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Gas Tax Likely to Keep Going: How You Can Save the Money

On August 11, 2011, in Fuel Efficiency, Nitrogen Tire Inflation, by allisonmreilly
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saving gas money

Save money at the pump by taking care of your tires.

The bill that authorizes the gas tax to be collected, the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) bill, is currently on its seventh short-term extension, which expires Sept. 30. Once Congress comes back from its August recess, it’s likely that this gas tax could become the next political issue. It’s also possible that another short-term extension is granted quietly, without much kerfuffle.

Either way, this gas tax will likely remain in place, meaning prices will remain as high as they are to help pay for our country’s transportation infrastructure. If you’re still going to drive around in spite of all this, then listen up!

One way to beat the gas tax is to improve your fuel efficiency, which is possible with nitrogen tire inflation. Putting nitrogen into your tires instead of regular air, maintains proper tire pressure for a longer period of time, which increase your fuel efficiency between three and six percent. That may not seem like a lot, but as we demonstrated in our cost comparison, those dollars can really add up!

Our roads need this money, and even if the tax were to be removed, states would only make up for those lost funds by raising their own gas taxes and other transportation fees. The best thing to do is to make sure that your vehicle and driving habits are cost-efficient, so you are saving that money. A tax on gasoline, whether it’s federal or state, is not going away anytime soon. In fact, both the Chamber of Commerce and General Motors want the tax to be raised, to ensure that we have national standards for our transportation system. Overall, one of the best ways to beat this tax and to save yourself some money is to use nitrogen tire inflation. After all, you’re still going to be driving around, using up gas. Why not make your car more fuel efficient?

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Jay Leno Supports Nitrogen Tire Inflation

On August 4, 2011, in Nitrogen Tire Inflation, Video, by allisonmreilly
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Comedian Jay Leno has been known for his love of cars, as well as his great jokes. Leno has one of the largest car collections around, so naturally he would know a thing or two about taking good care of them.

In this video, Leno discusses the benefits of nitrogen tire inflation. If you don’t trust what the industry is telling you, maybe you’ll trust a familiar face like Leno’s.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUZGXmWMKXM&version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0]

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Experience the Savings with Nitrogen Tire Inflation

On July 29, 2011, in Fuel Efficiency, Nitrogen Tire Inflation, Proper Tire Pressure, Tire Care, by allisonmreilly
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nitrogen inflated tires

Count your savings when you put nitrogen in your tires!

Why should you pay extra to fill up your tires with nitrogen, instead of using the free regular air at the gas station? In these tough economic times, it may take a bit of convincing, but here at Nitrofleet99 we’ll run the numbers and show you the savings you can accrue. We’ll also highlight additional costs you may not be thinking about when filling up your tires with that free regular air.

We’ve written previously on how nitrogen tire inflation saves gas money and maintains the proper tire pressure of your tires. But, just exactly how much money can you save? Is it really worth it? As you’ll see, the answer is a resounding YES.

It costs anywhere from $3 to $10 per tire to fill it up with nitrogen, so lets presume you spend $40 to fill up your tires with nitrogen with Nitrofleet99. Your tires will lose between one and two pounds per square inch of air over the next six months (compared with the six to 12 that you would lose if you used regular air). So, in one year, you’ll spend $80 to keep your tires filled with nitrogen.

Now, let’s say that you drive 14,000 miles per year, and gas in your area costs, on average, $3.50 per gallon. Let’s also say that your vehicle gets 26 miles to the gallon (you haven’t yet purchased a hybrid). Divide 14,000 by 26 and you get approximately 538, the number of gallons of gas you use per year.

Multiply those gallons by $3.50, and you’ll find that in this situation, you are spending $1,883 per year on gasoline. However, with nitrogen, you can increase your fuel efficiency between three and four percent. So, four percent of $1,883 is about $75. With nitrogen tire inflation, you can save $75 per year on gasoline. That number goes up if gas prices go up, or your yearly mileage goes up. With just your gasoline savings, the nitrogen tire inflation service has pretty much paid for itself!

Because of the proper tire pressure that nitrogen tire inflation provides, you also save money with increased tire life and decreased risk of flats and blowouts. It costs about $400 to replace a full set of tires. But having your tires last longer, you have to replace them less often, saving you even more money. As you can see, nitrogen tire inflation pays off not only in savings, but in peace of mind.

