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Nitrogen in your tyres: What are the benefits?

vuyi on February 23, 2022

By Vuyi Mpofu

Nitrogen gas is an alternative to compressed air but did you know that it’s good for your tyres too?

Many motorists use air in their tyres but very few seem to know about the benefits of using nitrogen instead. Since converting to nitrogen many years ago I can confidently attest to the numerous benefits of using it instead of air.

Before getting into an overview of the benefits of using nitrogen in your tyres, let’s first discuss what nitrogen is.

What is nitrogen?

The air we inhale comprises approximately 21% oxygen and 79% nitrogen.  In its purest form, nitrogen is simply dry air that is completely devoid of oxygen.    Nitrogen is:

  1. Non-combustible
  2. Non-corrosive
  3. Non-flammable
  4. Environmentally friendly

Unlike air, nitrogen does not oxidize (or weaken) the rubber of the tyre.

Of all known gasses, nitrogen has the biggest molecules which means it seeps through tyres much slower than air.  As a result, it takes longer for a tyre pumped with nitrogen to lose pressure than one filled with air. 

Image credit: Arrive Alive

The benefits of using nitrogen:

As mentioned I am a firm believer in using nitrogen for the following reasons. 

  1. Tyres run cooler because nitrogen does not hold heat, which drastically reduces instances of having a burst tyre. 
  2. Cooler tyres also mean better handling on the road, here’s why:  When tyres heat up, their inflation pressure increases, resulting in a smaller tyre footprint (the area in contact with the road).  The smaller the tyre’s footprint, the less grip, so the cooler the tyre the better it grips
  3. Nitrogen reduces tyre pressure variation normally caused by fluctuating temperatures.
  4. Due to its molecular structure, nitrogen escapes through the tyre’s inner liner at a slower rate than air, meaning the pressure in your tyres will hold for longer.
  5. Nitrogen does not contain moisture, meaning a notable reduction in corrosion to the rubber of the tyres.
Image credit: Planet F1

With the above in mind, I am sure you’ll agree that using nitrogen in your tyres is a good idea. As a result of the above-mentioned benefits, tyre manufacturers agree that nitrogen can improve a tyre’s lifespan by up to 20%. 

While I’m not an expert, I am further encouraged by the fact that Formula 1 race car drivers use nitrogen in their tyres, and if it’s good enough for Sir Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton, it’s good enough for me!

Nitrogen Gas vs Air: Which is best and why?

vuyi on November 18, 2020

The practice of filling our tyres with nitrogen is not yet as common as it could be, even though it has many safety benefits. Vuyi Mpofu explores the reasons why more motorists should switch to using nitrogen in their tyres

Nitrogen gas is environmentally friendly, non-flammable and non-corrosive . It is a pure gas and does not attack or oxidise the rubber of the tyre from the inside like air does.  Nitrogen in tyres is also known to prolong tyre life and improve road handling.  For these reasons, nitrogen tyre inflation is mostly preferable to air inflation

Nitrogen gas in tyres does not hold heat thereby allowing the tyres run cooler. Filling your tyres with nitrogen reduces tyre pressure variation which is normally caused by changes in tyre temperature. As the biggest molecule gas, nitrogen is slow to migrate through a tyre, causing very little loss of pressure.

There is a direct correlation between tyres filled with nitrogen gas and road safety.  In South Africa, the top-three reasons for tyre related accidents are:

  1. Poor tyre condition 
  2. Vehicle overloading 
  3. Incorrect inflation

The above conditions are all within our control and require a decent measure of diligence on the part of all drivers. Correctly maintaining one’s tyres is a long term process while it’s not every day that drivers overload their vehicles.  On the other hand however, filling tyres with nitrogen gas is an easy habit to get into and one which has many benefits.  These include:

  1. Slower rate of pressure loss
  2. Cooler running temperature of tyres
  3. Improved road handling
  4. Reduced corrosion

1. Slower Rate of Pressure Loss

The molecular structure of nitrogen differs from that of air, in such a way that it escapes through the tyre’s inner liner or tube at a slower rate than regular compressed air. The result is a dramatically slower rate of pressure loss in a tyre filled with nitrogen. For example, it might take up to six months to lose 0.14kpa with nitrogen, compared to just one month with compressed air.

2. Cooler Running Temperature of Tyres

Tyres inflated with nitrogen run cooler than those inflated with air, resulting in an improvement in tyre life of up to 20%.  By reducing the tyre’s running temperature, you increase its tread life thereby increasing its overall lifespan. 

3. Improved Road Handling 

As tyres heat up, their inflation pressure increases, which in turn reduces the size of the tyre’s footprint – the area that has contact with the road.  Subsequently, the tyre grip is reduced as a result of the tyre’s diminished footprint. So the cooler the tyres run the better their ability to grip the road.

4. Reduced Corrosion

Unlike air there’s no moisture in pure nitrogen, thereby drastically reducing the possibility of corrosion in tyres. 

In Conclusion…

Filling one’s tyres with nitrogen gas should be the norm for South African road users as it is safer than filling up with air.  It is also cost effective as it leads to better maintenance of tyres.

Nitrogen gas is the ultimate tyre inflation gas and is available at reputable tyre fitment centres across the country at a nominal cost.