How do i fill my nitrogen tires


Your Guide to Nitrogen for Tires

Many drivers wonder if they can replace nitrogen with regular air in their tires. While looking for a way to keep tires inflated longer, especially in changing temperatures, some consider inflating them with nitrogen instead of air, or using a combination of the two. This guide can help you decide whether to fill your tires with nitrogen, air, or both.

In general, adding nitrogen to your tires is a typical up-sell tactic at tire shops. There are some benefits in motorsport, and it sounds good in theory, but for the typical car owner, sticking with normal air is perfectly fine. As long as you keep your tire pressures at the correct spec, you're good to go.

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    What Are Nitrogen Tires?

    Nitrogen tires are filled with nitrogen instead of, or in addition to, regular air. The larger, slower-moving nitrogen molecules seep out of the tire more slowly, and some experts say this can help keep tires inflated longer. Using a combination of nitrogen and air in your tires won't harm them, but it might reduce the effectiveness of the nitrogen fill and cause your tires to deflate more quickly than if you used pure nitrogen. An accurate pressure gauge can help you maintain proper tire pressure, whether using nitrogen or air.

    Filling your tires with nitrogen might provide benefits in these areas:

    • Gas Mileage. Properly inflated tires can improve gas mileage, whether they are filled with air or nitrogen. You can use nitrogen in your tires to possibly help your tires stay correctly inflated longer.
    • Tire Longevity. Maintaining proper tire pressure can help your tires last longer. You can accomplish this with nitrogen or air, although nitrogen may require fewer top-offs.
    • Better Handling. Vehicles handle better when tires are kept at the right capacity. Using nitrogen might help you keep your tires at the proper volume longer.

      Types of Nitrogen Tires

      Any tire can be filled with nitrogen instead of air. Here are some considerations when using nitrogen in some common tire types:

      Summer Tires

      Standard summer tires perform well in dry and wet conditions. They often perform best in summer weather or weather that is generally warm and dry. Using nitrogen in your summer tires might help you keep a consistent tire pressure when the temperature changes drastically, such as a cool summer night followed by a very hot day.

      Snow Tires

      Snow tires, or winter tires, use special rubber and tread and sometimes even metal studs to handle wintry conditions such as snow and ice. Nitrogen's extreme weather benefits may be useful in cold conditions, and you might find that you lose less tire pressure during weather fluctuations than if you were to use nitrogen-free air.

      All-Season Tires

      All-season tires are a safe bet in areas with relatively moderate conditions, including temperate winters. They offer modest traction and don't need to be replaced seasonally. Filling your all-season tires with nitrogen might help you retain tire pressure through seasonal temperature shifts, especially when the seasons change.

      Performance Tires

      Performance tires are often used for high-speed or luxury vehicles. They are often a low-profile, wide tire with shallow treads and increased traction in some conditions. Nitrogen offers the same benefits in performance tires as it does in other tire types, including less frequent top-offs.

      Off-Road Tires

      Off-road tires are used for vehicles that can handle rough conditions such as rocks, mud, and deep snow. They are usually durable with deep tread. Using nitrogen in your off-road tires might help you control your tire pressure specifically for the conditions you expect out on the terrain.

      Things to Think About when Considering Nitrogen for Your Tires

      When you are deciding whether to use nitrogen in your tires, keep these factors in mind:

      • Budget. Most locations charge to fill your tires with nitrogen. You might also purchase tires that come pre-filled with nitrogen. Research nitrogen tire fill costs in your area and consider the expense before purchasing your tires. Remember that you might not have to refill your tires as often when you use nitrogen compared to air.
      • Current Tire Fill. If your tires are currently filled with nitrogen, you might decide to continue filling them with nitrogen only to maintain the maximum benefits. If you decide to top off your tires with regular air, it won't harm or damage your tires in any way, and it's perfectly safe to do so. Mixing nitrogen and air might just mean you need to fill your tires more often. You can sometimes tell whether your tires are pre-filled with nitrogen based on the color of the valve-stem cap. A green cap is often used to indicate a nitrogen fill.
      • Accessibility. Consider the availability of nitrogen in your area. Ease of access might impact your decision to fill your tires with nitrogen, especially if you prefer to avoid mixing nitrogen and air to preserve the full benefits of nitrogen tires. If you plan to travel, you might consider researching nitrogen dealers in locations you plan to visit, particularly if you need to fill your tires while you are away.