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Nitrogen Tire Inflation Worth the Additional Cost

On July 21, 2011, in Fuel Efficiency, Nitrogen Tire Inflation, by allisonmreilly
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nitrogen tire inflation

Why wait to be like this guy before doing something about your tires, when you can do something about it now with nitrogen tire inflation?

We came across an article from Fox Business that debunked the benefits of nitrogen tire inflation. The article claimed that since you can’t slow air leakage from your tires, inflating them with nitrogen isn’t worth the $5 per tire cost. It also claimed that since studies couldn’t definitively conclude that nitrogen slows the oxidation and deterioration of your tire, it ought not to be considered a benefit.

Here at Nitronomics, we think that this Fox article from 2010 is missing the big picture. These benefits make a huge difference if you manage a fleet a vehicles for a company. The benefits have already been seen in law enforcement. Although a typical consumer doesn’t have a fleet of vehicles to manage, it only takes one dose of nitrogen tire inflation to see the difference and to better protect oneself against flats and tire blowouts. Especially in this busy summer travel season, where people more likely to experience a tire problem or to be driving on an under inflated tire (or more) since people are more likely to be driving longer distances. For a consumer, it only takes one flat or blowout to eat up a lot of time and money. Why wait until an emergency before doing something about it? After all, intelligent people solve problems, but geniuses prevent them.

So what if it may cost a little bit a money? That’s money well spent if it prevents an blowout from happening on the highway, where lives are at risk. It’s also money well spent if it saves money in the long run, which it does by boosting your fuel efficiency and extending the life of your tires. That’s less money on gas and tire replacement. Nitrogen tire inflation is like many other goods and services in life. You get what you pay for. If you’re willing to spend the money now in due diligence, it’ll pay off in the long run. Choose to scrimp now, and you might end up paying a very different price.

To learn more about the practice of nitrogen tire inflation, check out nitrogen tire dealer Nitrofleet99.

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Tire Companies Support Nitrogen Tire Inflation

On July 14, 2011, in Nitrogen Tire Inflation, by allisonmreilly
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Nitrogen Tire Inflation

So many tires, and so many tire companies, support the practice of nitrogen tire inflation. Photo by Eva Cristescu.

We did a post a month or two ago about a Ford study that demonstrated the benefits of nitrogen tire inflation and had the green light from Ford itself to inflate its tires with nitrogen. Well, Ford isn’t the only tire company out there to approve the use of nitrogen tire inflation in its products.

In 2003, Michelin approved the use of nitrogen for all Michelin, BFGoodrich, Uniroyal, and P/A branded tires. Michelin did this because of nitrogen’s ability to maintain proper tire pressure for a longer period of time. In 2004, Goodyear followed suit and officially came out in in support of nitrogen tire inflation in all its Goodyear, Kelly, Dunlop, Associate Brand, and Private Brand products. This is based on the fact that the use of nitrogen extends the life of the tire.

Although Firestone has not issued an official statement, the company does provides tons of great information on nitrogen tire inflation as part of their complete auto care website.

Companies as large as Ford, Michelin, and Goodyear wouldn’t support the practice of inflating your tires with nitrogen if the practice didn’t have any proven benefits to consumers. Well, they do, and the practice is already being used by NASCAR, the military, the airline industry, and some law enforcement agencies. It’s only a matter of time before the service is available in more consumer locations such as gas stations and auto repair shops. There are already companies out there that specialize in nitrogen tire inflation for the consumer market, such as Nitrofleet99.

Overall, the practice of inflating your tires with nitrogen has been getting more popular and more credibility over the years, and this trend will only continue as more and more people are concerned with fuel efficiency and green initiatives in the auto industry. Using air to inflate your times may become a thing of the past.

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85% of Motorists Don’t Know How to Properly Inflate Tires. So What’s a Motorist to Do?

On July 7, 2011, in Nitrogen Tire Inflation, Proper Tire Pressure, Tire Care, by allisonmreilly
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proper tire pressure, nitrogen tire inflation

With proper tire pressure and nitrogen tire inflation, you won’t end up like this guy!

According to the Rubber Manufacturing Association, 85% of motorists don’t know how to properly inflate their tires. This is bad news considering that we are right in the middle of summer travel season, and that it really only takes a few minutes to ensure proper tire pressure in all five of your tires (yes, you ought to include the spare)!

“Our partnership and efforts continue today because our job is not finished,” said Charles Cannon, RMA president and CEO in Autoweek. “Too many drivers fail to do one simple task every month that will reduce their safety risk and help our nation conserve valuable natural resources. Checking tire pressure takes just five minutes, and it’s worth every second.”

