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Nitrogen Tire Inflation in the News

On September 1, 2011, in News Roundup, Nitrogen Tire Inflation, by allisonmreilly
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nitrogen tire inflation

Read all about nitrogen tire inflation!

It’s sad that when you Google “nitrogen tire inflation”, the top two related searches are “nitrogen tire inflation myth” and “nitrogen tire inflation scam.” There are a few arguments at as to why nitrogen tire inflation is a waste of time of money: using air is free, air is already 78% nitrogen, benefits don’t outweigh the cost etc. We’ve been doing our best here at Nitronomics and at Nitrofleet99 to bust to counter those arguments. But, it’s time to show that we aren’t the only ones who support the practice of nitrogen in the tires.

Yes, we’ve previously covered studies from tires companies such as Ford and Michelin, but news outlets and industry magazines are covering this topic as well. Surely, they wouldn’t write an article promoting the practice if the whole thing was a scam or a myth. One of the most recent of these articles is a piece from Modern Tire Dealer, a business-to-business information source on the tire industry. Authored by John Daws Ph.D, he studied the oxygen permeation of several different inflation methods. Daws concluded that nitrogen tire inflation does have its benefits.

Nitrogen tire inflation may seem like a brand new concept, but it really isn’t. Not only has the practice been used by NASCAR and the airline industry for a long time, this Fox News article from 2006 shows that the concept of consumers using nitrogen in the their tires was around even five years ago. For something much more recent, Leslie Silverman of the Connecticut Watchdog wrote an excellent post last month on the benefits of nitrogen tire inflation and how it works.

Overall, if you don’t take our word for it, there’s the word of many others who are saying the same thing. We’ve found a lot of skeptics, but we haven’t found anyone or any evidence that say nitrogen tire inflation is harmful for your tires or bad for your vehicles in the long run. If anything, it’s worth a shot, at least once.

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Busting 2 Myths on Nitrogen Tire Inflation

On August 18, 2011, in Nitrogen in Tires Myths, Nitrogen Tire Inflation, Proper Tire Pressure, Tire Care, by allisonmreilly
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nitrogen tire inflation mythsNitrogen tire inflation is still a new concept. Although it has been embraced by entities such as the airline industry and NASCAR for many years, it still has yet to hit mainstream in the consumer market and in industrial fleets. Some folks have never heard of the practice, or may be skeptical that this whole thing is just a gimmick. Some may just be reluctant to pay money for something that can be done for free, despite the costs. Whatever the case may be, here are two myths about nitrogen tire inflation that we here at Nitrofleet99 are ready to bust.

1.) NITROGEN ELIMINATES THE NEED TO REGULARLY CHECK TIRE PRESSURE. This is absolutely untrue. While nitrogen leaks through a tire at a slower rate than oxygen, that doesn’t eliminate the necessity of regular pressure checks. There are numerous issues (valve stem, puncture, rim seal) that can still cause major leaks within a tire and lead to unsafe driving conditions. Nitrogen will maintain pressure longer than tires filled with compressed air, and will make your tires safer to drive on, but we advise against using nitrogen tire inflation as a substitute for regular pressure checks. Besides, there are other tire problems, such as tread wear, that still require that you pay some attention to tire maintenance.

2.) NITROGEN INFLATION IS ONLY INCREASING NITROGEN FROM 78.1% to 93.4%+, THERE IS NO BENEFIT TO SUCH A SMALL INCREASE. This is an argument that a lot of skeptics use, but what makes nitrogen tire inflation beneficial isn’t the nitrogen itself, but the decrease of oxygen and water vapor. Decreasing the percentage of oxygen is a more important factor than increasing the concentration of nitrogen. When filling your tires with nitrogen for the first time, the tires are purged twice, removing the 78.1% “bad” nitrogen (that is laden with water vapor, oil contamination, particulate, etc.) and replacing it with nitrogen that is clean (99.99% of all liquids and solids removed @ 0.01u) and dry (-40F or lower dewpoint). The nitrogen now has the properties of an engineered gas. Water vapor causes pressure fluctuations during normal driving, so removing it is a distinct advantage. The oxygen also damages the insides of your tire over time, so nitrogen tire inflation allows them to last longer.

Overall, nitrogen tire inflation is an excellent practice that will make your tires and driving safer and cheaper in the long run. Since this is something that is still new, there’s going to be plenty of people who don’t believe in the benefits and aren’t going to find this worthwhile. However, many have found this practice to be beneficial and to make a difference with their cars and with their wallets.

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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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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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Why Nitrogen Tire Inflation is a Good Choice for Women

On June 3, 2011, in Fuel Efficiency, Nitrogen Tire Inflation, Proper Tire Pressure, by allisonmreilly
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proper tire pressure

A tire gauge is just one of many tools that a woman can use to keep her tire pressure in check.

Women are becoming a huge part of the automobile market. In the United States, women buy 68 percent of new cars and 65 percent of new tires. Sixty-five percent of women take their own vehicles to a repair shop for service, although, some repair industry experts estimate that the average may actually be closer to 80 percent. With all this in mind, it’s only fair, and good business, to include women in on information regarding proper vehicle maintenance.

Checking your tire pressure to make sure that the tires are inflated properly is one of those key aspects of proper vehicle maintenance. Investing just a few minutes on a regular basis in performing this simple task can increase your road safety, lengthen the life of your tires and significantly improve your fuel efficiency. Sure, you can get this done when you visit the repair shop, or taking the time to invest those extra few minutes. But, there’s a way to keep them properly inflated that would require less time and less checking: nitrogen tire inflation.

