Tires –The benefit of using Nitrogen

Why use Nitrogen?

• Less inflation pressure loss
• Reduced wheel corrosion
• Prevents inner-liner rubber deterioration by oxidation
• Tires run cooler
• Increases tread life
• Increases fuel mileage
• Helps prevent uneven wear

Oxygen in compressed air permeates through the wall of the tire, thus reducing the tire’s inflation pressure. During its journey through the tire wall, oxygen oxidizes the rubber compounds in the tire, causing under-inflation and deterioration of the rubber. Dry nitrogen will maintain proper inflation pressure and will prevent auto-ignition, will not corrode rims, extends valve core life, and will help the tire to run cooler.

The biggest advantage – improved tire life

Experts in the tire industry indicate that oxidative aging is one of the primary causes of decreased tire life. Oxidative aging is caused by the diffusion of oxygen from the pressurized air cavity of the tire to the outside atmosphere. Tests have shown that if tires are inflated with nitrogen, there is a significant reduction in tire failure.

 

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.

• Tire pressure is much more consistent
• When compared to historical data, nitrogen tire inflation provides a 6.1 percent improvement in fuel efficiency when compared to a fleet with no tire pressure maintenance program.
• When compared to historical data and an in-trial control, nitrogen tire inflation provides a 3 percent improvement in fuel efficiency when compared to a fleet using air inflation and a tire pressure maintenance program; and
• When compared to the in-trial air control, nitrogen-filled tires provided an average tread life improvement of 86 percent when compared to a fleet using air inflation and a tire pressure maintenance program.
• Inflating tires with nitrogen to eliminate oxidative aging can extend tire life by up to 25%.
• Tire pressure is much more  consistent, increasing tire life to 337,500 miles                 that would save $120 per tire.