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Nitrogen in Tires Will Absolutely Save on Gas

On April 12, 2012, in Fuel Efficiency, Nitrogen Tire Inflation, Proper Tire Pressure, by allisonmreilly
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nitrogen in tiresA recent article in the Huffington Post showcased six myths about saving on gas. One of those myths was nitrogen tire inflation because the difference is negligible, and tires filled with air at proper tire pressure will achieve the same results. Prepare for this myth to be busted.

We grant that proper tire pressure is what it takes to achieve greater fuel efficiency, but the way the myth is presented in the Huffington Post article presumes that regular air and nitrogen gas react the same way in consumer tires and in the tires of managed fleet vehicles. The only times the two react differently is in commercial aircraft and high-performance race cars, since they undergo much more extreme temperature changes than a typical four-door driver or long-haul driver.

However, regular air does react to even the less extreme temperate changes that take place as one drives to the store or across state lines. Why else would it be recommended to check tire pressure when the tires are cold? What would be the point of this recommendation if regular air didn’t react under normal driving circumstances? Well, regular does react under those circumstances, and when it is used, it warms up as the car is driven, increasing the tire pressure. Checking the tire pressure when the tires are warm could give a false reading of a tire pressure higher than what it actually is. This could cause someone to release tire pressure that’s needed, or not fill up when they really should.

Nitrogen gas maintains proper tire pressure better and for a longer period of time because it doesn’t react to temperature changes nearly as much as regular air. This reaction takes place in the tires you get from your local auto repair shop as well as the tires on race cars and commercial aircraft. Fuel efficiency increase three to five percent with properly inflated tires versus under-inflated tires. With gas prices going up, that kind of fuel efficiency is much more than “negligible” to some people.

True, some dealerships and auto repair shops may charge for nitrogen, but some do provide the service for free. Some sell brand new tires that are already filled with nitrogen. The core of this myth is busted, since the core argument was that commercial aircraft and high-performance vehicles need it to handle the extreme temperature changes. However, temperature changes still take place in regular driving, so it’s reasonable to conclude nitrogen can make a difference to consumers and to managed fleets as well.

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March Roundup of Nitrogen Tire Inflation News

On March 29, 2012, in Fuel Efficiency, News Roundup, Nitrogen Tire Inflation, by allisonmreilly
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nitrogen tire inflation

Nitrogen tire inflation got a lot of press this month! Check out some of the news you may have missed.

Just a few weeks ago, we wondered why there wasn’t a whole lot of news are regarding nitrogen tire inflation. However, it seems that we got our wish, and there’s quite a bit of news this month on the practice of filling your tires with nitrogen. The news covers the spectrum: four wheelers and 18-wheelers, consumers and commercial purposes, blogs and industry publications. Enjoy the good news!

The Advantages of Filling Your Tires with Nitrogen – Brant Shop Talk blog

The Reality Regarding Nitrogen in Tires – Automotive Parts blog

Are Your Ruining Your Tires with Compressed Air – Four Wheeler Magazine

Does Nitrogen Help Fuel Efficiency? – CBS Local

Consensus Scarce for Nitrogen Tire Inflation – Transport Topics

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Does Nitrogen Tire Inflation Improve Mileage & Save Money?: A Response

On March 15, 2012, in Fuel Efficiency, Nitrogen Tire Inflation, Proper Tire Pressure, by allisonmreilly
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nitrogen saves moneyBack in 2010, G. E. Miller wrote an article about nitrogen tire inflation, and questioned whether or not the practice really provided the benefits that nitrogen providers claimed. Yes, the article is almost two years old, but it’s one of the most recent articles out there. However, G. E. Miller makes several factual errors in his arguments against nitrogen tire inflation, and this misinformation could be steering people away from a money-saving practice. We’re going to clear up some of that misinformation, and show you that nitrogen tire inflation does improve gas mileage and save you money.