        How To Replace/Install Nitrogen in Your Tires

        Your local tire dealer can help you fill your tires with nitrogen for the first time. They will usually remove the regular air from your tires and then refill them with nitrogen multiple times. This helps eliminate any remaining oxygen and moisture inside.

        To top off or refill your tires with nitrogen, visit a dealer or tire shop near you. Some retailers may only fill tires that were purchased from them and others might require a membership.

        If you find that you are in a situation that calls for a top-off or reinflation and you are away from a nitrogen dealer, use whichever source of air you can find. Maintaining proper tire pressure is more important than the composition of the air in the tire. Properly inflated tires handle better, may get better gas mileage, wear more evenly, and can help keep you safer on the road. You can always return to a dealer for a full nitrogen fill when you get to another area.

        Where To Buy Products for Nitrogen Tires

        Make sure to verify the correct tire size for your vehicle.

        Hearst Autos Gear Team The Hearst Autos Gear Team is dedicated to bringing you the very best in automotive tools, parts, and accessories, based on the expertise of the editors of Car and Driver, Road & Track, and Autoweek. 

        Can You Put Air In A Tire With Nitrogen?

        Are you considering using nitrogen instead of compressed air in your vehicle's tires? Perhaps you've heard that nitrogen-filled tires stay inflated longer, saving you money by increasing your gas mileage and extending tread life. But you're concerned that you may not always be able to find a source of nitrogen when you need to top off your tires. So, in a pinch, can you add air to a nitrogen-filled tire? We've done the research, and we have the answers for you!

        Yes, you can add air to a tire that has nitrogen in it. In fact, air is comprised of 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and 1% other gases—topping off a nitrogen-filled tire with air will simply dilute the pure nitrogen with a small amount of oxygen.

        Nitrogen and oxygen do not react adversely with each other; there is no reason you can't mix them. However, diluting the purity of the nitrogen in your tires will reduce its effectiveness in keeping the tires inflated, so you may lose most of the benefits that the nitrogen fill provides.  

        Before you continue reading, let us say we hope you find the links here useful. If you purchase something through a link on this page, we may get a commission, so thank you!

        In this article, we'll describe why it's okay to mix air and nitrogen in your tires and what the drawbacks are of doing so. We will also discuss whether it's better to fill your tires with nitrogen or with compressed air and whether you can put nitrogen in your tires at home. And we'll let you know how to tell if your tires are filled with nitrogen, how long nitrogen-filled tires remain inflated, and how often you should check the pressure on your nitrogen-filled tires. Without further ado, let's get into it!

        Can You Put Air In A Tire With Nitrogen?

        The rubber in your vehicle's tires has microscopic gaps that allow molecules of oxygen to escape. Air-filled tires lose about 1.5 psi (pounds per square inch) of pressure every month. This results in lower gas mileage, uneven tread wear, and sluggish handling.   

        To combat this issue, some drivers use nitrogen in their tires instead of air. Nitrogen molecules are larger than oxygen molecules, so they don't escape as quickly through those tiny gaps in the rubber.

        Thus, nitrogen-filled tires deflate more slowly than those filled with air. In fact, nitrogen is widely used in racecars and aircraft, for which maintaining tire inflation is critical.  

        A few drivers currently use nitrogen tires for everyday driving, but nitrogen refills can be hard to find. You may find yourself needing to top off your tires, but with no nitrogen available.

        In that case, it is okay to add air to your nitrogen-filled tires. Air consists of 78% nitrogen, plus 21% oxygen and 1% other gases. Adding this mixture to the pure nitrogen in your tires will not cause an adverse chemical reaction.

        Remember, though, that oxygen seeps out of your tires more quickly than nitrogen, so adding air will increase the rate of deflation. This may negate all the benefits you got by inflating your tires with nitrogen in the first place.

        Still, it is better to use air to fully inflate your tires than to drive on soft tires until you can find nitrogen.  

        Is It Better To Fill Tires With Nitrogen Instead Of Air?

        Advocates of nitrogen tires cite two major benefits:

        • Because nitrogen seeps out slowly, your tires will maintain their inflation longer. Properly inflated tires mean better gas mileage, more even treadwear (and thus longer tire life), and easier vehicle handling.
        • Nitrogen, unlike compressed air, does not introduce any water into the tire. Moisture can lead to corrosion of the tire's steel components: belts, beads, and wheels.

