Should i put nitrogen in tires

These claims are overstated. Small amounts of air naturally leak out of tires over time, especially when tires are subject to large temperature swings. This is because the walls of tires are slightly porous. When a tire gets hot the air inside it expands. Since nitrogen molecules are bigger than normal air molecules, it is harder for them to leak out. This means a tire filled with nitrogen will maintain air pressure longer.

A normal tire filled with regular air loses an average 1 to 2 PSI pounds per square inch per month. But this improvement is slight — only about 1. This is partly because air is already made up of 78 percent nitrogen and just under 21 percent oxygen, with the rest a mix of water vapor, carbon dioxide and other gases. When tires are filled from a nitrogen air pump this ups the percentage of N2 to between 93 and 95 percent.

There are more cons than pros for changing to N2 tires. This is why nitrogen is used to fill airplane tires, as temperatures can change dramatically between takeoff and landing. Since nitrogen does not completely eliminate temperature-related pressure changes under normal driving conditions, it is of little benefit to vehicle owners who properly maintain their tires. Fact: The opposite is true. Even tires filled with nitrogen still require regular pressure checks to identify slow leaks.

It is also a good practice to visually inspect tires for cuts, tears, bulges and tread wear, or other signs of impending tire trouble. Myth: The lack of oxygen and moisture in a tire filled with nitrogen reduces the potential for chemical deterioration of the tire liner, and limits the possibility of rust and corrosion on the wheel. Fact: Compressed air systems at most tire shops have moisture separators that limit the amount of water vapor in the compressed air supply.

Limiting water vapor protects the tires and wheels as well as a shop's expensive air-powered tire mounting and installation tools. Like Joes, Longacre sells to racers, and some of its most precise digital pro gauges cost hundreds of dollars. Even this lower-cost digital gauge has some advantages over analog units. For one, it's easier to read, displays pressure in 0.

That should be more than enough for just about anyone. This is the gauge that we gauge good enough to use in the Car and Driver test garage. We set all of our test vehicles' tire pressures precisely to ensure that they perform their best in our comprehensive testing program.

This low-cost Accutire digital gauge works beautifully. It reads in half-pound increments, so you can set your tires' pressures as accurately as we do. This analog gauge is to modern digital gauges as a typewriter is to a laptop computer.

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.