Vehicle breakdowns are never fun, especially during a winter storm. For businesses, fleet breakdowns can mean unhappy customers, late deliveries, and lost revenue. This can be detrimental for businesses that rely on vehicle fleets for service, such as HVAC or delivery services. You can help protect your fleet this winter by filling your tires with nitrogen.
The Science Behind Putting Nitrogen in Tires
Car tires are typically filled up with compressed air. Air is about 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen, with additional small amounts of other gases. Nitrogen leaks out of tires slower than air because the molecules are larger, making it harder for them to escape. Nitrogen is also more stable in flocculating temperatures. It doesn’t shrink and swell like oxygen does because of its water content. This is especially important in colder climates, like New England.
1. Better Pressure Retention
One main benefit of filling your tires with nitrogen is less tire leakage, which results in tires preserving a high air pressure for longer, leading to less maintenance and longer tire life. Like compressed air, nitrogen can withstand cold temperatures, making it a viable option for driving in the winter.
2. Greater Fuel Efficiency
Since nitrogen takes six times longer than oxygen to leak out of tires, nitrogen-filled tires stay full for significantly longer. Driving on full tires leads to better gas mileage and decreases tire damage.
3. Improved Handling
Driving on ice or slippery roads in the winter can be dangerous. It’s important for drivers to be as safe as possible, which includes keeping their tire pressure full. This makes for a more controlled driving experience and decreases the chance of a flat tires, especially in the wintertime.
4. Prevent Rims from Corroding
Like moisture on a window, air compresses and produces condensation inside tires. Excess water can corrode the rims of the tire. This can be hard to detect since the car’s rims corrode from the inside. Additionally, if a gas station doesn’t maintain their air compressors, water can collect inside the hose. Water can enter the tire, which increases the risk of corrosion.
5. Extended Tire Life
Nitrogen is more stable than air, which results in extended tire pressure and tire life. Since nitrogen is also dryer than air, there is less chance of tire corrosion. Also, nitrogen leaks out of tires at a slower rate, increasing tire longevity. Extending your tire life will save you money and reduce maintenance.
6. Sustainability
The longer a tire’s life, the less often it will need to be replaced; this reduces the amount of new tires manufacturers need to produce, as well as the consumption of raw materials.
FAQs About Nitrogen Tires in the Winter
Q: Is it safe to fill my tires with nitrogen?
A: Yes, filling tires with nitrogen is safe. In fact, nitrogen isn’t flammable, so tires won’t explode in a crash.
Q: Is nitrogen only good to use in the winter?
No, nitrogen tires can be used at any time. Many drivers, including racecar drivers use nitrogen tires year-round.
Q: Do I need special nitrogen tires?
No, you can fill any commercial tire with nitrogen.
Author Bio: Joseph Christmas is the Marketing Coordinator for Commercial Sales at Merchants Auto. He joined the team in March 2021 equipped with many years of experience in both marketing and the automotive industry. Joe’s pure passion and knowledge of cars have been tailored to this industry.