        However, skeptics point to research that shows these benefits to be minimal. They also raise two important disadvantages to using nitrogen in tires:

        • Nitrogen refills are not readily available. Although you can find it at some car dealerships and tire shops, you cannot simply go to your local gas station for a nitrogen fillup.
        • The cost can be high: many nitrogen sources charge $5 or more per tire for a fillup or top-off. 

        Ultimately, the decision to use nitrogen or air in your vehicle's tires comes down to your own preference.

        If you desire optimal performance, have a nearby source of nitrogen, and are willing to regularly check and maintain your tires' pressure, then using nitrogen may be worth the extra expense and hassle. If not, you will be better off to continue using air in your tires. 

        Click here for a full nitrogen cylinder on Amazon.

        Can I Fill My Tires With Nitrogen At Home?

        You can fill your tires with nitrogen at home. Although this requires a substantial up-front investment, it can save you money and hassle in the long run. 

        You will need to purchase the following items:

        • Sturdy lift jack
        • Valve core removal tool
        • Nitrogen tank and nitrogen
        • Tire inflator with digital gauge
        • Portable nitrogen purity analyzer 

        Click here for vehicle lift jack on Amazon.

        Follow these steps the first time you fill your tires with nitrogen:

        1. Lift the car securely on a sturdy lift jack.
        2. Remove the tire's valve stem cap.
        3. Remove the valve core and let the air out of the tire.
        4. Replace the valve core.
        5. Connect the tire inflator's hose to the nitrogen tank's outflow valve, and the nozzle to the tire's valve stem.
        6. Open the nitrogen tank's valve, fill the tire to 5 psi, then close the tank's valve.
        7. Remove the valve core again; this will flush out the last air from the tire.
        8. Replace the valve core.
        9. Fill the tire with nitrogen to the manufacturer-recommended psi.
        10. Disconnect the inflator from the tire's valve stem.
        11. Connect the nitrogen analyzer's nozzle to the tire's valve stem.
        12. Leave the nitrogen analyzer attached for 25 seconds. 
        13. If the analyzer reads below 96%, repeat steps 3-12.
        14. When the analyzer reads 96% nitrogen or higher, disconnect it from the valve stem.
        15. Re-connect the tire inflator to the valve stem.
        16. Inflate the tire back to the manufacturer-recommended psi, then close the nitrogen tank's valve.
        17. Disconnect the tire inflator from the tire's valve stem and from the nitrogen tank.
        18. Put the tire's valve stem cap back on. You may want to replace the original black valve cap with a green one to signify that the tire is filled with nitrogen.  

        Click here for portable tire inflator on Amazon.

        How Do You Tell If You Have Nitrogen In Your Tires?

        The simplest way to tell if a tire is filled with nitrogen is to look at its valve stem cap. Most dealerships and tire shops put green valve stem caps on nitrogen-filled tires. Many vehicle owners who use nitrogen tires have also adopted this trend.

        However, not all nitrogen-filled tires have this easy identifier. If you're not sure whether your tires contain nitrogen or air, there is another way for you to find out. Because air contains only about 78% nitrogen, you can use a nitrogen purity analyzer to determine what's in your tires. 

        • If the analyzer reads 95% or higher, you can be confident that the tires are filled with nitrogen.
        • A reading of 80% or less indicates that the tires are inflated with air.
        • Anything between 80% and 95% tells you that there is a mix of nitrogen and air in your tires.

        Click here for this nitrogen purity analyzer on Amazon.  

        How Long Do Nitrogen Tires Last?

        Standard air seeps out of a car tire at a rate of about 1.5 psi per month. Because nitrogen molecules are larger than oxygen molecules, they diffuse more slowly.

        Specifically, nitrogen's diffusion rate is estimated to be 1/3 to 2/3 as great as that of normal air. So, nitrogen-filled tires deflate at a rate of about 0.5 to 1.0 psi per month. 

        When tires deflate 1.5 psi or more below the manufacturer's recommendation, you will begin to see lower gas mileage, uneven tread wear, and, eventually, sluggish handling.

        So, as your nitrogen tires deflate, it's important that you continue to monitor the tire pressure and top off the nitrogen regularly. 

        Many owners don't check their nitrogen tires between oil changes, believing that the tires will remain sufficiently inflated.

        However, in the three or four months between oil changes, even nitrogen-filled tires will lose 1.5 to 4.0 psi, which is enough to cause the problems mentioned above.  

        Click here for green valve caps on Amazon.