About midway through the article, Miller says,“Dry air (the stuff we breathe) actually consists of 78.09% nitrogen, and 20.95% oxygen.” Although Miller’s percentages are correct, notice that they don’t equal 100 percent. That’s because the last one percent includes other elements, including water vapor. Meaning, the air we breathe is not dry air, and neither is the compressed air going into your tires. Miller’s statement isn’t accurate at all. Yes, air is over 78 percent nitrogen, but it’s the other elements of air that can damage tires and not be as reliable to maintain proper tire pressure.

After that, Miller refers to a Consumer Affairs article on nitrogen tire inflation, which says that “the person filling the tires would actually need to completely purge and refill the tire 3 times to get a 95% nitrogen consistency.” That may be the case, but a tire doesn’t have to be purged completely in order for the affects of nitrogen tire inflation to take place. Nitrogen helps maintain proper tire pressure for a longer period of time, and it is less affected by temperature changes than compressed air, even topping off your tires with nitrogen will help them in the long run.

Towards the end of the article, Miller says, “The other argument for nitrogen over air is that oxygen within normal air causes ‘oxidation’ within the tire. However, I haven’t seen any concrete evidence as to what oxidation really is or why its such a bad thing.” Oxidation is the interaction between oxygen molecules and all the different substances they may contact, from metal to living tissue. According to this definition, rust counts as oxidation, and I hardly believe that Miller has never seen rust before, or would argue that a rusty nail is as good as a non-rusty nail. Rust is concrete evidence of what oxidation is (even though it isn’t the only example), but to write off a scientific word just because it’s hard to understand doesn’t mean that it’s harmless or made up.

Miller also says that “If it’s rubber deterioration from the inside, I have a feeling that tire tread wear on the outside from normal use probably has a much larger impact, regardless of what’s inside the tire.” But, tire tread wear and rubber deterioration are not the same thing. Tire tread wear is obvious, but rubber deterioration is the break down of the actual tire. Both not only have an impact on tire performance, but both are also affected by proper tire pressure and nitrogen tire inflation. If you are driving on tires that are over or underinflated, then that will affect how your tire tread wears over time. The strength of the tire rubber is just as important as the tire tread wear itself.

The science behind Miller’s article is wrong and misinformed, misguiding readers into thinking that nitrogen tire inflation can’t be any good, when in fact it can do a lot of good once you understand the science.

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What’s the Latest News on Nitrogen Tire Inflation?

On March 1, 2012, in Hybrid Tires, News Roundup, Nitrogen in Tires Myths, Nitrogen Tire Inflation, by allisonmreilly
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nitrogen tire inflationWe at Nitrofleet99 ask this question because a quick online search of keyphrases like “nitrogen tire inflation”, “nitrogen for tires”, and “nitrogen in tires” reveals that there isn’t a whole lot of recent news regarding the practice. Most articles that come up in the results are from 2007 or 2008. Other than the articles that we’ve written on this blog or for other news sites, one of the most recent that we found was on a finance blog from 2010 (will respond to this specific article in an upcoming post).

So, what’s the news with the news? How did nitrogen tire inflation become a ‘passing fad’, when many managed fleets, auto repair shops, and auto dealerships are utilizing nitrogen, or are offering it to their customers? How did awareness of the benefits of nitrogen fall under the radar, especially when it seems that more and more people are learning about the practice, and discussing it on blogs and forums?

Unfortunately, we don’t know the answers to those questions, but we do know that with gas prices increasing (will also discuss in a later post), consumers need new ways in order to cut costs. We do know that the practice is becoming more common, and the use of nitrogen more pervasive, so nitrogen tire inflation is worth discussing for the sake of education. We also know that if someone doesn’t take the time to put the right information out there regarding nitrogen tire inflation, we are only providing the opportunity for nitrogen myths and misinformation to get out there and to control the conversation.

There hasn’t been a lot from us in the past few weeks, but we aren’t giving up on the conversation of hybrid tires and tire maintenance practices quite yet. Prepare to see a lot more from us in the future.

