Nitrogen Vs Air: Which One Is Better For New Tires?

Nitrogen Vs Air: Which One Is Better For New Tires?

Normal air has been the regular choice for motorists for a long time and will continue to be so. And it has been a smooth ride ever since with standard air. Compressed Air is available almost everywhere and costs nothing, especially if you have the best tyre inflators. You can find air filling ports at almost every petrol pump across India, that offer air filling service free of cost. 

Are you still visiting petrol stations just for a tyre pressure check-up? You can invest in a portable air compressor for ease of use. These run off your car’s 12v socket and you can save time in trips to the petrol station every time. You will find the best car accessories online at a reasonable rate.  

Nitrogen Vs Air: Which One Is Better? 

Cost And Ease Of Use 

Every cost-conscious person will be happy to hear the term “economical.” If you particularly refer to vehicle tyre filling, the standard air is generally accessible practically free of cost. Any repair store, service stop, and petrol pump will do it for you for a low or no cost. 

Nitrogen air, on the other hand, is not in this ‘economical’ category. The system is not yet completely constructed in many locations, so nitrogen gas is not quite available everywhere. In the particular places where it is available, they will charge around 50 bucks for a tyre. Switching air to nitrogen-filled tyres needs several cycles of inflation and deflation to remove all of the air from the tyre.

 Nitrogen has a lower tendency of escaping through rubber tubes as compared to normal air. So, filling nitrogen instead of air in your car tyres will ensure longevity and extended life for your tyres. Though it is not a common practice in India, many people especially racers prefer using nitrogen vs air for tyres. 

Tyre Aging And Wear 

The oxygen content of air is roughly 21% whereas the nitrogen content is approximately 78%. The capacity of oxygen to hold back humidity might eventually cause oxidization of the polymer or the internal wall casing. It may result in premature wear of the tyre. The steel reinforcing belt might corrode over time in such a case. 

Nitrogen air, on the other side, is dry air that does not hold humidity. It can help to reduce tyre wear and wheel corrosion. Humidity in tyres is a bad thing, the presence of water in any form can cause changes in tyre pressure. As temperature swings from one point to another, it also leads to corrosion of the rim and steel. Nitrogen filling can easily remove water vapour from tyres and ensures a longer and more stable tenure without any problem. 

Tyre Pressure 

When tyres spin at a high speed causing increased temperature, the water present in them turns into vapour. It expands with higher intensity adding extra air pressure to tyres. Nitrogen, being a dry gas does not lead to such pressure fluctuation and results in better stability on roads. However, this difference is not big enough to conclude that nitrogen air is superior to normal air for tyres. If you monitor your tyre pressures on a regular basis, you will hardly even notice the difference.  

Cooling 

When compared to normal air, nitrogen does not store humidity as you have already learned. The pressure of the tyre is way more predictable due to changes in temperature in nitrogen vs air. This also means that the tyre will stay cool, which is important in racing vehicles or high-performance vehicles because road grip relies heavily on tyre temperature. So, whether it comes to racing cars or heavy equipment car tyres, nitrogen air has an added advantage because they are carefully tested in extreme weather conditions. 

 Fuel Efficiency

Some studies show that under-inflated tires reduce the fuel efficiency of a vehicle by 0.3 per cent. Nitrogen loses pressure at a far lower rate than normal air; so, it is more beneficial to fill tyres with nitrogen than normal air. But the fuel savings with using nitrogen is so insignificant that you will not detect any difference.  

Conclusion 

Is it beneficial for you to use nitrogen in your tyres over standard air? While nitrogen does have some benefits over regular air, the answer is not so simple. There are minor differences in tyre performance when using one or the other. For most people, the car will be just as efficient and safe whether they use nitrogen-filled tyres or not. So, in the battle between nitrogen vs air, filling the air in your tyres makes it more economical for an average rider.  

At Carorbis, you will find the best tyre inflators, tyre pressure gauges and other equipment. For your every car-related need Carorbis is there to serve you. 

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