Myth: Nitrogen does not leak from tires as quickly as compressed air, and therefore maintains proper tire pressure for a longer time. Fact: Tires naturally lose small amounts of pressure over time whether they are filled with compressed air oxygen or nitrogen. If a tire has a major leak, air is likely escaping through the valve or punctures in the rubber, or from where the tire mounts to the wheel. In these cases, both oxygen and nitrogen escape at the same rate.
Myth: Nitrogen is not affected by temperature changes, and therefore maintains proper tire pressure regardless of climate. Fact: Tires filled with nitrogen maintain inflation pressure longer than compressed air-filled tires in fluctuating temperatures. Consumer Reports conducted a month study at our Auto Test Center using 31 tire models of all-season tires. The tires and wheels were purchased new, and they were used for our 16,mile treadwear test. We first ensured that we had 95 percent nitrogen purity in the tire—the claimed limit of our nitrogen system, which generates nitrogen gas from ambient air and removes water vapor.
We filled one tire per model with air and another with nitrogen. Both were filled to 30 psi pounds per square inch at room temperature. We set both tires outdoors for one year, then checked the inflation pressure at room temperature again.
Both tires lost pressure over that time, but the difference in loss was minimal. The average loss of air-filled tires was just 3. Nitrogen-filled tires lost an average of 2. The results show that nitrogen does reduce pressure loss, but the reduction was only a 1. We have concerns that car owners who use nitrogen might check their tire pressures less often. That would be a mistake, Pszczolkowski says. The government agency concluded that using nitrogen does reduce tire degradation by limiting oxidation.
Oxidation refers to the damage caused by exposing tires to the oxygen in regular air, which can make rubber become brittle.
While it's ancient technology, it's still far better than nothing, and it will help you to keep your tires in the correct inflation range—and do it for a rock-bottom price.
But we recommend and use the Accutire gauge, so that should tell you where we stand. Type keyword s to search. Today's Top Stories. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
Related Stories. Related Story. Accutire Digital Pressure Gauge. Milton Pencil Pressure Gauge. Stef Schrader Stef Schrader routinely breaks and attempts to take project cars on race tracks. Not really. The sensors only measure the pressure of the compressed gas. No matter what type of gas you use, there will be no difference in their performance.
A tire loses pressure over time and changes in temperature accelerate this process. For every 10 degrees up or down in the temperature will cause the tire to lose 1 psi. Nitrogen is more stable and its rate of seeping through the tire walls is slower than the oxygen. It actually retains the pressure well but the difference is only 1.
The air has a portion of water in it. When the tire heats up, the water converts into a gas and increases the tire pressure. As the nitrogen is dry, there will be no pressure fluctuation. However, the fluctuation between air and nitrogen is not significant. The same reason why nitrogen is thought to be effective in preventing wheel rot. But, it is not a problem with modern cars because they have alloy wheels that show no chemical reaction to the water inside the tires.
It means that underinflated tires affect the fuel economy. Since nitrogen tires lose pressure at a slower rate, they are the better options for fuel-efficiency.
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