Tires are, by far, one of the most important components of our vehicles, but are often overlooked. While some drivers are attentive, making sure their vehicle’s tires are in good working order, many drivers forget to check tires until a problem occurs such as a flat or a blowout. Among the many factors that can contribute to car accidents, surprisingly, the condition of your tires can lead to an accident and put your safety at risk.
Road Safety & Tires
It’s good to get in the habit of checking your car’s tire pressure at least once a month and add or decrease the amount of air, based on your tire gauge’s reading. Many drivers think that a little extra or not enough air is OK for your tires, but over or underinflation in tires can be dangerous. Vehicles driving on tires underinflated by more than 25 percent are up to three times more likely to be involved in an accident related to tire issues. Additionally, under inflated tires up to 25 percent are subject to overheating and can affect the handling or overall life of your tire. Whether your tires have too much air or not enough, you crash risk is higher than if you had the proper amount of air in your tires. It’s important to know how much air your tires need as not all tires require the same amount of air; check out your car’s manual and always check your tires for general wear and tear or leaks. Regular rotation is also a must.
The Benefits of Nitrogen & Tire Safety
Since a great deal of road safety relies on the air pressure in a car’s tires, nitrogen is a good option for all drivers, but particularly those who don’t check their tires on a regular basis. Although filling your tires with nitrogen, rather than air, can reduce the loss of tire pressure by about one-third, nitrogen should not be a substitute for having your tires checked on a regular basis. Experts report that if tires are overinflated with nitrogen, it is far less harmful than over inflating a tire with air. Nitrogen filled tires may keep your tires safer due to less moisture inside your tires (which may contribute to corrosion on your wheels).
Save Money, Save the Environment
When you take care of your car’s tires, they will last longer and will need replacing less frequently. Subsequently, you are saving yourself money and not contributing to landfill waste, an issue that is still prevalent today. Replacing the air in your tires with nitrogen will not only extend the life of your tires, but due to a more consistent tire pressure, you may see a decrease in your car’s fuel usage.
Filling your tires with nitrogen can increase the life of your tires, save you some money, and keep you safer on the road. While nitrogen may not be as convenient or inexpensive as air, talk with a tire expert or a trusted mechanic for more information on where to have your tires filled with nitrogen.
– Nik Donovic
