Correct tire inflation is vital to your safety on the road. Low tire pressure causes your tires to undergo excessive flexing in the sidewalls and increases tread wear, shortening tire life. This can lead to dangerous conditions of tire breakdown. Keeping your tires properly inflated will give them longer life and improve your fuel economy, saving you money and giving you peace of mind that your tires will not fail prematurely.
Filling tires with conventional air introduces high levels of oxygen. The air around us contains about 21% oxygen and filling your tires from a traditional air compressor introduces whatever humidity is in the air into your tires as well. Oxygen is highly reactive, expanding when heated, contracting when cooled. It also seeps easily through tire rubber, oxidizing your tires and causing premature aging—especially around weaker points of the tire such as the valve stem. The oxygen and humidity from traditional air also reacts with metal from rims and wheels, causing corrosion. It can even cause the steel cords in your tires to rust.
With the harsh weather and rapid temperature turns in the Pacific Northwest it is difficult to keep tires at their optimal pressure using traditional air, as air expands and contracts with temperature fluctuations. The oxygen in air also passes through tire rubber, oxidizing it and causing premature aging. This is why it has become standard practice for the military, aviation industry, car racing, and even NASA to use nitrogen filled tires.
Nitrogen is not as susceptible to temperature fluctuations as air, and it will not oxidize rubber or cause corrosion to wheels or rims. Since your tires are not breaking down from oxidation and remain at a more constant PSI in extreme temperatures, they can last up to 25% longer compared to using air. Nitrogen-filled tires can take as long as six months to lose two PSI, whereas air can easily lose two PSI per month due to the oxygen seeping through the tires. Since nitrogen does not expand or contract as much as oxygen from temperature, tires filled with it will not gain and lose PSI due to hot or cold temperatures. By using nitrogen in your tires you will extend your tire life and ensure your tires are always inflated properly for any conditions North Idaho’s roads throw at you.
It is important to have your tires filled with nitrogen by a qualified professional. While no one can boast a 100% nitrogen fill, a professional will be able to get a fill of about 95% dry nitrogen, which is enough to significantly boost your tire life and performance. A study released by Drexan Corp. reported up to a 6% improvement in fuel efficiency for nitrogen tire inflation compared to a fleet of trucks with no tire pressure management, and an average tread life improvement of 86% for tires using nitrogen when compared to a fleet of trucks using air inflation and tire pressure maintenance.
Using nitrogen in your tires keeps them in good condition longer and improves your gas mileage, saving you money. It also gives you peace of mind knowing your tires will always be properly inflated for safety whether you are headed out camping on the hottest day of the summer or taking the kids to school on the coldest day of winter.
Silverlake Automotive is a certified nitrogen filling station. We will happily fill your tires with nitrogen and assist you in extending the life of your tires. Give us a call, email us, or stop by to schedule your nitrogen fill.