 

 

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Nitrogen Tire Inflation Proven to Create Hybrid Tires

On February 9, 2012, in Hybrid Tires, Nitrogen Tire Inflation, by allisonmreilly
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hybrid tiresA Green Technology that Simply Requires a Change in Behavior

Studies from several major tire companies, including Ford and Goodyear, show that nitrogen tire inflation is a green technology by extending the life of the tire and improving fuel efficiency. Nashville-based GoNitroTire is one of the few companies in the United States to offer nitrogen tire inflation, and hybrid tires.

GoNitroTire’s solution in transportation enables the delivery of the value of nitrogen to fleet managers and consumers as an inflation medium for vehicles of every size. High purity nitrogen has been widely used in tires for decades by NASCAR and the airline industry. One part of this solution is the understanding of nitrogen’s benefits as a safe, inexpensive and easy way to maintain in a tire.

“The day has come for nitrogen tire inflation to be embraced in the public domain and we can offer the national infrastructure this service,” said Ken Lawton, founder and CEO of GoNitroTire. “We believe American businesses have the responsibility to lead by example, Nitrogen’s use in managed fleets saves money, time and is environmentally responsible.”

As an emerging green technology, nitrogen tire inflation creates Hybrid Tirestm, providing another important means towards better energy management.  The objective of GoNitroTire is to be part of the solution – NOT the waste and pollution. By improving gas mileage up to six percent and extending tire wear up to 30 percent; GoNitroTire and NitroFleet99 are pioneers in products and services for nitrogen inflated tires. Our national service network provides managed fleets, both large and small, with the opportunity to convert and to maintain their vehicles easily.

About GoNitroTire

GoNitroTire mandate is simple: provide a national infrastructure of nitrogen service sites, through which managed fleets of all sizes could convert and maintain their vehicle tires with the nitrogen needed to maintain their hybrid tires. is associated with the Department of Energy’s Clean Cities Coalition, a national environmental advocacy organization that supports the use of green technology.

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How a Nitrogen Tire System Works

On February 2, 2012, in Managed Fleets, Nitrogen Tire Inflation, by allisonmreilly
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There’s a lot content out there on the debate of nitrogen tire inflation, whether it’s worth the costs, what the benefits are etc. But, there isn’t a whole lot out there that discusses how a nitrogen tire system works, or even shows what these systems look like. Until now.

Nitrogen tire systems, like the Nitrofleet99 one showcased in the picture, utilizes a molecular sieve to pull the nitrogen right out of the air. A molecular sieve is a material containing tiny pores of a precise and uniform size that is used as an adsorbent for gases and liquids. With the sieve, the system pulls the nitrogen right out of the air, getting the good stuff without any of the negative components that can do damage to tires. Although these systems come with storage tanks so they can be used whenever necessary, a nitrogen tire system doesn’t require the additional purchase of the nitrogen gas in order to work. The system then connects to the tires via the nitrogen lines, as shown in the picture, to fill them up with pure nitrogen.

A nitrogen tire system can purge four to six tires of regular air, and refill them with nitrogen in about seven minutes. The system can also be used to top off tires with nitrogen. The Nitrofleet99 nitrogen tire system in particular comes with an additional wheel mounted cart, that can be used in parking lot, in a shop, or when multiple vehicles need to fill up with nitrogen. This is a great option for managed fleets who work with more than one vehicle during any maintenance check. The cart has a 30-gallon storage tank, as well as a 10-hour rechargeable battery, while the stationary system has 150-gallon tank. Because the Nitrofleet99 system already comes with its own storage tanks, a managed fleet doesn’t have to purchase additional tanks in order to fill all its fleet vehicles. The storage tank on the car allows it to work without it being connected to the main system.

That, in a nutshell, is how a nitrogen tire system works. It can fill up all four tires as once, saving consumers and managed fleets a lot of time, and come with a portable cart so managed fleets can fill multiple vehicles as once, instead of purchasing tons of machines or storage capacity.