Here are a few guidelines to help you inflate a tire properly:

  1. Check the current tire pressure. It’s best to do this on a monthly basis, and before and after long trips.
  2. Perform the check when the tire is cold (so, not right after driving).
  3. Use a tire pressure gauge to read the pressure (duh!)
  4. Make sure to use the recommended pressure listed in your owner’s manual as a guideline. DO NOT go by the number listed on the sidewall.
  5. If your tire(s) is under inflated, fix this immediately. Under inflated tires reduce your fuel efficiency and are a safety hazard when driving.

All that may seem like a lot, and let’s face it, checking your tire pressure is something that’s easy to forget. If there was a way to maintain proper tire pressure for longer periods of time, then it wouldn’t be so troublesome to forget. Maybe it might be easier to remember because I have to remember to check my pressure fewer times during the year. Well, such a solution is achievable with nitrogen tire inflation!

Inflating your tires with nitrogen instead of regular air has been shown to extend the life of your tire, increase fuel efficiency, and maintain proper tire pressure longer. If you find that you have under inflated tires, there’s no need to deflate them entirely of regular air before making the switch to pure nitrogen. Nitrofleet99, a provider of nitrogen tire inflation systems, demonstrates that nitrogen tire inflation is a green technology that doesn’t require any changes to your vehicle, only a behavioral change in how you inflate your tires when you pull up to the gas station or auto repair shop.

So what’s a motorist to do if you don’t know how to inflate your tires properly? Inflate them with nitrogen! It’s better in the long run, for you and your vehicle.

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Hybrid Tires for Hybrid Vehicles

On June 30, 2011, in Hybrid Tires, Nitrogen Tire Inflation, by allisonmreilly
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Hybrid cars are the newest thing in consumer vehicles, and are growing in popularity. Electric, plug-in and hybrid vehicles could garner a collective 90 percent market share by 2030, according a Clean Energy Innovation Study. Here’s an infographic from the Atlantic that shows how a hybrid vehicle works and what all the fuss is about:

The only thing missing from these hybrid vehicles are some hybrid tires, tires that help the environment as much as the cars do. Sure, there are low-resistance tires that are specific to hybrids, but these tires aren’t hybrid in and of themselves and actually don’t perform very well. One way to get hybrid tires is to make them yourself with nitrogen tire inflation. By putting nitrogen in your tires instead of regular air, you extend the life of the tire (meaning less tires in landfills) and improve your fuel efficiency (meaning less use of fossil fuels and a smaller carbon footprint).

Nitrogen tire inflation is something that’s already being used by NASCAR, the airline industry, and the military, so it’s not at all a new concept or a new technology. The new part about it is that more and more consumer drivers are putting nitrogen in their tires. And why not? Studies show that it’s a good practice for tire maintenance in the long run. If you want inflate your tires with nitrogen, then a good brand is Nitrofleet99, which serves the consumer market in many locations across the country.

So, what do you say? If you’re driving a hybrid vehicle, why not drive it on hybrid tires as well?

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More Auto Makers are Ditching Spare Tires: What You Can Do to Make up that Difference

On June 23, 2011, in Nitrogen Tire Inflation, Proper Tire Pressure, Tire Care, by allisonmreilly
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Nitrogen Tire Inflation

Automakers are taking away spares that are used to solve problems like this. Be proactive about flat tires with nitrogen tire inflation.

Automakers are now opting for tire repair kits and run-flat tires instead of spare tires, saying this move will increase fuel efficiency, reduce weight, lower costs, and conveniently leave consumers with more room in their trunks. According to a Los Angeles Times review of data and specifications, about 13% of the more than one million vehicles sold in the U.S. did not offer an extra tire as standard equipment. And that’s just in the last month.

“All manufacturers are looking at this,” said Alan Batey, U.S. vice president of Chevrolet sales and service. “This is one opportunity to get weight out of vehicles and make them more fuel efficient… It will take some time for people to understand this technology.”