        How Often Should You Check Nitrogen-Filled Tires?

        Even though your nitrogen-filled tires should retain their inflation longer than air-filled tires, it's still important that you check the tire pressure monthly.

        If you allow the tire pressure to drop 1.5 psi or more below the manufacturer's recommendation, you will lose all the nitrogen tire benefits that you're paying so much for. A nitrogen fill can never replace vigilance and good tire pressure maintenance!

        Click here for this tire pressure gauge on Amazon.

        In Closing

        Now that you know all about the benefits and drawbacks of nitrogen tires and whether you can top them off with air in a pinch, you're ready to decide whether filling your tires with nitrogen is worth it for you.

        For most drivers, nitrogen inflation is probably more hassle than it's worth. But if you're dedicated to getting the best performance out of your vehicle and willing to invest some time and money in the effort, nitrogen tires may be a great choice for you!

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        Filling tires with nitrogen.

        Filling tires with nitrogen.

        The benefits of using nitrogen to inflate (refill) wheels and tires are as follows:

        • when refueling a tire with nitrogen, there is no moisture, oil, dust - particles that reduce the durability of the wheel.
        • Reduced chance of tire explosion. Lack of tire heating when the wheel is filled with nitrogen - at high speeds and when the brake system is “wedged”, because there is no oxygen, which is an expansion element (this is especially important for trucks).
        • Improve tire pressure stability. It is known that tire pressure is recommended to be checked once every two weeks. The use of filling the wheel with nitrogen increases this frequency by a factor of three.
        • Improve grip. Compared to air (which is usually strongly influenced by changes in temperature and pressure), nitrogen in its pure form has increased damping properties, that is, a wheel pumped with nitrogen works as an additional shock absorber.

        In addition, it is important to elaborate on the advantages that filling a tire with nitrogen will give you compared to filling a wheel with air.

        Advantages of filling a tire with nitrogen compared to filling a wheel with air:

        • Increased smoothness and softness of the passage of uneven road surfaces
        • Improving wheel damping and reducing vehicle suspension load
        • Driveability Improvement
        • Improving stability when cornering, changing lanes and exits
        • Improve road grip and reduce stopping distance
        • Reduced wheel slip during emergency start
        • Noise and vibration reduction from tire-to-road contact
        • Significant reduction in tire pressure fluctuation regardless of vehicle speed, load and ambient temperature
        • Improving wheel performance under increased loads and temperatures
        • Tire wear reduction and uniformity
        • Reducing the likelihood of disc damage when hitting a pit, hitting a curb, etc.
        • Exclusion of oxidation processes of tire steel cord and disc material

        All these factors contribute not only to improving the performance of the tire, but also ensures the safety of the car on any road.

        As a result, each car owner must clearly understand for himself that inflation (filling) of a tire with nitrogen has a number of advantages that not only help prolong the tire's performance, but also ensure comfort and safety on the road.

        In summary, let's once again name the main advantages of pumping (filling) wheels with nitrogen:

        • reduced need for tire inflation and tire pressure control;
        • increases tire durability;
        • improves tire performance;
        • makes it easier to repair, since the inner surface of the tire and the carcass do not come into contact with oxygen, which eliminates corrosion;
        • reduces corrosion of rims and valves;
        • tire burning or bursting due to spontaneous combustion is excluded.

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        Inflating tires with nitrogen - the pros and cons.

        What does filling tires with nitrogen give?

        Many motorists are probably wondering if it is worth inflating tires with nitrogen. Indeed, today there are many conflicting opinions about this event on the Internet and in real life. Flat tires, or vice versa, too "pumped" violate the control and handling of the car, as well as negatively affect the fuel consumption of the car. We will devote today's material to one of the types of solutions to such problems, and more precisely, the main character of the article will be inflating tires with nitrogen. We will call on physics or even chemistry to help and understand the situation from the point of view of truth.

        Tables:

        • History of using nitrogen pumping technology
        • Advantages of tire pumping with nitrogen - physicist against myths
          • Constant (stable) tires
          • Wheels less 9000,
          • less fuel consumption 9000,
          • less corrosion of rubber and discs
        • Inflating tires with nitrogen and its disadvantages
        • Video: “Is it necessary to pump nitrogen into the tires”
        It is very important to avoid low and extremely high pressure in the wheel

        History of nitrogen injection technology

        Tire inflation with nitrogen is one of those cases when the technology comes to our region with an extreme delay. It seems that we have known about this method of refueling tires for a long time, but you will not find a developed infrastructure with the proper level of service, especially in cities with a population of less than a million, in the afternoon with fire. As a rule, "nitrogen stations" are located in large commercial workshops and serve mainly premium and sports cars. Around 2012, the active development of this technology began, and since then nitrogen tanks can now be found at many service stations, gas stations and other large transport facilities.