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4 Ways to Winterize Your Tires Before February

On January 19, 2012, in Nitrogen Tire Inflation, Tire Care, by allisonmreilly
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proper tire careWinter is finally here! Many places have seen at least one snowfall, and temperatures are dropping. If you haven’t yet taken the time to prepare your tires for the cold weather ahead, then it’s time to get started. Here are four ways to get your tires ready for the weeks ahead, and to ensure that you will be safe when driving this winter:

  1. Consider Using Snow Tires – This may be an obvious one if you live in a snowy climate, but snow tires are also a good idea if roads in your area tend to get icy or slippery. Tires that are worn will have a tougher time handling slick streets. Winter tires provide much more traction then normal all-season tires, so if you’re unsure if your tires are worn or not, take the cautious approach and make the switch to snow tires. When the weather warms up, get your all-season tires checked.
  2. Use Tire Chains for Even Tougher Conditions– Tire chains aren’t necessary for everyone, but are a good idea if you know you’ll be driving a long way this winter, or if conditions in your area are expected to be especially brutal. Tire chains are accessories you can install at home that keep the tires in contact with the surface of the road during especially wintry conditions.
  3. Check Your Current Tires for Damage – If you decide to use tire chains, snow tires, or risk it with all-season tires, make sure to check them for damage. This includes taking a look at the sidewall for cracks and checking to see if they are too old. Driving with damaged tires is just about as bad as driving with worn tires or under-inflated tires. And, speaking of which…
  4. Check Your Tire Pressure – Snow tires and tire chains won’t mean much if they are, or are being used, on under-inflated tires. Make sure your tires are at the proper tire pressure, and to check tires when they are cold, not right after a drive. One of the best ways to maintain proper tire pressure for a longer period is to use nitrogen in your tires instead of regular air.

We here at Nitrofleet99 are conscious of tire safety and maintenance, and wish our customers to drive safe this season. As much as we tout the benefits of nitrogen tire inflation, the practice is not a replacement for regular tire safety and maintenance.

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3 Tire Care Tips for Managed Fleets in 2012

On January 5, 2012, in Managed Fleets, Proper Tire Pressure, Tire Care, by allisonmreilly
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tire care tips for managed fleets

Sure, flat tires happen from time to time. But good tire care can prevent a tire disaster from happening.

It’s no secret that taking care of your tires will allow them to last longer. The same is true with most things in life. To keep your tires at their optimum,  make sure to check them monthly for tire wear, proper tire pressure, and any damage that would indicate that your tires would need to be replaced. Here are a few tire care tips to keep in mind this year in order to keep your tires, and your fleet, running at their best:

1. Consider the Load When Looking a Tire Pressure – Tire footprint and traction are reduced when van, pickup or RV tires are over inflated for the loads carried. In particular, tires with aggressive tread patterns may contribute to oversteer or “roadwalk” if inflated beyond the inflation pressure specified in the Owner’s Manual and vehicle placard for standard or customary loads. Over inflation also increases the chances of bruise damage. Higher inflation pressure increases stiffness which may deteriorate ride and generate unwanted vibration. If worried about over inflation when on the road, make sure to check the tire pressure when they are cool and not right after a drive.

2. Tire Care is Also a Safety Issue – Under inflation is the most common cause of failures in any kind of tire and may result in severe cracking, component separation or “blowout,” with unexpected loss of vehicle control and accident. Under inflation increases sidewall flexing and rolling resistance resulting in heat and mechanical damage. Also keep in mind that under inflation reduces a tire’s ability to support the vehicle’s load and transmit cornering, braking and acceleration forces, which could increase the chances of a flat tire or a tire blowout.

3. Check Tire Pressure Regularly – Although nitrogen tire inflation maintains proper tire pressure for a longer period of time, it is not meant to be a replacement for good tire care and regular maintenance. For managed fleets, tire pressure should be checked weekly, as under inflated tires not only increase safety risk, they also reduce your fuel efficiency and end up costing you money. There’s should be no substitution for safety.