Here are some of the new models that will not come with a spare tire:

  • Chevrolet Cruze (tire sealant and inflator kit standard, optional compact spare tire and spare wheel available on all but Cruze Eco)
  • Chevrolet Malibu (tire sealant and inflator kit standard, optional compact spare tire and spare wheel available on all models)
  • 2012 Buick Regal GS (and upcoming e-Assist hybrid versions of Regal and LaCrosse); note the 2011 Buick CXL and CXL Turbo come with standard 16-inch and 17-inch compact spare tire, respectively
  • 2012 Kia Optima (some versions, according to the Los Angeles Times)
  • BMW (run-flat tires standard on nearly every model, according to Edmunds)

AAA expects 1.2 million people will call for help this summer. Many will be flats, but the agency says that many of those could be avoided if people took care of their tires properly. Flat tire roadside assistance increased 2% last year after declining for many years. Local AAA officials said they did not know the reason for the increase. Why wait until a flat tire or a blowout to realize you don’t have a spare tire? Something you can do right now to prevent yourself from being one of those 1.2 million people is to give your tires a tune up with nitrogen tire inflation.

Having nitrogen in tires maintains proper tire pressure for a longer period of time, serving as better protection against those blowouts and flat tires. Putting nitrogen in tires also turns them into hybrid tires, extending the life of the tire and additionally increasing the fuel efficiency of your vehicle (along with the absence of a spare). If you are considering this option, a great nitrogen tire dealer is Nitrofleet99.

If you are one of those people who likes having the spare tire, they aren’t completely going away, yet, Some automakers are offering the option of a spare for an additional charge. If you have a spare, or are opting for the spare, make sure it retains its proper tire pressure like the rest of your tires with nitrogen tire inflation.

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Video: Nitrogen in Motorcycles

On June 16, 2011, in Nitrogen Tire Inflation, Video, by allisonmreilly
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[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaGoe1j5RyQ&w=425&h=349]

The benefits of inflating your tires with nitrogen have been documented, and the practice is already in use by NASCAR, the airline industry, and the military. But, can motorcycle riders see the same benefits of nitrogen tire inflation as these big industries?

The answer is “Yes!” We at Nitrofleet99 recommend the use of nitrogen for all tires, including motorcycles, due to its benefits of extended tire life, better pressure retention, and thus improved fuel economy and more reliable handling. Tires should be filled with nitrogen to the same pressure that is recommended by the manufacturer for air. Watch the video to learn more.

With the summer travel season in full swing, it’s also recommended that motorcycle riders take extra safety precautions by having an inspection of their vehicle. This inspection should include checking the tire pressure and the tire conditions. At the inspection is the best time to try nitrogen tire inflation, topping off those tires to make them safer for the summer rides ahead.

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How Maintaining Proper Tire Pressure Can Save You Money

On June 10, 2011, in Fuel Efficiency, Nitrogen Tire Inflation, Proper Tire Pressure, by allisonmreilly
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proper tire pressure

Make sure to check your tire pressure on a regular basis.

An easy way to save money with the tough economic times and the rising gas prices is to take proper care of your vehicle. By keeping up with maintenance checks, your car will not only last longer but will also cost less in repairs and upkeep in the long run. One aspect of car care that cannot be forgotten is proper tire maintenance. This means rotating your tires every 6,000 miles, and checking your tire pressure every other time you fill up at the gas station.

About 54 percent of Americans drive on under-inflated tires. Under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage by 0.3% for every one psi, or pound per square inch, drop in all four tires. The Department of Energy estimates that 3.56 million gallons of gas are wasted each day because of incorrectly inflated tires and advises motorists that they can improve gas mileage by approximately 3.3% by keeping tires inflated to the proper pressure. The main reason why motorists save money by maintaining proper tire inflation is because tires that wear evenly last longer before needing repair or replacement. Because a typical tire may also lose 1 to 2 psi a month if not checked and adjusted, uninformed motorists may be heading faster toward tire replacement than necessary.

One way to stop this decline toward tire replacement is to keep your tires properly inflated longer with nitrogen tire inflation. Just top off your tires with nitrogen next time you are at the service station, or even the next time you check you tire pressure, and you’ll notice a difference. Nitrogen permeates tire walls up to 4 times slower than air, so with nitrogen, you’ll see the same 1 to 2 psi loss in pressure over a period of six months, instead of the regular one month with regular air.

Therefore, you save money on overall car maintenance, because that’s fewer times you have to replace them or get them filled. It’s still recommended to do your scheduled maintenance checks and tire rotations, but you’ll have safer, more fuel-efficient tires. If needing an excuse to get to the mechanic or service station, now is as good a time as any for a checkup, since the summer travel season is just getting started. Getting your car ready for warm-weather driving should start with having the service department check the vehicle to look for specific problems, including safety issues, that may need to be corrected. It’s also a good time for maintenance, such as an oil change.


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