        For the first time such a technique was used during the races of the most famous automobile competition - Formula 1. Taking advantage of a loophole in the tournament regulations, one of the teams applied nitrogen filling to the tires of their car.

        For the first time, nitrogen was used to inflate wheels in Formula 1 cars

        Although, it should be noted and added that at that time nitrogen of such purity was not yet available in the mass industry. Instead, a nitrogen-air mixture was used. But even the use of such a mix brought the popularity of refueling with nitrogen, and the general interest from other companies and firms to the mixture itself.

        Benefits of inflating tires with nitrogen - physics against myths

        Along with the rampant popularity of this method, ardent opponents have appeared for nitrogen filling of tires. In total, there are 4 myths about the benefits of nitrogen in car tires, on some resources there may be more of them, on others less, but we will consider the main "benefits".

        See also: What do the colored labels on tires mean?

        Constant (stable) tire pressure

        They say that if there is nitrogen in the tires, then the pressure in the tires jumps much less. If the tire heats up, the pressure in it will exceed the norm, and if it cools down, it will drop. It is not good. Nitrogen, too, will not be able to provide the coveted 2 atmospheres in any temperature conditions (usually the wheels of a passenger car are pumped up to 2 atm). This textbook of physics will confirm this - at least a couple of "gas" laws:

        • Gay-Lussac's law - every gas has the same coefficient of volumetric expansion;
        • Charles' law or Gay-Lussac's second law - the pressure of a gas in a constant volume is directly proportional to the temperature.
        Popular misconception of the advantages and disadvantages of filling tires with nitrogen

        Tires can be confidently inflated with any gas - the pressure will still jump, and it will be necessary to check it as regularly as the pressure of ordinary air.

        Note: while driving a car, the pressure in a hot tire can increase by 0.4 - 0.8 atmospheres. This is due to the effect on the wheel of a heated surface, as well as the effect of kinetic energy from rotation. Such a deviation from the norm can lead to uneven wear or deformation of the tires.

        See also: Tire grip coefficient and factors influencing it

        Wheels flatten less

        They say that nitrogen molecules are larger than oxygen molecules, so it is difficult for them to crawl into micro-holes and cracks in the rubber structure. The nitrogen molecule is 0.000000031 cm. (3.1X10 -8 degrees) versus 0.000000029see (2.9X10 -8 degree) oxygen - not such a big difference. If the wheel turns out to be punctured even by some superfine needle, it will still go down.

        Modern tubeless tires deflate very slowly, so you can almost always reach the tire fitting, especially if you have a working compressor in the trunk, which you can pump up the tire on the way. To monitor the pressure in the tires of the car, you can use various sensors and pressure alarms.

        Before inflating tires with nitrogen, all air must be evacuated from the wheels

        Less fuel consumption

        They also say that inflating tires with nitrogen leads to a lighter weight of the tire due to the fact that nitrogen is lighter than air, and therefore fuel consumption will decrease if the tires are filled with this gas. So, a cubic meter of air weighs 1.29 kg, and nitrogen - 1.25 kg. With an inflated wheel, the difference in weight will be only a few grams. A piece of dirt that sticks to the wheel, or dust accumulated on the tire will weigh significantly more.

        Ordinary air already contains about 78% nitrogen, does it make sense to buy it for injection into a tire?

        Less corrosion of rubber and rims

        And it is true! Do not forget that, unlike oxygen, which enters into chemical reactions even at insufficiently high temperatures, nitrogen is more stable. In practice, this is explained by the fact that oxygen actively enters into the oxidation process (it is the oxidizing agent), but nitrogen does not. This is manifested by a decrease in the rate of corrosion and aging of the metal of the wheel and rubber.

        Note: Cars with conventional metal wheels are now rare, they have been replaced by alloy wheels, which are much less susceptible to corrosion.

        See also: A hernia on a wheel - is it dangerous or can you drive?

        Inflating tires with nitrogen and its disadvantages

        Apart from the inflated price tag, there is no shortage of nitrogen injection into tires.


        Learn more