 min read Published on: 12 / 07 / 2022
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Despite being made and engineered to last for many kilometres, tyres still need to be properly maintained. Maintaining the right tyre inflation pressure is the essential component of proper tyre maintenance. The manufacturer of the vehicle specifies the ideal tyre inflation pressure, which can be found on the tyre placard or in the owner's manual. In accordance with local laws, customs, and conditions, it is advised that consumers check their tyre inflation pressure at regular intervals of at least once per month and before any lengthy travel.

Having the right tyre pressure has many advantages. Maintaining the proper air pressure in your tyres extends their lifespan, improves how your car handles, and may even help you get the most out of your fuel efficiency. Tyres that are under or over-inflated are more difficult to control and put you in danger of a tyre blowout.

Which is better for your tyres: nitrogen or air?

Should I put air or nitrogen in my tyres? Although many drivers now favour nitrogen, it might not be the best option for everyone. To make the best choice for your vehicle, learn more about the nitrogen vs normal air in tyresargument. In the nitrogen air vs normal air discussion, both have their own advantages and disadvantages, therefore the decision of which gas to be used should be purely based on what is the best option for your vehicle.  

First, let us learn about why nitrogen is used in tyres? The main benefit of nitrogen-filled tyres relates to tyre pressure, which is important for maintaining the health of your tyres. Compared to compressed air molecules, nitrogen molecules are bigger and move more slowly. As a result, nitrogen won't leak out of your tyres as quickly as air will, allowing for longer-lasting maintenance of the recommended pressure. All these reasons together answer the most asked question; why fill tyres with nitrogen? 

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On the contrary, Maintaining proper tyre pressure is perfectly acceptable. Before nitrogen gas, people had been using normal air. It's simple and frequently free to obtain compressed air. Additionally, based on where you go, nitrogen tyre inflation may be more expensive and take longer (especially the first time). Compressed air wins hands down in terms of cost and convenience.

Can air and nitrogen be mixed?

Imagine a situation where you have been travelling and all of sudden your tyre looks low. You are unable to locate Nitrogen gas in any nearby station. So the question that arises is what you do? Well, obviously travelling with an under-inflated tyre is way too risky. So do you fill a tyre with normal air which had been previously treated with nitrogen? Yes, mixing them would do no harm to your tyres. However, it would make the function of nitrogen gas less efficient once you mix the two. 

Tyres containing nitrogen

For highly specialised service applications in challenging settings like aircraft, mining, or manufacturing, nitrogen-inflated tyres are advantageous. Nitrogen-filled tyres are also utilised in professional race car driving because dry nitrogen reduces tyre pressure variances, as even the tiniest changes in pressure can affect the performance of ultra-high-performance vehicles at very high speeds.

The right tyre pressure rules

There is a lot of debate about the difference between nitrogen air and normal air in tyres and honestly, there is no right or wrong answer. The most crucial element of tyre care is maintaining adequate tyre pressure, regardless of whether you want to fill your tyres with nitrogen or compressed air. Properly inflated tyres have a tendency to wear more uniformly, perform better, increase your car's fuel efficiency, and last a lot longer. A crucial tip to maintain the right tyre pressure is to keep checking the pressure in your tyres regularly. If it is below recommended pressure, you need to move it up to the correct inflation rate. 

FAQs
  1. Why are tyres filled with nitrogen instead of air?

It is more difficult for nitrogen molecules to seep out since they are larger than typical air molecules. Thus, a tyre inflated with nitrogen will sustain air pressure for a longer period of time. As a result, you'll always be driving on properly inflated tyres, which will improve fuel efficiency and extend tyre life.

  1. Can you fill a tyre with air when nitrogen is in it? 

Mixing nitrogen and air is completely fine. Although the benefit of a mix is not as substantial as that of nitrogen-filled tyres, it still exists. Because a mixture still contains less water vapour and oxygen than tyres that are completely inflated with air, some of that tyre's disadvantages are mitigated.

  1. Which is best nitrogen or air?

For many drivers, nitrogen is a better choice because when nitrogen has been employed in its pure state that it doesn't allow combustion or moisture. 


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