Nitrogen tire inflation is an excellent choice for busy women who don’t have the time to visit the repair shop, or are swamped enough with all the other things that need to be done that asking for a few extra minutes is a tough ask. Studies have found that a tire filled with nitrogen stays at the proper tire pressure three to four times longer than regular air, meaning you can worry less about your tires. You also don’t have to remove all the air from the tire before using nitrogen, so simply top off your tires with nitrogen when you do visit the repair shop (if your repair shop offers the service), and you’ll be on your way. Proper tire pressure is also the SINGLE most important factor to increasing tire life, so nitrogen tire inflation saves time and money in the long run. What a deal!

According to Women’s Health, only one percent of women check their tire pressure before a long trip, increasing the chance that we girls get in an accident in our last attempt to celebrate the summer. If you are planning a road trip this summer, then now is as good a time as any to check your tire pressure and try nitrogen tire inflation for the first time. For more information about inflating your tires with nitrogen, check out Nitrofleet99.

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Prep Your Tires for the Summer Travel Season

On May 27, 2011, in Fuel Efficiency, Hybrid Tires, Nitrogen Tire Inflation, Proper Tire Pressure, Tire Care, by allisonmreilly
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proper tire pressure

Don’t forget to check the tire pressure of your spare tire as well as your regular four.

With Memorial Day weekend  just around the corner, AAA projects that over 30 million Americans will travel during those three days alone. For the entire summer travel season, which runs from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day, the organization estimates that 8.7 million motorists will get stranded on the roadways. Don’t be one of them by making sure all five of your tires are properly inflated.

“Roughly 1.2 million drivers will call AAA for help with a flat tire during the summer travel season, and many of those problems could be avoided by inspecting the tires before hitting the road,” said John Nielsen, AAA Director of Auto Repair, Buying Services and Consumer Information. “Tire inspections are simple to perform. The only tools needed are a quarter and a tire pressure gauge.” Nielsen further explained that 85 percent of drivers “do not know how to properly inflate their tires, and more than half of all cars on the road have at least one under-inflated tire.”

While we can’t prevent every possible disaster that can happen on the road, we can at least make sure our tires are properly inflated and stay that way throughout the summer. The best way to do that is to utilize nitrogen tire inflation. Nitrogen tire inflation is simply filling up your tires (or topping them off) with nitrogen instead of air. Nitrogen enables more stable tire pressure for longer periods of time, thereby reducing the chances for a blowout. That’s good news if you’re planning to drive at some point during the travel season.

Properly inflated tires also can reduce fuel costs during a trip. The Department of Energy reports that correctly inflating all four tires can improve fuel economy by up to three percent, which is equivalent to as much as to 12 cents per gallon. As rising gas prices are doing little to keep Americans at home this summer, any and every way to save gas money is a good idea.

So, where can you go to get your tires inflated with nitrogen? Is this a service you can just ask for at your local mechanic? Well, not yet. But, a recommended dealer of these hybrid tires is Nitrofleet99. Keep in mind that it’s not necessary for you to remove all the air from your tire before seeing the benefits of nitrogen. You can still just top your tires off with nitrogen to keep them properly inflated.

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Nitrogen Tire Inflation in Law Enforcement

On May 13, 2011, in Fuel Efficiency, Managed Fleets, Nitrogen Tire Inflation, by allisonmreilly
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nitrogen tire inflation law enforcement

Police vehicles like this one can have their life extended with nitrogen tire inflation. Photo by Jaymast.

Law enforcement agencies all across the country have committed to nitrogen tire inflation programs in order to increase safety and to cut costs in fleet maintenance. One of the first police departments in the United States to embrace nitrogen tire inflation is the Garner Police Department in North Carolina.

“There’s approximately a 10 percent savings on gas mileage, and when you’re talking about 60 cars in a fleet, you’re talking about quite a bit of money of time,” said Garner Police Sgt. Joe Binns on WRAL. “Anytime when we can save money on taxpayers, it’s worthwhile.”

Although other studies have found that the percent savings on gas mileage is closer to three or four percent, those savings do add up when it comes to a large fleet of law enforcement vehicles, especially in these tough economic times. Whether those savings are seen in the fuel efficiency, in an extended tire life (a tire that’s 20 percent under-inflated will have a 15 percent shorter life), or in reduced maintenance costs, nitrogen tire inflation is an easy way for law enforcement agencies to save money when budgets are only getting tighter.

But the smallest things can make a big difference, as is seen by the The Kingsport (Tennessee) Police Department. Kingsport  started using nitrogen in their vehicle tires a few years ago, and noticed a difference in performance within six months. “Since I’ve had the nitrogen in my tires, I’ve never had to touch the tires,” Kingsport Officer Tom Wayt said on PoliceOne.com. The city is citing preliminary data showing not only better gas mileage but better wear on the tires.

Sergeant John Zoller of Broken Arrow, Okla. agreed to the long term benefits of utilizing nitrogen tire inflation in law enforcements fleets. This is especially important for law enforcement fleets since these vehicles acquire put on a lot of miles in one year.

“We really should look at nitrogen for our fleet of vehicles and specifically within law enforcement. The increase savings in gas mileage and tire wear would certain prove its worth in time,” Zoller said.

If a typical tire costs $100 and a department sees a 10-percent increase in tire life by using nitrogen tire inflation, then that’s a savings of $10 per tire or $40 per car. If tires are replaced about every 10 months, a 10-percent increase in life extends the tire life to just under one year. So every year, each car saves approximately $40. If there are 100 vehicles in a department’s fleet, then a switch to nitrogen tire inflation can save $4,000 per year.

However, only 10 percent of tire dealers nationwide offer nitrogen tire inflation services. If you’re considering nitrogen tire inflation for you or your fleet, and have trouble finding nitrogen service, then consider Nitrofleet99.

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