by Antonia Anderson

Created on: December 09, 2008   Last Updated: December 30, 2008

Is it really safer to fill your tires with nitrogen instead of air?

Before we can answer that question, we need to understand what actually goes into a tire when we fill it with ordinary air. Nearly 80% of air is already nitrogen. The rest is mainly oxygen, with a tiny amount of water vapor and other gases. So, nitrogen-inflated tires are not an entirely different animal from air-filled tires - we've simply reduced the amount of oxygen and vapor.

Let's take a look at how 100% nitrogen tires can be a safe choice for you and for the environment.

*Safer for you*

Oxygen molecules are smaller than nitrogen molecules and escape through the rubber more quickly. Unless you're constantly checking your air pressure, it's all too easy to end up with under-inflated tires. Almost all blow-outs are caused by under-inflated tires, and can lead to serious accidents. Using 100% nitrogen-filled tires helps to eliminate this safety risk, since nitrogen leaks out of tires nearly 40% more slowly than air-filled tires, and will maintain the proper pressure in your tires for longer. Of course, you'll still need to check the pressure periodically.

In addition to lowering the risk of blowouts, properly inflated tires also improve your vehicle's handling. Handling well could make the difference in tricky road conditions, helping you to react quickly and avoid accidents.

*Safer for the environment*

Since using nitrogen in your tires keeps the pressure on the road consistent, your car engine doesn't have to work as hard. You'll actually get over 3% better gas mileage. And better fuel economy means less pollution.

Oxygen in your tires makes them wear out faster, so you'll have to replace them frequently. Nitrogen in your tires gives them a longer life and decreases your "global footprint." If enough people filled their tires with nitrogen, fewer tires would need to be manufactured, saving resources associated with factory production and transportation.

*Are there any cons?*

No safety hazards are associated with using nitrogen instead of air in your tires. The only cons have to do with cost and convenience.

1. Air is free. It costs between $5-10 to fill your tires with nitrogen.

2. Air is convenient. Until nitrogen becomes widely available, you'll need to make a special trip to get your tires refilled. You can use the nitrogen dealer locater at Get Nitrogen Institute's website.

3. Air is hassle-free. Once you start using nitrogen, you must continue. If you mix nitrogen with regular air, your tires will have different proportions of air and nitrogen, which can throw off the balance and make steering difficult.

*Making a safe choice*

Only you can decide whether nitrogen or regular air best suits your needs. There's no doubt that nitrogen is the safer choice, but it may be outweighed by the concerns of cost and convenience. If you must use air in your tires, make it a point to check air pressure once a week. And if you don't have a nitrogen dealer near you, consider raising awareness about the safety benefits of nitrogen tires to increase demand. The more demand there is for nitrogen tires, the more widely available they will become. It's likely that in several years, nitrogen tires will be the norm.

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