With these three tips in mind, managed fleets should have an excellent 2012 with their vehicles.

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Give Your Tires Some TLC This Christmas

On December 22, 2011, in Nitrogen Tire Inflation, Proper Tire Pressure, Tire Care, by allisonmreilly
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Nitrogen Tire Inflation

Nitrogen tire inflation is a good way to provide your tires the tender, loving care they need.

According to a recent survey from Consumer Reports, 40 percent of drivers delay automotive maintenance. Forty-four percent of those who deferred work in the past year also admitted they felt the value, safety or reliability of the vehicle would suffer, with some saying the car was becoming an embarrassment. Do yourself, and your car, a favor this Christmas be giving a little TLC to your tires.

Providing the tender, loving care that your tires want and need can be as simple as checking them to make sure they are at the proper tire pressure. Checking your tire pressure is free is you already have a pressure gauge, or a few dollars if you don’t. If you realize that your tire pressure is low, then you might want to consider topping them off with nitrogen tire inflation instead of the air at a gas station.

Yes, the air is cheaper, and in this economy, people are looking for any and all ways to cut costs. However, with tire inflation, like most things in life, you get what you pay for. Filling your tires with nitrogen instead of regular air is something to consider, especially if you’re planning on having your car, and your tires, for a long long time.

Compounding the issue of deferred automotive repair and maintenance is the fact that drivers are holding onto their vehicles longer – the average age of vehicles on the road today is nine years old. Many of the respondents in the Consumer Reports survey bought their cars used, and have owned them for at least five years with the intent to hold on to that vehicle for another five. If you want your tires to last as long as your car, then you’re going to need to invest in nitrogen tire inflation.

Many people buy Christmas presents for themselves, so if that’s you, instead of new clothes or an iPad, consider putting that money into your vehicle and into your tires. Sure, the iPad is a lot more fun and shiny, but the tablet doesn’t take you to and from work.

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Tire Recycling: How You Can Keep Tires Out of Landfills

On December 8, 2011, in Nitrogen Tire Inflation, Sustainability, by allisonmreilly
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tire recycling

Tire recycling can eliminate piles of waste tires like these shown here.

In 2009, only 35 percent of the tires sold in the United States were recycled. All those tires that aren’t being recycled are just laying around in landfills and junkyards, posing a huge hazard to the environment and providing a home to vermin. Tires in these stockpiles are also prone to heat retention, so they can ignite, creating tire fires that are difficult to extinguish. These tire fires can burn for months, generating unhealthy smoke and toxic oils. For these reasons, most states have passed scrap tire regulations requiring proper management.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, here is a summary of the laws in the United States regarding the proper disposal of tires:

  • 38 states ban whole tires from landfills.
  • 35 states allow shredded tires to be placed in landfills.
  • 11 states ban all tires from landfills.
  • 17 states allow processed tires to be placed into monofills.
  • 8 states have no restrictions on placing scrap tires in landfills.
Tires are very durable, which makes them hard to break down. However, a tire’s durability also makes it easy for them to be reused and recycled. When recycled, tires are used for fuel, civil engineering projects, or are converted into ground rubber and other products. Some of these tires end up getting retreaded and going to other countries, like Mexico and Japan.
So, what can you do about this? How can you keep tires out of landfills, or reuse them so they last longer. One thing to try is nitrogen tire inflation. Using nitrogen in the tires has been found to extend the life of the tire and to improve fuel efficiency. By using your tires for a longer period of time with one small change, that means in the long run, you’ll be consuming less tires and putting less tires in the landfill. It also means that you’ll save money in the long run, because that’s less money you’ll have to spend on tires and on gas. More money in your pocket while less tires end up in the landfills? Not bad at all.
No one person can keep all the tires out of landfills, but everyone can do something. That easy something that everyone can do is to put nitrogen in their tires instead of regular air. It’s good for you, it’s good for the tires, and it’s good for the environment.
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