Nitrogen benefits
As you can see in this diagram, nitrogen molecules are larger than oxygen molecules. Theoretically, this makes it less likely to escape through the semipermeable tire liner. This means that the tire should lose less pressure over the same time interval as regular air.
Compared to compressed air, nitrogen is considered a "drier" gas. This is because the lack of water vapor creates more stable pressure within the tire and corrosion (aka "oxidation") is less likely to build up on your wheel finish or TPMS sensors.
NITROGEN DRAWBACKS
Regular compressed air is made up of 78% nitrogen. To achieve the benefits of nitrogen, the concentration has to be at or higher than 93%. To do this, tires must be purged multiple times.
If you have nitrogen-filled tires and need to refill them but there is none available, it’s perfectly safe to fill them with regular compressed air. However, you will later have to purge the tire and refill it with nitrogen to continue maintaining the benefits nitrogen tires deliver.
Regardless of how theoretically stable nitrogen is, your tires will still lose pressure over time as it is not immune to the typical expansion and contraction of regular tires due to temperature changes.
Some auto shops will fill your tires with nitrogen for free but many will charge. This may mean you will pay more to fill your tires as opposed to compressed air, which is more often free. You also still need to frequently check your tires for damage and air pressure.
How do I know if my tires have nitrogen in them now?
You can easily check if your tires are filled with nitrogen by the color of your tire’s valve cap.
A nitrogen-filled tire will likely have a green-colored valve cap or include an "N2" emblem.
A typical air-filled tire will have the more traditional black or chrome valve cap.
America's Tire’s Recommendation
We recommend that, instead of spending the extra money on nitrogen, you simply use regular compressed air. Since nitrogen-filled tires still need to be checked regularly and are still subject to temperature and elevation factors, there isn’t much reason to choose nitrogen over ordinary air. Make sure to check your tire pressure at least once a month to ensure your safety and keep your vehicle’s performance optimized.
If you need assistance checking your air pressure, stop by your local America's Tire for a free air pressure check and adjustment. Let’s get you taken care of!
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