Which One is Better for Tires - Nitrogen or Compressed Air
Over the last few years, you might have seen people getting their vehicle’s tires filled with nitrogen instead of compressed air. Likewise, for many people, getting their tires filled with nitrogen might feel like a scene from a sci-fi movie. However, nitrogen filled tires are not uncommon. Most race car tires and aeroplane tires are filled with nitrogen instead of compressed air.
Not just race cars and aeroplanes, tyres of some commercial trucks are also filled with nitrogen. Today many workshops have started to offer nitrogen filled tyres due to the growing demand of consumers. However, many people do not know the reason behind selecting nitrogen over compressed over. They just follow other people and are getting on the nitrogen bandwagon.
In this article, PitStopArabia compares nitrogen filled tires with compressed air tyres. Finally, towards the end of the article, we will conclude which type of tire is a better option for you. While most of you would know about regular compressed air tires, a very few actually know about nitrogen filled tires. Therefore, nitrogen filled tires merit a detailed discussion.
Nitrogen Filled Tires
One of the advantages that nitrogen filled tires hold over compressed air tires is that nitrogen tires hold pressure longer as compared to compressed air. The reason is that nitrogen molecules are bigger than oxygen molecules. Hence, they take longer to leak out from the tire. While it may seem like a negligible advantage but there is more to it.
When tires are underinflated, they generate extra heat while being driven on the road. Excess heat causes damage to the tires and decreases their durability. Therefore, tires must maintain optimal tire pressure. In the case of nitrogen filled tires, the risk of underinflated tires is significantly reduced for the reason discussed above.
Since the heat is greatly reduced, it is also the reason that nitrogen filled tires are used in race cars, aeroplanes and commercial trucks. Air compressed tires would generate too much heat because of high speeds and would be susceptible to bursting.
Another reason for using nitrogen filled tires is that nitrogen does not react with water like compressed air (oxygen). As there is moisture in the air, compressed air contains water molecules which over time might damage the tire from the inside and the wheel. However, it is pertinent to mention that tire damage from water molecules is a prolonged process.
By the time the tires are damaged from water molecules, you will long have bought new tires. Another advantage is that nitrogen tires are not susceptible to fire. Therefore, in case of an accident, you can rest assured that your tires will not lead to a fire. It is another reason why these tires are used in aeroplanes, race cars and commercial trucks.
Compressed Air Tires
Compressed air tires are those tires which are filled with air. The typical composition of the air-filled tires is 78% nitrogen (N2), 21% oxygen (O2) and 1% miscellaneous gases. However, the composition can vary.
Compressed air tires have been around for a very long and they do not hold any alarming disadvantage. The only clear disadvantage is that they lose pressure quickly. However, if you monitor air pressure regularly, it will not be an issue.
Which One is Better?
By now, you know about nitrogen filled and compressed air tires and what advantages they hold. It is now time to select which is the best for tires. In terms of fuel economy, both offer equal fuel efficiency. In terms of safety and durability, nitrogen filled tires will last much longer than compressed air tires. Similarly, if you drive a race car or a commercial truck, nitrogen is the obvious choice.
However, the cost and convenience are a significant factor which must be considered. All garages and workshops offer air for refilling your tires. However, nitrogen is not readily available everywhere. Therefore, if you have nitrogen filled tires, you must know precisely where it is available as you cannot just drive into any workshop or service station and expect them to offer nitrogen.
Moreover, nitrogen is more expensive than compressed air. Lastly, the cost of upgrading air compressed tires to nitrogen tires is a lot. Therefore, if you are looking to get your tires filled with nitrogen, it is better to buy new tires which come loaded with nitrogen. The reason is that air-compressed tires need to be refilled with nitrogen a few times for a complete upgrade.
Final Words
The decision to select which type of tire you need; ultimately depends on you and the kind of car you drive. If you are a person for whom money is not an issue, or you own a supercar, you can opt for nitrogen filled tires.
However, ensure that it is readily available in the area you are residing in. For a person with budgetary constraints and a normal passenger car, compressed air tires are ideal. Lastly, if you keep your tires properly inflated and maintained, it does not matter whether they are filled with nitrogen or compressed air.