Nitrogen Inflated Tyres

Well, did you know that the nitrogen content of the air humans breathe is 78 per cent? Or that a nitrogen-filled tyre contains around 93 to 95 per cent nitrogen?

To put it simply, the primary distinction between a standard (air-inflated) car tyre and one packed with nitrogen is negligible. Similarly, you must be aware that only some race cars or planes use nitrogen in tyres. Only powerful and larger vehicles utilise it in general. When it comes to aviation, the major purpose of utilising nitrogen in their tyres is to lessen the danger of high-altitude tyre explosions since it may destroy or damage an aircraft.

Furthermore, nitrogen tyre inflation is frequent in the tyres of vehicles operating in dangerous environments such as mines to lessen the risk of fire. It is also utilised in off-road vehicles if the tyres are loaded to their maximum capacity.

Is nitrogen something you must think about for your vehicle? Let's look at the benefits and drawbacks.

Nitrogen tyre inflation has various advantages. We've listed all of the ones you should think about below:

Stable Tyre Pressure: Nitrogen-filled tyres are stable in the long term, and there is also less pressure variation with the possibility of temperature. For such qualities, nitrogen is preferred in racing, where tyre pressures are continuously changing.

More Consistent Fuel Economy: Car owners are aware that driving with the proper air pressure maximises fuel economy. Higher tyre pressure leads to improved fuel efficiency because it minimises rolling resistance and since nitrogen stays in your car tyres for a longer period of time, keeping you from having to work harder to keep them rolling. Nitrogen ensures the maximum fuel economy in this manner.

Less Leakage from Tyres: Well, as you are undoubtedly aware, air escapes from your tyres as the rubber flexes and expands while rolling. Because a nitrogen atom is somewhat larger than an oxygen atom, it’s less able to pierce rubber and escape from a car tyre.

Reduced Wear and Tear: Well, nitrogen may also help to lessen the wear and strain on the wheels and probably other components. Nitrogen does not contain water vapour, whereas air does. As your tyre heats up, the pressure in it rises due to the presence of water vapour. There is no water vapour and no rusting inside the car wheel or corrosion on the delicate sensors employed by cars with tyre pressure monitoring systems when nitrogen is utilised.

More Consistent Handling: Nitrogen, like fuel efficiency, ensures more constant handling. This is accomplished by maintaining tyre pressure, which improves handling. This is why race vehicles' tyres contain nitrogen. The difference, however, is minor and may go unnoticed by all frequent drivers.

Eco-Friendly: Every year, over 300 million tyres are discarded, with the majority of them being air-inflated. Also, nitrogen in tyres can cut this amount by 30% while also lowering the carbon impact of gasoline burning.

Durability: Nitrogen does not have any corrosive qualities like air-filled tyres, so they cause no harm to the rim’s inner side.

The following are the drawbacks of nitrogen tyre inflation

Maintenance Well, nitrogen isn't an element that can be filled and then forgotten about. Tyres filled with nitrogen, like air-filled tyres, require pressure checks and periodic maintenance, primarily because the tyre pressure and inflation level will not remain constant indefinitely.

Cost Well, nitrogen tyre inflation costs more than traditional air inflation. This is true, as the cost of nitrogen for inflating a single tyre exceeds more than ₹500. The expense accumulates over time.

Unavailability In the topic of the advantages and cons of nitrogen in tyres, one of the cons is the lack of availability. Nitrogen is not only far more costly than air, but it is also more difficult to get. To be more specific, the services are not available everywhere. Nitrogen tyre inflation is only offered at a few professional service stations or tyre shops. Because nitrogen inflation may not be accessible where you are, you may have to fill your car tyres with ordinary air. This process will also dilute the leftover nitrogen in your tyres.

Time-Consuming Lastly, one of the downsides of nitrogen in tyres is that it takes time. The intricacy of the nitrogen fill-up necessitates the use of expertise by car owners. To optimise the benefits of filling up with nitrogen, drivers should bleed and fill the tyres several times to remove as much air as feasible. If your preferred tyre shops have filter equipment that can remove oxygen from nitrogen, it can assist speed up the procedure, albeit it is expensive.

Now that you've seen both sides of the coin, you can determine for yourself which sort of tyres will best fit your needs. Nitrogen tyre inflation, on the other hand, should be your first choice if you are into racing, motorsports, or simply appreciate speed on the highway! If you opt to utilise nitrogen tyres, keep in mind that upkeep is essential.

Also, keep in mind that obtaining car insurance is the most critical part and overlooking this may land you in an array of risks when you are on the road. So, before anything, get a Tata AIG comprehensive four-wheeler insurance cover for your car to remain stress-free while you take your car out for a spin.